Lynmore Primary School teacher Lorraine Taylor welcomes more locally-based decision. Photo / File
Lynmore Primary School teacher Lorraine Taylor welcomes more locally-based decision. Photo / File
Rotorua principals have mixed feelings about losing the power to set zoning schemes under a new system.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced that a new "Education Service Agency" will take over zoning in each region, and will take the lead role in planning new and improved school buildings.
Itwill replace the 30-year-old self-governing schools regime.
School zones would be drawn on a regional basis in an attempt to achieve more equal outcomes for all students and to stop schools "creaming off" the best students to compete against one another.
"In light of these issues, the Government proposes the ESA [Education Service Agency] would assume, at a regional level, responsibility for developing a new enrolment scheme, or modifying an existing scheme, and consulting with relevant stakeholders," Hipkins said.
Lynmore Primary School principal Lorraine Taylor liked the sound of power being given back to a local office with staff who would know the area, community and dynamics, better than with the current scheme.
The current enrolment scheme was reviewed in Wellington.
She said schools currently could not set their own zones without it being reviewed anyway, which meant a local would know if something like a new road was put in.
Westbrook School principal Colin Watkins said he was unsure the change to the zoning would affect the schools as school zones were currently managed by the Ministry.
Watkins said there was a lot of ambiguity in documents and more specifics needed to be released.
Lynmore Primary School teacher Lorraine Taylor welcomes more locally-based decision. Photo / File
"A lot of these innovations are going to rolled out over five to 10 years, what a yawn, get on with it. If we're going to do the damn thing let's not muck around with it."
Watkins said the announcement was "sad and disappointing," as it missed significant issues schools faced such as good quality personal development for staff and support for special needs support in schools.
Hipkins said the current system allowed schools to "manipulate the zone based on areas they may wish to take students from; for example, including high socio-economic neighbourhoods while excluding closer, yet more disadvantaged, neighbourhoods".
Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced a shakeup "Education Service Agency" will take over school zoning in each region. Photo / File
ESA will have "a strong local presence" but will be "part of a redesigned Ministry of Education, which will provide central expertise and services, including new curriculum and leadership services".
It will take a stronger role in planning school buildings in line with the new regional zoning plans, but a policy document released with Hipkins' announcement indicates that the Government will move cautiously.
