Anger as axe falls on Waverley High School

By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
Furious scenes were played out at Waverley High School yesterday, after staff, parents and pupils were told their school would close permanently from tomorrow.
Commissioner Dallas Murdoch announced the decision at a meeting at the school, which ended in chaos when angry students attempted to confront her.
The students shouted abuse at her but were held back by teachers and parents.
Outside the meeting groups of parents, staff and pupils wept, comforted each other and talked angrily.
Parents Ellen Coxon and Emma Gray directed their rage at Ms Murdoch, who they believed was responsible for the closure. "She's not a troubleshooter; she's a troublemaker," Ms Coxon said.
"I've been at this school on and off for years ? as a parent and employed as a cleaner ? and I never knew there were any problems before Dallas arrived here."
Ms Gray said Ms Murdoch had come to the school with the sole purpose of closing it.
"Her agenda was already set to close the school when she got here."
Pupils Mitchell Sorenson, 12, and 11-year-old Nardiah Smith told the Wanganui Chronicle they were "pretty angry" about the closure of their school.
"They just shouldn't shut the school," Nardiah said.
"Waverley is better than other schools," Mitchell said. "Everyone knows each other here."
The closure is the final chapter in an ongoing saga of problems at Waverley High School, which over the past four years has seen a rapidly declining role and widespread absenteeism.
The school has had four principals in the last two years. In June, the commissioner was appointed by the Ministry of Education to replace the school's board of trustees.
The Minister of Education, Steve Maharey, yesterday said the school was "no longer viable".
"Although the school community will be disappointed by the closure, it is essential that all students are provided with the best possible learning opportunities and experience a quality education."
But one Waverley High staff member, who did not wish to be named, said the closure was not in the students' best interests.
"The minister might say closing the school is best for the children, but that's not true.
"In the middle of winter these kids will have to get on a bus and travel to Patea or Wanganui to go to school. "Some of them won't bother."
Another staff member, who also did not wish to be named, said everyone in Waverley knew the school would close, but having only two days' notice was hard to take.
"Nothing will help us now ? the decision has been made. I hope I can get a place somewhere else. But I wish I didn't have to.
"I've served this school with all my heart."