Ashburton College is refusing to comment on revelations that two teacher aides of a class recently under investigation have been stood down.
LDR was tipped off by multiple concerned members of the community about the teacher aides' suspension. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Local Democracy Reporting understands two learning support assistants within the Te Whare Manaaaki special needs unit were stood down last week for alleged serious misconduct breaches.
Ashburton College principal Ross Preece declined to comment as it was an employment matter.
LDR was tipped off by multiple concerned members of the community about the teacher aides' suspension.
Questions were then directed to the school's principal regarding the matter.
"Any matter involving employment is, of course, confidential,'' was Preece's only reply.
The latest incident followed the college's confirmation last week that an investigation into the unit had cleared its head teacher of long-standing bullying allegations against pupils, which stretched back at least three years.
Preece said the investigation had highlighted "some working relationship issues" between the staff in the Te Whare Manaaki unit.
"None of the allegations of bullying were upheld," Preece said in a statement.
"The college is committed to continuing to provide its students, staff and whānau a safe, supportive learning and working environment."
Preece said the report could not be released due to privacy reasons and he would not respond to further questions around the investigation.
The teacher in question was not stood down during the inquiry process.
Last week, Ashburton mother Melanie Deuart, who had complained to school leaders twice with her concerns, said she was disappointed to discover that the investigation cleared the teacher.
Deuart was interviewed as part of the investigation but was not shown the report.
She pulled her autistic son out of the college at the start of the term because of ongoing concerns.
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the News Publishers' Association and NZ On Air.
