Kelston Boys' High School. Photo: Screenshot / Google Maps
The board of an Auckland school at the centre of an unwanted takeover bid is joining its acting principal in opposing it.
Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust and a former board member wants to change Kelston Boys' High School into a charter school.
The school said it doesn't support or endorse the move.
But the trust said the school is violent, has lost community confidence and has low achievement.
The school board said it's met with those behind the bid, as well as a teachers' union.
"The New Zealand Educational Institute also presented to the Board on the advantages and disadvantages of a charter school," the board said in a letter to parents.
"After careful consideration, the Board has made the decision to oppose the proposed conversion of Kelston Boys' High School to a charter school."
Presiding board member Sanalio Kaihau said the board believed becoming a charter school wouldn't be in students' best interests.
Nor would it align with the values and aspirations of the school's community, he said.
"We want to assure our community that the Board is actively engaged with the ongoing situation and will provide formal updates as appropriate."
Students 'enthusiastic" about a change, group says
Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust earlier halted its own consultation and said battle lines had been drawn after the principal Daniel Samuela first voiced opposition.
The trust said current students have been enthusiastic, and claims parents "seem to be at least 3:1 in favour of conversion".
It said Kelston Boys' High is violent, has low achievement and attendance rates and has lost a lot of community confidence.
The trust said the initial opposition letter to parents from the acting principal was "inflammatory, divisive and inaccurate".
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