27 Feb 2015

Call for Ministry of Education to step in

6:12 pm on 27 February 2015

The Ministry of Education's intervention is needed to help resolve the contentious issue a Canterbury school has over a piece of farmland, an ex-board member says.

The board of trustees at Rangiora High School was sacked yesterday and a commissioner appointed, over governance problems.

The school sold farmland for $7.7 million in 2007.

A caveat means the money has to be used on new land but a purchase is yet to be made.

Mark Scown, who was on the board until the end of last year, said the farm was an issue because the board and the principal could not agree on any land that also had to meet strict ministry guidelines.

Mr Scown said having a commissioner was the right step forward.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs