A previously ousted Wakatipu High principal predicts the latest sacking controversy will be very costly for the school.
Former principal Ron Robert, who reveals he won a $50,000 payout from Wakatipu High after resigning 15 years ago, is picking a sizeable payout to recently sacked principal Lyn Cooper.
Cooper was punted in September after almost four years by school statutory manager Peter MacDonald, who at the time said she’d received no golden handshake and was only paid notice. Cooper was bizarrely reinstated last month and now works in tandem with temporary principal Paul O’Connor.
Robert, who’d similarly faced opposition from his board of trustees and senior staff – as well as what he calls “tie-and-blazer brigade” parents – says: “My gut feeling is the board is going to be in for a costly experience.
“It was costly for them with me.”
Robert adds he feels sorry for Cooper and has twice phoned her.
“I told her where my problem had been. She said she’s had problems with senior management.
“She said she was reinstated and would be making decisions on her future at Wakatipu High.
Robert says he congratulates Cooper “on taking a firm stand against a tide of opposition from senior staff, the board and MacDonald”.
“She certainly is deserving of more than an apology from the board and Ministry of Education – in the US she would be suing them for their unprofessional treatment.”
MacDonald, who has described Cooper as a fine person and quality educationalist, sacked her after she refused to accept his exit strategy as part of the school’s management overhaul. The move came after an Education Review Office report critical of Cooper and senior management. MacDonald says he was also guided by feedback from staff and the board who’d “voted overwhelmingly that they’d lost trust and confidence in their principal”.
MacDonald told Mountain Scene in September that he plans to restructure the school’s senior management.
Those in their current roles would have to reapply, if his proposal is accepted.
Robert queries the MoE appointing a lawyer, MacDonald, as statutory manager, rather than a successful school principal.
Robert says that in hindsight he was happy to leave Wakatipu High.
“I became very successful in real estate and property investment,” he says.
Cooper, MacDonald and the Wakatipu High board are legally gagged from discussing the situation.
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