Both respected educator Pat Hoffman and Forbury School board of trustees member Jill Haszard handed in their resignation from the establishment board earlier this month, when it was announced the Macandrew Intermediate principal had been appointed.
The decision was not popular with parents and staff at Forbury School who have raised concerns about the appointment process.
Mrs Hoffman, formerly a primary school principal for 17 years, said she resigned because previously agreed procedures and time frames, which were clearly set out, were not followed during the appointments process.
She alleged a "premature" verbal offer of appointment was made by chairwoman Joy Clark, and it was accepted before board members had been given a chance to agree to and ratify the decision.
"Therefore, the process was flawed, and accordingly [the appointment] should be invalid," she said.
"Potentially disadvantaged children who attended a niche school which gave them security and hope could have their lives changed to the detriment.
"I would have expected that with the degree of emotion and interest being shown, not only in the immediate school community, but also throughout the city, that extra time would have been taken to investigate the suitability of each candidate - not less."
Mrs Hoffman said at the beginning of the merger process, the Ministry of Education urged board members to read the consultation documents from both schools.
"There was no awareness of this shown by the board chair. Instead, a limited and controlling vision was shown, with accuracy and empathy being sacrificed for speed."
Mrs Haszard said she too resigned because the principal appointment process was not "robust" and was not conducted in a "fair and balanced" manner.
"Appointing the principal was, without doubt, the most important task that this board had to undertake, and yet appropriate processes were not established, respected or followed."
The community was asking questions of the board in a bid to make sense of the appointment, she said, and the "board should answer these questions in the interests of transparency".
Mrs Haszard said she had laid a complaint to the board about its processes and sent a copy to Education Minister Anne Tolley.
She had also met Ministry of Education staff to express concerns.
Neither Mrs Haszard nor Mrs Hoffman have been replaced on the board. Mrs Hoffman believed the board was allowed to continue with only three members until a new board was established in March next year.
Mrs Clark said it was regrettable Mrs Haszard and Mrs Hoffman felt the way they did, and their resignation letters were to be discussed at a board meeting last night.
Mrs Clark declined to comment further until after that meeting.
