An Education Review Office report critical of Rotary Park School's employment practices has led to a statutory manager being installed by the Ministry of Education.
The report, while praising the Waverley school's teachers for "high quality" teaching, "examples of exceptional teaching practice" and providing a "happy, safe" environment for its pupils, also said there were issues between the board and teachers and the principal and teachers that led to "dysfunctional" relationships.
Self-review at the 66-pupil school was not strong and had led to communication breaking down between the principal, board and teachers; roles and responsibilities were not clear and teachers reported high levels of workplace stress, the February report said.
As a result, the Ministry of Education installed a limited statutory manager at the school in June, Timaru business director Cleave Hay.
A limited statutory manager was one of six interventions the ministry could apply and was appointed with specific functions and powers and worked closely with the board and principal.
Mr Hay said he was appointed to establish positive working relationships between the board and management of the school, implement an effective complaints policy and process for parents, review its employment management policies and implement an effective performance management system and a robust self-review system for policies and procedures.
"[I] can report all parties are actively seeking to address the relationships and systems within the school. There has to date been a positive response to my appointment."
School board chairman Bruce James, appointed when the previous chairman stood down, said the majority of problems highlighted in the report were around a lack of procedures for staff and families to follow when issues arose.
He believed much of the stress teachers felt was due to the uncertainty surrounding schools' futures following on from the South Dunedin school mergers.
"We could have brushed over the issues but the good news is he is helping us move through the problems and get them resolved."
Principal Carmel Casey went on sabbatical to Auckland University soon after the manager arrived - a move that was in place before the report came out and was in no way related, he said.
Interim principal Faye Elliot was running the school, although Ms Casey was still involved in the process with Mr Hay.
"We are all working together to resolve the issues."
The school had also recently closed its Montessori unit due to a lack of numbers but those parents had kept their children in the school, which was positive, he said.
Mr James hoped the school would be able to start the 2012 year on a "fresh page".
