A relief principal has now been appointed to take their place from today.
Totara School commissioner Cleave Hay confirmed yesterday he had appointed Sam Winterbourn as acting principal to lead the small Waitaki school, where the roll has declined from 72 to 30 this year.
Mr Winterbourn, who has worked with Mr Hay before, has been assisting at the school with administration and management since last month, the Otago Daily Times understands.
Parents and caregivers were informed of the decision to appoint an acting principal on Monday.
The school has been under statutory management since March.
Mr Hay was appointed as commissioner in June when the board of trustees resigned.
Mr Hay confirmed yesterday the roll had now dropped to 30. Late last month, it was 35.
The Otago Daily Times understands that at least nine of the current pupils are no longer actively present at the school.
Mr Winterbourn is familiar with the area, having
acted as principal at Te Pakihi o Maru, then known as Oamaru North School, from 2019 to 2020.
At the time, that school was under statutory management. Mr Hay was the limited statutory manager.
Mr Hay acknowledged the efforts and experience of the Totara teaching staff that had "stepped up" in the absence of principal Sandra Spekreijse.
"Sam is a retired but very experienced primary school principal and is looking forward to working with the staff and community," Mr Hay said in a letter to the school community.
He also thanked Totara teacher Scott Rawson and the rest of the school team "for pulling together" in the previous weeks to keep the school "steady for your tamariki".
Meanwhile, Mr Hay is maintaining his silence about why Mrs Spekreijse is on leave.
It followed a "playground incident" in term 3 which is still under review.
The school was officially funded for 72 pupils this year.
