But Totara School’s government appointed commissioner Cleave Hay was tight-lipped as to why.
He did however confirm principal Sandra Spekerijse had not been stood down.
The development follows an alleged attack at the school last term, when a senior pupil had to step in to stop an escalating attack by an older pupil on a junior pupil.
Mr Hay has previously confirmed the incident was being reviewed.
He declined to respond when asked if the principal’s absence was connected to the alleged attack, or when she would return to the school.
The school has been under statutory management since March..
Mr Hay was appointed commissioner in June following three months as the school’s limited statutory manager.
The school’s roll has continued to plummet.
The school was funded for 72 pupils this year, but dropped to 35 by the start of this month.
In June the Otago Daily Times reported that a concerned parent group, who have now removed their children from the school, "feared for the safety of children at the school".
This was due to the alleged mismanagement of behavioural issues in pupils by the school’s principal.
By that stage the school was already under statutory management.
