Waitake Boys' High School has decided not to proceed further with a proposal to accept more wards of the state and Child Youth and Family children into the school and its hostels under a special programme.
The proposal first emerged at a board of trustees meeting in February, and rector Paul Jackson and senior staff were asked to investigate it.
The proposal was under the Westbridge Programme, which caters for pupils with learning and behavioural difficulties, identified after a Ministry of Education behavioural support team assessment.
Waitaki Boys' board chairman Garry McLeod said yesterday Mr Jackson, at the board meeting last week, had recommended the proposal not proceed, which was approved.
''There had been some discussion back in February about the programme and it was decided to investigate it further.
''However, after that the board decided not to proceed any further,'' he said.
Some parents who had noticed the proposal in the board minutes on the school website had approached the Otago Daily Times worried about the effect it could have on teaching staff, pupils and the school community in general.
They also felt there should be consultation with those groups before any decision to go ahead with the programme.
The school caters for a small number of pupils with special needs, mainly from North Otago.
