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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019 Connecting Your Community www.star.kiwi Lime scooters could come to Rolleston Page 3 Prebbleton rugby centenary Page 23 GET CONNECTED WITH Scorch Broadband 0800 726 724 www.scorch.co.nz Financial woes force college to make ‘difficult decisions’ • By Anan Zaki A MAJOR school in the district is facing financial issues, forcing it to make “difficult decisions.” Ellesmere College has been running at a loss since 2016. Principal Ronan Bass confirmed to Selwyn Times the school’s struggles were partly due to about $78,000 unpaid by Ronan Bass parents in course fees and course donations. The details were sent to parents in an email last week. Mr Bass told the Selwyn Times on Sunday there was no risk of the school closing. But in the email he did not rule out the school being put into statutory management. That would mean all financial decisions would be out of the school’s control and managed by an “external agent.” “This is something we wish to avoid,” Mr Bass said. In the email to parents, Mr Bass said the school has been in discussion with auditors and Ministry of Education. “We have been informed by TROUBLE: Ellesmere College principal Ronan Bass said the school could be placed under statutory financial management if its current situation does not change dramatically. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN ​ our auditors and the Ministry of Education this situation cannot continue and there is a real possibility of being placed under statutory financial management if our financial situation does not dramatically change in the very near future,” he said. The Ministry of Education said its records show the school ran a deficit of ($70,579) in 2016 and a deficit of ($17,170) in 2017. Mr Bass refused to give Selwyn Times details about its 2018 financial report and the forecast for this year. The ministry said it is yet to receive the 2018 reports. Mr Bass said in the email he had to make “difficult leadership decisions’’ due to the ongoing losses. “This has included not replacing some staff who have left, amalgamating staffing positions, reducing subjects we have on offer, increasing class sizes and more aggressively marketing for international students,” he said. Ministry of Education deputy secretary sector enablement and support Katrina Casey told Selwyn Times that the ministry is “satisfied the school is not currently in financial hardship” and a formal intervention has not been proposed or deemed necessary at this time. “However, we appreciate that additional unforeseen costs could impact on its financial position which may at some point mean we need to discuss a financial intervention with the board of trustees,” Ms Casey said. The school’s board of trustees chairman Mark Maddren told Selwyn Times: “It’s not much of a storm to be fair, it’s quite common for schools to be on a paper deficit.” •Turn to page 4 Need water? From consent to the pump We can help you with water wells residential irrigation lifestyle 03 324 2571 www.drilling.co.nz