Nor'West News: April 18, 2024

Thursday April 18 2024 3
Board seeks to re-engage with schools
• By Sasha Watson
SCHOOLS IN the Fendalton,
Waimairi and Harewood areas
have been asked for feedback
on attending community board
meetings.
A survey has been sent out to
34 primary, intermediate and
secondary schools to gauge if
principals were interested in
restarting regular meetings with
the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community
Board.
Medbury School principal
Dave Scott said
the school is
keen to intensify
its engagement
with the community
board
through regular
meetings.
“The school
believes such Dave Scott
engagement
presents invaluable opportunities
for mutual understanding,
collaboration, and effectively addressing
community concerns.
“Increased engagement could
foster a deeper understanding of
local issues, promote collaboration
. . . potentially offering numerous
benefits for staff, parents
and students alike.
“It would empower stakeholders
to actively shape the community’s
direction and initiatives.”
He said the school recognises
DECISION: Medbury School in Fendalton was one of 34 schools surveyed about restarting
meetings with the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board.
the importance of being actively
involved in community decisions.
“By participating in community
matters, the school
demonstrates its commitment
to contributing positively to the
local area and ensuring that the
voices of its stakeholders are
heard and considered.”
Community board advisor
Aidan Kimberly said these
gatherings were an opportunity
for the board to develop relationships
with local schools, including
discussion about issues and
ways the board might be able to
advocate for support.
“100 per cent of responses indicated
support for re-starting the
meetings. The majority of these
preferred biannual meetings and
indicated an interest in hearing
from the police and local MP’s.
“At last count, we have heard
from 18 schools.”
The respondents included
Emmanuel Christian School,
Bishopdale School, Wairakei
School, Belfast School, Ferndale
School, Heaton Intermediate
School, Cotswold School, Waimairi
School, St Albans Catholic
School, Harewood School, and
Roydvale School.
Kimberly said with the disruption
of the last few years, the
board had fallen out of the habit
of running the meetings.
“The survey was also an opportunity
to ask what time of
day would be most convenient,
how often the principals wanted
to meet and whether they would
find it helpful to invite guest
speakers from other agencies.”
It was sent on March 15 and
a summary of the results will
be included in the community
board area report at its May
community board meeting.
Kimberly said the board will
aim to find some suitable times
to arrange meetings with the
school principals.
“At this stage, there are not any
specific issues staff are trying to
find solutions to, but if any are
raised by the principals or board
members during the meetings
we would do our best to assist.”
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