NAENAE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
held virtually on Thursday 28 July 2022 at 1830 hrs
Present: Rome Vailini (Presiding Member), Andy Soper (Deputy Chair), Nic Richards (Principal), Tafaoimalo
Loudeen Parsons (Parent Representative, Karen Shepherd (Parent Representative), Sarah-Jane McCosh (Parent
Representative), Tia Turahui (Co-opted member), Trudy Stead (Co-opted member), Eric Parker (Student
Representative), Devon Turi (Staff Representative)
Apologies: Helen Hepburn (Secretary)
Meeting opened: 6:35pm
Meeting opened with Karakia by Tia Turahui
Rome welcomed Nic back from his Term Two sabbatical.
Rome reminded the board that our focus is Goal 2 measures: 2a. Whānau and iwi are regularly consulted to
identify learning needs and collaborative approaches. 2b. Delivering highly engaging programmes, with quality
review processes for continuous improvement.
Strategic Focus
Last meeting the idea was raised of discussing of Goal 1d. A Pacific Achievement Plan is developed and
introduced. This is to ensure that this important part of Goal 1 is not missed. It was asked if Nic and the
Pasifika Komiti team could feed back on Pacific Achievement so we know where to focus for this goal.
Nic informed the board that an action plan for Pasifika Education 2020-2030 which was with Sinapi, now sits
with Komiti Pasifika. Nic will put the link in the googlemeets chat for the Ministry of Education one.
The board was reminded that the Pacific Success Evening is coming up in Week 9.
The question was aksed, “What worked for Māori students in the lead up to their success evening to ascertain
what directions are helpful to that success”. Members were keen to see the focus on that.
For the next Māori Success Evening, Tia would like to be involved with the lead up to it to ascertain a better
understanding of the awards and also to be able to be in that space.
Student Representative Report – Eric Parker
Report taken as read.
Eric spoke of a good start to the term with excitement and energy. The Seniors are excited for the Formal in
Week 5. The Māori Success Evening was well received by students, but was a bit long. It was a good
opportunity to recognise Māori success. Nic has received Eric’s proposal and will catch up with him about that.
Motion: that the student report be accepted
E Parker/S-J McCosh
Carried
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Staff Representative Report – Devon Turi
Report taken as read
Thank you to the Board members who attended the Māori Success Evening and thank you to Tia for
presenting.
Their were first time organisers for this evening, and it took some mahi to get the event organised as there
were few guidelines available. The planning team will reflect on the feedback. The awards were based on
previous awards, and were for Attendance (85%), Sports, NCEA endorsements, TWT award – every lar teacher
put forward one student exemplifying TWT, Service to School awards for Prefects and Mentors, Kapa Haka, and
showing resilience.
It was suggested that a Cultural Success award could be considered next time.
Tia provided some feedback. It was a marvelous event, and nice to see the whare so full, the awakening of te
ao Māori, it would have been nice to have Kapa Haka on the night to show our culture, great that Kapa Haka is
now part of the curriculum not just co-curricular and has achievements standards. The video of the students
who were questioned what success looks like for them, several mentioned Kapa Haka, and it would be good to
see this next time.
It was acknowledged how well Tia spoke and represented the board and that it was a fantastic evening filled
with energy.
Moved: Devon Turi
Accepted: Tia Turahui
Principal’s Report: Tabled as read
ERO have been in contact and there are no further updates yet. We are currently being reviewed under the
new model which is taking longer as it is implemented.
Pita Silao’s return was acknowledged.
It was acknowledged how pleasing it is to have a full complement of staff and relievers. However, while we are
still in a winter term, it would not take many staff absences to become an issue.
Nic acknowledged Loudeen’s assistance in reaching out to the community to obtain a Gagana Samoa teacher.
Sarah Calcutt is to continue in the position of Acting Assistant Principal, Junior School until the role is
advertised and filled.
Nic is going to several principal days at two universities where he can network for potential teaching staff.
There is an initiative to focus on attendance issues locally even though it is a nationwide crisis. The school’s
role is to focus on engagement. At the end of last year, the principals of Taita, Naenae, HVHS, and
Wainuiomata Colleges, met with the Ministry of Education about the attendance contract, they proposed to
employ 3 attendance officers for the region and one to focus on chronic non-attendance over 21 days.
Previously there was one attendance officer for the whole of the Hutt Valley.
There is a proposal currently to combine HVAC and Lyriks which will be looked at by National Office. A united
centre has better resourcing and access to staff. The Ministry are supporting this. Other Hutt Valley schools
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are supporting Naenae College to continue to administer this. Nic recognised Justin’s input to this model.
There is a proposal to increase capacity to 40 students.
Nic spoke to the minimal access to EAP, how close schools are to tipping point and the risk of teachers reaching
exhaustion. Principals are writing to the Ministry to look after our people (staff) before rolling out new
initiatives. We need to be mindful of how we can look after our staff. Learning credits for this year will be
announced shortly by the Ministry. Devon added to this how 2022 is harder than the past two years due to the
amount of sickness that is around and how exhausting this is. Devon spoke to how teachers are going above
and beyond for the students. The coffee machine is very much appreciated, Devon has been asking around
what else would benefit staff that the board can provide.
The autumn edition of the school magazine is out and available on the school website. This is happening under
the guidance and mahi of Emma Mossop.
Nic spoke to his sabbatical and how his personal learning of levels of well-being is important in understanding
where staff are at. For his mahi at Naenae College, his study in te ao Māori leaves him hopeful to be authentic
to the values of Te Whānau Tahi and is an ongoing learning journey. He is feeling a deeper understanding of
the anxieties of students and staff and being okay with what we can do. We need to apply new expectations
and not pre-Covid expectations when considering the amount of credits students are expected to achieve.
Nic thanked the board and the staff for being able to have his sabbatical.
Moved by: Nic Richards
Seconded: Andy Soper
Resource Committe: No meeting held.
Nic mentioned the relief budget and that there will not be a blowout as the Ministry has provided extra
funding for this.
Marae Committee: No meeting held.
The kitchen is waiting to be installed.
Community Committee: No meeting held.
Wellbeing Committee:
There have been several online meetings with Loudeen, Karen, and Matua Alex. There are notes in the board
google drive regarding those meetings. We are currently exploring who are currently working in the wellbeing
space within the college. The current proposal is sitting with Nic to peruse now that he is back from sabbatical.
We need to look at what is governance and what is management.
Loudeen shared a Samoan saying, “when you are fishing and the tide changes, it is time to change your fishing
gear”. In these Covid times we are needing a different response and this is needed in all areas. We may need
to let go of some old expectations and create some new ones.
Nic is putting together what is currently offered within the wellbeing space at Naenae College. Oranga
Tamariki have announced they will be reducing funding for NGOs which may impact the services currently
offered at Naenae College by NGOs such as Challenge 2000. Nic recognises the need to provide insight to
these services to the board.
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Nic acknowledged the very important mahi Jacqui provided to our families, whānau, and community.
Policy Committee: There was a discussion about having a review of our Crisis Management Policy in relation
to an event during Term Two. Nic will follow up with Matua Alex on this.
Health & Safety Committee: No meeting held.
Correspondence: No correspondence.
Board of Trustee Nominations: This time the process is being managed by an outside contractor. Nic will
check with Helen where this process is at currently and email the board trustees.
Previous meetings: Taken as read.
Moved: Andy Soper
Seconded: Tia Turahui
Action Points: All still ongoing.
Nic shared some photos and a summary of his sabbatical.
ACTIONS REGISTER
Responsible/
Due
MEETING
Actioned (√)
23 Sept
Strengthening Student Engagement – report back in
S-J
March 2022
January
24 June
Draft letter for MOE re: inequities in property funding
Karen
Ongoing
25 Feb
To draw up appealing strategy document for the website.
Rome/SJ
Ongoing
Organised to meet in the holidays.
25 Feb
School Docs - Andy will send a message to members to
Andy
On going
flag documents which come up for review.
13 April
Talk to local Iwi regarding the Community Committee
Tia
May 2022
23 June
See what feedback we have from the Māori success
Devon
evening regarding how we can get students to school
23 June
Engage wellbeing committee active with all material
Loudeen
provided.
27 July
Provide details on current wellbeing linked services working
Nic
within Naenae College.
Meeting closed with a Karakia at 8:42 pm.
Signature _______________________________ Date______________________________________
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2022 MEETING DATES
Confirmed dates for Resource Meeting (Mondays)
17 January
14 February
7 March
4 April
16 May
13 June
No meeting held
4 July
15 August
12 September
17 October
14 November
Confirmed dates for BOT Meeting (Thursdays)
27 January/
24 Feb
17 March
14 April
26 May
23 June
3 February
28 July
25 August
22 September
27 October
24 November
Karakia Roster
26 May
23 June
27 January/
24 Feb
17 March
14 April
Andy
Loudeen
3 February
S-J
Rome
Loudeen
Andy
28 July
25 August
22 September
27 October
24 November
Tia
Karen
Trudy
Devon
Nic
Please note that meetings in the months of March, April and July have been adapted to allow for school
holidays and public holidays and fitting in a BOT meeting before the April holidays.
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