Fergusson Intermediate School
Board of Trustees Meeting
Held on Tuesday, 21st October 2025
Present : Paula Glen, Simon Kenny, Rachael Browne, Whaea Ange, Saurabh Dhawan
(via satellite link)
In attendance : Anne McPhie (Secretary), Shirley Jones, Kimi Ora Principal, Kevin Currin
(Asset Manager School Property, MOE)
Apologies : Suzanne Wright, Sandra Honey
Declaration of Interest : Nil
Speaking Rights Given to: Kevin Currin (Asset Manager School Property, MOE),
Shirley Jones, Kimi Ora. Tina Hogg
Agenda Item
Discussion
Actioned
Approval of Previous Tabled as read.
Motion : It was moved to
Minutes
approve the minutes for Monday,
7th October 2025.
Moved : Ange Wallace
Second : Rachael Browne
The board agreed.
Conflict of Interest
Nil
Principal welcome
Kimi Ora Satellite
Ministerial funding for the new satellite
Unit Guests - Kevin
units was released last Friday.
Currun (MOE),
Q & A (30 Mins)
Key information Summary :
Goal : Four satellite units open by Term 3,
2026.
First Unit : Fergusson Intermediate due to
its greenfield status.
Location : Merton Street, attached to
Fergusson Intermediate. Location supports
separation of students along with
partnership and support of the two kura
when suitable. Pickup and dropoff will be
at their own entrance on Merton Street.
Timeline : Construction expected to begin
February/March.
Responsibility : Shirley Porteous
(Principal) is responsible for the day to day
running.
Financial : No ongoing costs for the school.
Property occupancy, FIS will invoice for
extra coffee etc with The Ministry to top
up on the financial side.
Staffroom Access: Kimi Ora staff would
share the main staffroom with Fergusson
staff. Staff and students feel inclusive to
FIS.
Layout :
● 2 classrooms
● 6-7 students per class with 1 teacher
and 3 TA’s. Looking at 1 class coming
from Pomare School and 7 new
students.
● Visits from outside providers
(therapists).
● CRT release teachers.
● Behaviour team that works with the
specific students.
● Own Bathroom facilities, hoists etc.
Toilets for staff. Similar to Pomare
School layout.
● The key person is Satellite
coordinator who will be based at the
Merton Street site.
● The admin team is based in Naenae
College/Intermediate site.
● The Outreach team are teachers.
FIS currently has 1 outreach teacher
here.
● Exterior lighting - yes. They will
have a look at security lighting.
● The phone system is separate.
Where do they go from here - Taita College,
Looking at a secondary Hutt valley site,
hopefully up and running T3, 2026 (were
looking at Heretaunga College), will need
to have a conversation with UHC.
School will be fenced, it is a contained but
safe space. There is an outside teaching
learning space. This area is intended for
students to use as their own defined space.
Will use their own cleaners. Pay contractors
directly?
Fire bells - will be looked at as part of the
build, integrated into the FIS system for
safety purposes.
The unit will follow all FIS lockdown
procedures as required, but practice drills
will be excluded to ensure the students are
not unsettled.
Two key things :
● financial - what is expected.
● Integration - what FIS wants.
Board understanding the need.
Getting the pathways right. Huge growth
of intermediate students. Will narrow
down so that it works for everyone.
These are vulnerable kids and want a school
who would make them welcome.
Will cater for years 7 - 9 and then go to
college satellite.
Opportunities are there to share
experience.
Having to be flexible to see what works and
doesn't. POD will be set up with
Fergusson.
Communication with the community - polite
to inform close neighbours. Will have a
letter to give to the neighbours. MOE to
help us with comms.
Being aware of the mosque next door-
Important to keep a positive relationship
with them.
It is a need and we can accommodate
working with our community and also a
chance to educate the community and be
inclusive.
Will put together an innovation plan which
can be distributed to the neighbours. Keen
to have a community consultation.
If there is an open evening, Kimi Ora staff
will attend.
Principal Report
Tabled as read.
Discussed staff movement. Going through
the process now. Lots in the report.
Discussion Kimi Ora The Ministry has a system if you incur costs,
the school can claim back.
Partnership together with Kimi Ora.
Will change the landscape but in a good
way.
Marketed as everyone is welcome, sense of
self, opportunity on a richer scale.
Kimi Ora will stay in contact with FIS.
Simon will notify staff and then the
community.
Strike Update
Sent a letter out to the community to confirm
the school's closure.
Very busy term.
Presiding Member
Casual Vacancy Update
Report
Advertised last week.
One candidate has come forward and met
with Simon and Paula. This candidate
possesses a wide range of knowledge and
has expressed interest in fulfilling the
vacancy, which will expire next year. The
appointment must be formally discussed and
passed at the next meeting. No responses
requesting a vote have been received as
yet.
A Board Register has been set up.
Role Updates - (was able to give a copy of
the finance role to the parent who came in
today).
Training NZSTBA
Discussed.
Will keep an eye open for further training.
Policy and Procedure Carried forward to next meeting
Update
H&S&W Update
Camp Review - tabled as read. A very
detailed document. Thank you to Ed,
Rachael, and Toby.
Have booked Makahika in 2 years time, can
cancel if not needed at no financial loss.
Finance
Tabled as read.
Motion : The Board approved
The report is accurate.
the accounts for September
The Board is to approve the following :
2025
- End of Year Staff luncheon
Moved : Ange Wallace
- Destruction of personal files who left
Second : Rachael Browne
prior to 31/12/2018
- The purchasing of x30 chromebooks
Motion : The Board approve the
and x4 laptops
purchasing of x30 chromebooks
and x4 laptops - Total $17,500
Moved : Paula Glen
Second : Ange Wallace
Motion : The Board approved
the End of Year Staff Luncheon
of $55.00 per head.
Moved : Paula Glen
Second :
Motion : The Board approved
the destruction of personal files
who left prior to 31/12/2018 be
destroyed.
Moved : Paula Glen
Second : Rachael Browne
Property Update
Saurabh to organise a meeting with Tina.
Cultural Advisor
- 2 awards have been carved. Will be
brought to the school at some point.
Work out names, criteria and story.
- Now sorted, booked and organised
for the Te Ora Atamira. Getting the
students ready for the 2 big
performances.
- Discussion on making sure that the
right student leaders are picked for
the awards.
- Big celebration with ‚Ōrongomai,
dates to be confirmed for next year.
- Waitangi Day 2026- Fergusson
Intermediate will be attending.
Board Work Plan -
Carried to the next meeting - community
consultation to be sent out - what we are
doing right or wrong. Budget.
Correspondence
Living Wage - FIS to sign the pledge to join
the other schools. Paula to sign and send.
Media Release - the new curriculum . Spent
a couple of years working on the
curriculum, now changed. Want to move
into a 1 year curriculum. No assessment
tools, want to start term 1, 2026.
Actioned
Review
Good to have Shirley and Kevin here.
Nice to have Saurabh on-line to attend the
BOT meeting.
The Board organised some meals for the
Hartell family.
Next Meeting
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 @ 6.15pm
Meeting closed
8.25
Carried Forward/Raised
Action
AI Policy - carried forward,
Simon to talk to Aaron - discussed.
complete by end of term 3.
On school docs that are being looked at.
Carried forward to the next meeting.
Board Roles - Descriptions
Paula - carried forward
Edge App
Review Communication - part of the
community consultation. Carried forward
Kimi Ora
Awaiting paperwork regards to consultation
from Kevin.
Camp Followup
Amy - good feedback
Fundraising policy
Carried forward
Bike track
Carried forward
Suspensions -
Paula - carried forward
Checklist/Process/Agenda
Electronically Signed :
Presiding Member - Paula Glen
Date : 02/12/2025
