175 
09 278 9763SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
Monday 27th July 2026 – 6.00 pm
Meeting held in the Papatoetoe Intermediate School Meeting Room
| Time | 6.00 p.m. |
| Present | Kimiora Parata [Presiding Member], Peter Cann, Leigh Manukau, Namrata Kumar, Kulbir Kaur Gill and Jeremy Nicholls [Parent Elected] and Salvis Laurenson [co-opted members], Melanie Willis [Staff Elected], and Pauline Cornwell – Principal |
| In Attendance | Barbara Ferregel – Board Secretary, Tamara Gersbach [RTLB Cluster Manager] Donna Young and Tracy Prout – Curriculum Data Report |
| Apologies | Oriana Avei-Suaesi [Parent Elected] |
| Welcome and Karakia | Thank you to Kimi for the Karakia
Our condolences to Namrata for the loss of her Dad. |
| Conflict of Interest | Members declared that according to the printed agenda no one had a conflict of interest with any business to be discussed at this meeting. – Moved Kimi Parata Carried Unanimously |
| Ratification of November minutes | Moved that the minutes of 22nd June 2026 are a true and correct record of the meeting. – Moved Peter Cann – Seconded Kimi Parata – Carried Unanimously |
Welcome to Tamara Gersbach – RTLB Cluster Manager
- July Board Report has been shared with the Board
- New staff member started this term.
- A large number of RTLB will be attending Study next year. This will need to be managed carefully.
- Finances
- Funding Agreement Funding Agreement
- LSF – must be spent in the year it is allocated. If not spent the Ministry will take it back after 2 years.
- RTLB finances are tracking well. Tamara is very comfortable with them.
- LSF – must be spent in the year it is allocated. If not spent the Ministry will take it back after 2 years.
- Funding Agreement Funding Agreement
Thank you Tamara – left at 6.30 pm.
Welcome to Donna Young [Deputy Principal] and Tracy Prout [Associate Principal]
- This year is a period of system-wide transition for Papatoetoe Intermediate School, driven by the Ministry of Education’s phased rollout of the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum. In accordance with the national timeline, our school has implemented English and Mathematics as the first learning areas to adopt the new progress descriptors (Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, and Exceeding). Other curriculum areas are currently in draft or scheduled for implementation over the next five years, with Science and Social Sciences beginning in 2027.
This rapid rate of change, combined with a lack of alignment between traditional assessment tools and the new curriculum, has contributed to “change fatigue” across the sector and is affecting teachers at our school. Because 2026 is our first full cycle using this refreshed approach, the school is currently refining judgement and reporting practices to address inconsistencies. Consequently, 2026 data serves as a baseline and is not directly comparable to previous years.
- Thank you to Donna [reporting on Maths] and Tracy [reporting on Reading/Writing].
- The Board appreciates all the work that has gone into this document. It gives the Board a better understanding and insight of where our school is at.
- Donna left the meeting at 7.30 pm. Tracy Prout stayed on for the remainder of the meeting.
Principal’s -Report
Board Members all had access to the Principal’s report prior to the meeting and Pauline assumed all members have read the report.
- Students in the Mt Richmond Unit have vandalized the new classrooms and chicken coup. Members would like to see families made accountable for this damage.
- School Camp – the school are now looking at another option. 4 days 3 nights at $390.00. This is an opt in and first in first in.
- Board approval is required to purchase an iphone and lease a macbook for the new Principal.
- Moved Peter
Seconded Melanie
Carried Unanimously
- Moved Peter
Finances
– Financial reports from June were shared with Board Members prior to the meeting
– New visa card to be issued for new Principal in September. [Before the retreat mid September]
– Approval for new Principal, Ben Hutchings, to have ASB access and Xero
Moved Kimi
Seconded Peter
Carried Carried
Property
- Watershed June report and School Report for June shared with the Board
Moved the property and finance reports are accepted Jeremy
Seconded Peter
Carried Unanimously
Pauline moved the Board to accept the Principal’s report and any recommendations.
Recommendations
-
- Approve all the Finance Reports for Papatoetoe Intermediate School and RTLB and related recommendations
- Approve the new Principal access and administration right to ASB bank accounts, Xero as of 12/10
- The issue of a school visa as of 25/9
- A purchase of an iphone and Apple Mac before the new principal starts.
- Accept the final Audited accounts and recommendation from our school accounting company.
- Accept Property reports (Watershed, Finance Managers and Principals) and any associated recommendations and related finances listed in the reports
- Ratify all the employment actions for the previous month: appointments, advertising and contract terminations (resignations)
- Moved Jeremy
Seconded Peter
Carried Unanimously
- Moved Jeremy
Correspondence – in Board Folder
Inward
- Genesis Energy
- Gutter clean report
- Everyday Matters Term 2 Attendance report
Outward
- 1st July return to Ministry
Other Business
– NZSBA Conference – 17th to 19th July – Mel, Kimi and Salvis attended.
– Thank you all for such an inspiring report back and shared document
– Kimi, Mel and Salvis thoroughly enjoyed the Conference and soaked up all the information shared.
– Kimi, Salvis and Mel would like to encourage all Board Members to join the 2027 Conference
Tracy left the meeting at 8.00 pm. Prior to in-committee.
In Committee
At 8.00 p.m. Kimiora Parata moved that the Public be excluded from discussion of confidential items relating to personnel matters because of their sensitive nature.
Carried – Unanimously.
In committee discussion closed at 8.55 p.m. and the regular meeting resumed.
The Board Chair and Principal agreed to carry out the actions outlined in the ‘in-committee’ meeting.
Tracy returned to the meeting at 8.55 p.m. after the close of the in-committee discussion
General Business
- Friday 7th August – Placing of the Mauri Stone – before the classes come on site – at 7am for a 7.30am start.
- All welcome
- Leigh, Mel, Jeremy and Kimi confirmed they would be attending.
Darryl Wilson’s dinner farewell was on Thursday 23rd July, and gift of thanks was presented to Darryl.
Darryl we will miss you.
Ben Hutchings [new Principal] – Powhiri
Monday 12th October – time TBC
Barb will get an invite out to all members once the time is confirmed.
Salvis discussed with Barbara about AI taking the minutes.
Tracy thanked the Board for allowing her to remain for the full Board Meeting.
| Meeting closed | 9.00 pm |
| Next Meeting | Monday 24th August 2026 at 6.00 p.m. |