Investigation into the Decision Making Process of Boards of Trustees Relating to the Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion of Students in New Zealand Schools

摘要

This study investigated the decision making processes used by boards of trustees inschools across a range of deciles in a region of New Zealand. The research is framed bytwo objectives: to gain a broader insight and understanding of the processes used byboards of trustees when making decisions in order to inform a more robustgovernance system for schools that better responds to the development needs ofschool board members and educational needs of students; and to explore the ways i.e.skills, knowledge and experience used, in which decisions are made by principals andboards of trustees to stand-down, suspend, exclude and expel students in low/highdecile schooling contexts in New Zealand. The inquiry is positioned within a criticaleducational paradigm, employs a mixed method approach incorporating a case studyand survey, and uses a thematic analysis approach to identify themes. The researchquestions that guide this study are: what factors are the enablers or barriers thatinfluence the decision making process of discipline committees?; how does the currentsupport offered to boards of trustees empower them to make qualified decisionsabout continuing suspensions or excluding students or are there gaps in the supportoffered? And; what impact, if any, does the socio-economic area of a school have onthe degree of knowledge and capability applied by its trustees when deciding tosuspend or exclude/expel students?Data suggest school boards that have followed a sound process incorporatingprinciples of natural justice and that have used quality documentation positivelyinfluence the outcome of a discipline committee meeting. The gaps in the currentsupport offered to boards could be addressed by key stakeholders like the Ministry ofEducation and the New Zealand School Trustees Association committing resources toprofessional development for board of trustee members. It is often boards of lowdecile schools that lack confidence in their capability when making decisions aboutcontinuing suspensions, excluding and expelling students however, they also believethey are the right people to make that decision.