Court to hear Salisbury School’s case on 27th November

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 8 November 2012

Court to hear Salisbury School’s case on 27th November

The High Court in Wellington has agreed to hear on Tuesday 27 November 2012, Salisbury School’s

judicial review of the Minister of Education’s decision to close the school.

Since Court proceedings were filed in the High Court in Wellington on Monday 5th November, the Minister of Education, the Hon Hekia Parata has agreed to take no further steps to close Salisbury School, pending determination of the proceedings. This decision by the Minister not to gazette the closure means that Salisbury no longer has to ask the Court for an interim order, requiring Ministry officials to take no further steps to either shift the girls or to close the school in December.

Salisbury has advised parents that they now have the choice to either work with the Ministry of Education to develop a wrap-around programme for their daughter for next year, or they can wait for the outcome of the judicial review before making important decisions about their child’s future. School Board Chair Helen McDonnell says it is great news for parents to have a court date set so quickly.

“This process needs to move quickly for the sake of the girls, their parents, and our staff, so having a court date scheduled for this month, and a likely decision before Christmas, is great news, ” McDonnell says. “It is also extremely reassuring to have the steps towards closure halted while our case can be heard.”

Ms McDonnell said that as legal proceedings are now confirmed, the Board will make no further comments about the case until the matter had been determined by the court.

Background

Salisbury School is a residential school in Nelson for post-primary girls with complex intellectual impairment, from around New Zealand. The school provides a 24 hour a day, seven day a week living and learning environment.

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