CONTENTS
CONTENTS
The board must make sure that it holds a suspension meeting before the applicable date.
If it does not, the suspension expires, the student must return to school and the board loses the power to lift the suspension with or without conditions, extend it, exclude or expel the student.
The board must have the suspension meeting* before either:
- the close of the 7th school day** after the day the decision is made to suspend the student, or
- if the end of the term occurs less than 7 school days after the suspension takes effect, then the meeting must be held by the end of the 10th calendar day after the day the decision is made to suspend the student.
* The board may make the decision after the suspension meeting, as long as it is made before the applicable date.
** A school day means a day the school is open for instruction. The close of this day is 11:59pm.
You may wish to seek professional advice from New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) if you are uncertain about your options.
The 7-day (or 10-day) rule is absolute. A suspension cannot be delayed, even by agreement. It may proceed without the parent being present.
The Ministry of Education has no discretion to change the date. If a board wants to lift the suspension with or without conditions, extend it, exclude or expel it must hold the meeting and make a final decision by the applicable date.
