A Christchurch teacher's long-standing dispute with the school board has resulted in a $25,000 compensation award. Susan Mowat, a former teacher at Christchurch Boys' High School, resigned after 18 years due to claims of bullying and false accusations. Her dispute with headmaster Nic Hill lasted two years, impacting her wellbeing and reputation. The school board denied her claims, but the Employment Relations Authority found her concerns about being blamed for others' actions were valid. The anonymous letters submitted to the board in 2017-2018, critical of Hill, were a central point of contention. While the board believed Mowat wrote them, an investigation couldn't confirm this. Mowat's lawyer, Kathryn Dalziel, emphasized the board's 'shutdown approach' as unfair and unreasonable, causing significant harm to her wellbeing and reputation. The authority awarded $25,000 for the physical and mental strain endured during her final years at the school. The board chair, Emily Flaszynski, expressed satisfaction with the findings, focusing on moving forward with a commitment to staff and student wellbeing and fair employment practices.
