Top school to add more parents to the board

The head of a prestigious international school yesterday pledged to increase the number of parents represented on the board of governors, after it was criticised for lacking transparency in its operation and representation.

The move by the Canadian International School in Wong Chuk Hang came after recent controversy involving its former head, Dave McMaster, who accused the former chairman of the board, Kennedy Liu Tat-yin, of management interference, creating a hostile environment for employees and attempting to push back governance reform. Liu and several governors resigned following a series of meetings last month.

The new head of the school, Gregg Maloberti said there was room for improvement but warned decision-making powers would be hampered by shining "a bright light on the board's proceedings".

According to sources, the previous board had only two out of 20 governors with children who attended, or had previously attended, the school, though a school spokeswoman could not confirm this number.

"We will make the board more representative of the [school] community and that will increase its level of trust," said Maloberti at a media lunch, adding that he hoped to add three or four more parent governors.

He said since taking office in August, he had not experienced any interference from the board.