Appendix 2: Timeline of key events

Inquiry into management fees paid by South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland in 2018.
Date Event
November 2017 The Government indicated that no new charter schools would be opened and that it would assess options for those already operating to be brought into the state school system on a case-by-case basis.
7 May 2018 Villa Education Trust submits applications to establish South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland as designated character state schools.
7 June 2018 Notice of Termination for South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland Charter Schools.
28 August 2018 The Minister of Education establishes South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West as designated character state schools.

The Minister of Education appoints a Combined Establishment Board for South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland (the Establishment Board), made up of trustees from Villa Education Trust (the sponsor of the disestablished schools), plus the principal of each school (after they have been appointed).
6 September 2018 The Establishment Board agrees to contract Villa Education Trust to manage the establishment of the new designated charter state schools.
10 September 2018 The Establishment Board receives the first tranche of establishment funding for the two new schools from the Ministry ($420,503 for Middle School West Auckland and $363,791 for South Auckland Middle School).
11 September 2018 The Establishment Board receives invoices from Villa Education Trust for $200,000 and $250,000 relating to management fees for 2018 "set up".

The Establishment Board pays Villa Education Trust $450,000 for the establishment services, as invoiced.
14 November 2018 Villa Education Trust signs termination agreements for South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland Charter Schools.
7 December 2018 Termination date.
31 December 2018 End of financial period for the Establishment Board.
Term 1 2019 Middle School West Auckland and South Auckland Middle School open as designated character state schools.
25 January 2019 Target date for most of the disengagement activities under the termination agreement.
27 August 2020 Qualified audit opinion issued for the Establishment Board for the period ended 31 December 2018, because the Appointed Auditor could not obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence for the management fees paid to Villa Education Trust, and so was unable to determine how much of the management fees was valid expenditure.