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School manager bows out
SCORES of staff and students gathered to mark the retirement of a school's "exceptional" bursar.
More than 150 people at High Tunstall College of Science joined forces to pay tribute to their outgoing Director of Services, Bill White.
Before joining the Hartlepool school 12 years ago he worked in the industrial sector and school staff said his financial knowledge, premises management and human resources expertise gave him the relevant experience for his post at the school in Elwick Road.
In his role he was in charge of the premises, finances and human resources at the college, a unique post in Hartlepool which went far above that of the traditional bursar.
Steve Hayley, principal finance assistant at Hartlepool Borough Council, praised Mr White's work not only in terms of financial expertise but the passion he showed for the young people and the college in managing an annual multi-million pound budget.
He said: "He looked after the financial affairs of the college, as if it had been his own money."
The school is unique in its position to have been the first one to obtain FSMIS, Financial Standards required by Ofsted and without a budget deficit in 12 years.
Mr White was the project manager of the lottery funded Life Centre, the community facility with a 700-plus membership.
School head Mirjam Buhler-Willey, who herself is leaving in the summer to take up a post in Yorkshire, said: "At times a hard taskmaster, he set high expectations and made demands of himself as well as others.
"He was available 24/7 and when the alarm went off once at 2am on Christmas Day it was he who went to the college.
"He was a man of principals, wisdom, honesty and integrity.
"He will be desperately missed. I am losing not only an exceptional member of the leadership team but also a most reliable colleague and trusted friend and advisor.
"He was my right hand man who's support was genuine through the worst and best of times."
The school's new business manager will be Ian Ness.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
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