Findings from CORE's consultation work and surveys have been cited in The Gisborne Herald editorial "Getting ahead long term relies on better education".
The local Eastland Community Trust have contracted a group of CORE Education staff: Derek Wenmoth, Mary Anne Mills, Pauline Scanlan, Wharehoka Wano, and Deanne Thomas, to undertake a review of what is happening for secondary students in the Gisborne region; and formulate recommendations about where the Trust might be able to provide support in the future. A key part of what the Trust is exploring is how they can make secondary schooling attractive enough to get people to come to and/or stay in the region.
Derek Wenmoth, Director of CORE Education, advocates a scenario approach to help determine what the future of Gisborne's schools might look like, rather than merely offering 'solutions': "This project is providing an excellent context for challenging beliefs and values we have about education; and how we translate these into a context such as Gisborne, where, whatever is recommended, must have a high degree of local ownership to succeed".