Shortage Of Classrooms

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 20

Shortage Of Classrooms

Shirley Boys’ High School might face a crisis if two planned classroom blocks are not completed by the beginning of 1970, according to the Headmaster (Mr C. V. Gallagher). He told Thursday’s meeting of the board of governors that if the new rooms were not ready by then there would be no alternative but to put prefabricated rooms on the playing fields. Mr Gallagher said the increasing number of pupils enrolling every year was straining classroom accommodation and space for prefabricated classrooms was running out.

He said that several existing prefabricated rooms would have to be resited to make way for the new blocks and would have to go on to the tennis court. Any more which were needed would have to go on the play fields, already at a minimum. The board decided to write to the Education Department to request in writing the probable date when tenders would be called for the new classrooms, and to express their concern at the delay. Work is expected to begin during the holidays on the replacement of unsatisfactory fabric roofs on two classrooms. The Education Department has approved a grant of $4795 for the work.

One of the roofs was blown off in the Easter storm and although repaired, is still leaking badly. The Education Department has also approved a grant of $1950 for the replacement in tile of the assembly hall floor which has been badly chipped by furniture.