Burnside H.S. First Priority, Says Dept

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32378, 18 August 1970, Page 16

Burnside H.S. First Priority, Says Dept

The Department of Education has made the development of Burnside High School its first prio: rity in the Southern Region. Planning for additional buildings to cater for increasing rolls wil l proceed as quickly as possible.

These rei narks were - made yesterday by the regional superintend ent of education (Mr H. M. McMillan). He was referring to criticisms by! the Burnside High School board of governors about the department’s handling of tiie school’s development “I do n ot agree that there are contir luing frustrating delays in the provision of accommodation, extra staffing and othc r facilities at Burnside High School,” Mr McMillan s aid. In rd ’erring to the changing rooi ns for physical education M ! r McMillan said that the dej >artment was aware of the sdaool’s needs but that the df partment was limited by the finance available and its ot! ter calls. The board had said that there; were only two toilets available for the 37 men on the staff.

This was incorrect Mr McMillan said. There were five toilets available. He could find no record of any application froni tie board for additional toilets. At the meeting of the board the principal (Mr A. D. Hunter) had said that only a small amount of maintenance had been done. Mr McMillan said that grants totalling $B3OO had been approved for maintenance at Burnside High School during the last 12 months; and this; did not include money'spent on fire-resistant paint, which was not a charge against maintenance funds. The ’ board said that with the school likely to grow to more than 2000 pupils insufficience allowance was being made for increased staffing. The staffing of large schools was at present under consideration, Mr McMillan said.