Schools to pay for fire damage

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 4

Schools to pay for fire damage

PA Auckland Schools will have to foot their own bills for firedamaged equipment when the Education Department is dissolved, the "Auckland Star” reports. The Government paid out nearly $8 million for fire damage in primary and secondary schools last year. But after October 1, when the Education Department and its regional boards are replaced by a ministry and an array of related agencies, the Government will only pay out on land and buildings. Other assets are boards of trustees’ responsibility. The Education Department’s funding implementation convener, Mr Brian Ashton, said he had started a comprehensive insurance policy to be handed over to boards of trustees to run.

The policy was set up after a study of levels of

insurance and legal liability. Tenders were then invited from insurance companies to provide the necessary cover at minimal cost. The president of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association, Ms Ruth Chapman, said the P.P.T.A.’s concern was that boards of trustees had not been given enough Government money to cover the insurance.

“Schools have been given test budgets which they are finding is not enough for their current expenditure. We have no objection in principle to having to take out insurance given the whole devolution thing. But we are worried whether schools will be given enough funding to cover the extra costs.”

Boards of trustees tip a 20 per cent to 25 per cent finance shortfall next year.