EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 23915, 19 June 1941, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, over which Mr J ames Wallace presided, was concluded this morning. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINT- . MENTS. ’ The following resignations ’ were * accepted: Alfred T. Jackson, sole teacher, Tauraata. and the following assistants—Samuel W. J. Burgess (Anderson’s Bay), Eva M. Johnstone (Cromwell D.H.), Aubrey C. Bossence (Oamaru South), Celia H. Newman (Stirling), and Frances 11. Martyn (Oamaru South). The following appointments to special positions were confirmed;—Ernest U. Duncan, as secondary assistant, Alexandra D.H.; Charles W. Mack, as secondary assistant, Lawrence D.H.; Vida M. Muir, as assistant, Dunedin North Intermediate. Appointments to general positions were confirmed as follows:—Cleland J. Corbet to Chatto Creek, Harry Crook to- Otanomorao, and Stanley J. Gage to Owaka Valley as solo teachers; George D Bruce to Musselburgh, Margaret E. Barth to Miller’s Flat, Kathleen Dunmore to Tarras, Margerita I. Brown to Mosgiel D.H., all as assistants. Samuel W. J. Burgess was' appointed sole teacher at Waianakarua, this being a direct war appointment. ANNUAL REPORT. The Chairman, in presenting tho board’s and inspectors’ annual reports, expressed the opinion that the secretary (Mr G W. Carrington) was to be heartily congratulated upon the clear and interesting manner in which ho had compiled the reports. Mr Wallace added that ho was pleased to note that the Otago district’s average attendance of 01.8, though third on tho list, was well ahead of the average (90.7) over the whole Dominion. Referring to the district high schools, Mr Wallace kaid that the whole of Otago was now covered by those schools, which were of great benefit to the country children. The board appreciated the department’s recognition of the necessity for providing these facilities. There was no doubt, as set out in the report, that all the board’s teachers were doing good work, said the chairman. Tho board’s chief inspector (Mr T. A. Morland) also expressed his appreciation of the manner in which Mr Carrington had compiled the reports, which wore, said the speaker, the best presented of their kind in the Dominion. GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT. The committteo appointed to consider the matter of the Education Department’s scheme for maintenance and improvement of school grounds submitted its report. Tho report stated, inter alia, that 110 school committees wished to take advantage of the department’s proposed scheme. Of these, 16 were Dunedin city schools. At 74 schools the work proposed would entail expenditure on material. The ueparti meat's scheme required the employment of a foreman, and if this was insisted upon the cost would bo £1,863 13s. Board allowance for men while engaged on country work would amount to £964 9s, conveyance of men £602 ss, cost of material £1.770; a total of £-5.200 17s. Under the scheme this amount would require to be found by the board from its maintenance fund, that was, there would be this amount less available for inaintenance of buildings, which was 'the primary purpose of the maintenance grant. It was possible that some committees might be willing to contribute towards the cost of their schemes. In the opinion of the committee, travelling gangs from one centre only would entail too great an expenditure on hoard allowance and travelling expenses, and it suggested that the department should bo recommended to utilise unemployed labour available in any particular district. In a number of cases the ground improvement proposals recommended by school committees were of considerable nuigni-

tude, and these (and, in fact, all proposals apart from routine work) would require to be considered individually by the board. Inspection and report by the architect would also be necessary. A trial of the scheme might he made at city schools on routine work not requiring expenditure, or very little expenditure, on material. Tho committee recommended that the particulars asked for ho forwarded to the department together with a request for consideration of the board’s views about the utilisation of local unemployed labour and the need- to employ a foreman in ail cases. The report was approved. SUBSIDIES. Among the subsidies agreed to were amounts for a pathway at Maori Hill School, for a new range and tank at Upper Junction, and for alterations at Arthur Street and Moray Place Domestic Science Centres. Discussion on an application for various renovations, etc., at Tokoiti resulted in the board deciding to adhere to its former resolution to renovate the whole of the teacher’s residence and to request the architect to report on the other applications. Accounts amounting to £28,582 Ils 4d were passed for payment.