EDUCATION IN OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 6

EDUCATION IN OTAGO

MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, which was held this morning, was attended by Messrs James Wallace (in the chair); N. H. Colquhoun, AV. Jaeobsen, J. T. Fraser, W. R. Brugh, W. M. Cooper, C. E. Richards, R. Flctt, H. A. Brough, and D. C. Cameron. URGENT WORKS. The Chairman stated that the Education Department had intimated that the Government had agreed to provide a special supplementary grant for the current financial year for the express purpose of enabling urgent painting and repair works to be carried out. The money was not to be used for. ground improvements, or for small capital works, and was essentially to help overtake arrears of work arising from labour and material shortages due to the war. The department's circular added that only 5 per cent, of the usual maintenance grant was available for the maintenance and improvement of school grounds. This amounted to only £BBS per annum, and the board in 1945 expended £2,203 on ground improvements. The department's special approval to the expenditure had been necessary, said the Chairman, and it was suggested that the board ask to be allowed to expend 15 per cent of the grant on maintenance and improvement of school grounds. Suggestion approved. EARLIER LONG VACATION.

The School Committees' Association wrote stating that, with the introduction of the Annual Holidays Act, there was a definite tendency for factories to close earlier, and it thought that consideration should be given to the closing of schools about December 16 or 17. This would also assist in spreading the rush on transport services during this period. The matter was referred to the Director of Education for consideration. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. The School Committees Association asked if more publicity could be given to the committee elections than had been the case in recent years. The p association felt that an effort should be made to increase public interest. It was endeavouring to arrange, for some Press and radio announcements to supplement the usual advertisements, and asked that the hoard also help in this direction. The School Committees Association also suggested that committees in the areas concerned should be notified in writing of the date of closing of nominations for vacancies on the board. Association's requests acceded to. TEACHERS IN AIR FORCE. The chairman stated that the board had made application to the Air Department for the release of William G. Thomas, who had been appointed first secondary assistant at the Kurow D. H. School. The Air Department had replied as follows:—" The educational commitments of the R.N.Z.A.F. have not diminished nearly as much as was visualised, in October last. At present the service could well employ more officers than it has at its disposal. A general educational and vocational scheme has been prepared and awaits approval. It of course covers the provision of education officers. It is regretted that no promise of release for Flight-lieutenant Thomas can be made until the above-mentioned scheme is put into effect, or the employment of education officers is otherwise clarified." The secretary (Mr J. W. Carringt'on) stated that there were 33 teachers still in the services and stressed the necessity for their release. It was decided to again communicate with the department in the matter. EDUCATION BOARDS' CONFERENCE. On the motion of Mr Jaeobsen it was decided to make application for the nest biennial conference of education boards, which is due in 1948, to be held in Dunedin. TUAPEKA WEST SCHOOL. In regard to the matter of the consolidation of the Tuapeka West school in Lawrence, Mr Cooper moved: — " That, as the department must give its approval to any consolidation proposal, and in view of the delay in receiving its decision in the matter of Tuapeka West, the board now considers that the matter should stand in abeyance until the end of the year. In the meantime the board approves of the extension of the Tuapeka Flat service to Williams's corner, and that inquiries be made as to additional cost for .the department's approval." The motion was approved. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations were accepted :—Mrs Dorothy White, librarian, Training College; Arthur G. Lynn, head master, High Street; Alfred C. Notman, head master, Clutha Valley D.H.; Adeline M. Jones, infant mistress, Cromwell D.H.; Winifred E. Lewis, infant mistress, Roxburgh D.H.; Stanley J. Gage, Owaka Valley; Allan Turnbull, Moonlight; Adrian T. Lonie. Kahuiiia; Garth I. N. Sim, Waikoikoi; Raymond F. Chappell, Moa Creek (sole teachers); Ellen L. Baxter, Ranfurly D.H.; (Reginald A. P. Cox, Caversham; Eunice P. Brown, Waikouaiti; Doris Baxter, East Taieri; Mrs Winifred I. Botting, Kaikorai; Muriel E. Laing. Sawyers Bay (assistants) ; Douglas C. Gunn, second assistant, Tokomairiro D.H.; Kathleen M. Bennetts, home science instructress, Milton-Roxburgh centres. The following appointments were confirmed: — Special positions: Assistant, Moray Place Speech Clinic, Kathleen B. Ball; secondary assistant, Tokomairiro D.H., Garth I. N.Shn. General positions: Sole teachers— Chaslands, Allan V, Burley (soldier); Taieri Beach, Edward J. Morrison (soldier) ; Wilden, Mrs Annie Johnston. And the following assistants:—Alexandra D.H., Ewen H. J. Cameron; Anderson's Bay, John M. Booth; (Balclutha, Hilton W. Dalgety; Caversham, James G. Lamont; Caversham, Noel A. Espie; Forbury, John D. F. Melser; Forbury, Athol G. Mcßeth; Kaikorai, lan R. Scott; Kaitangata, (Raymond J. Welch (soldier); Mornington Adrian T. Lonie; Mornington. Rex D. Lovell-Smith; Mosgiel D. H., Allan Turnbull; Musselburgh, Charles S. MacArthur; North-east Valley, Ronald U Roy; Oamaru North, Thomas "N. Pi'nder; Oamaru North, Murray E. Fyfe (soldier); Port Chalmers. John E. Hunt: St. Clair, lan W. Jenkin; Tokomairiro D.H., Esmond R. G. Scott; Tokomairiro D.H., Stanley J. Gao-e- Kaikorai, Edward W. Kibblewhite; St. Clair, Ethel M. (Ruston; Kaitangata, Jean F. Lochhead; Sawyers Bay Molly A. Spackman; Cromwell 'D*.H.. Noreen M. Cockerell; Outram, Dulcie D. Sykes; George Street, Alison M. Moir; St. Clair, Annie Walker; Tarras, Natalie J. Dryden; Caversham Convalescent Home and'Dunedin Hospital, Mrs Winifred I. Botting. i