NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4803, 28 June 1939, Page 5

NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS

DISSATISFACTION AT DELAY. SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S OPINION. REQUEST TO MINISTER. Keen dissatisfaction was expressed at the Te Kuiti School Committee’s meeting on Monday night at the delay of the Education Department in commencing the building programme at the primary school, to make good the deficiencies caused by the fire and by increased demands upon school accommodation.

The chairman, Mr. C. S. Brook, reported having been in telephone communication with the Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, on this matter. In reply to requests that the work be expedited, the Minister replied that the question of site had not as yet been definitely decided.

It is understood that the building of a block of classrooms, either on the circus paddock, or on school ground encroaching on to the Domain, provides the alternative schemes and that the balance of three rooms would be built on the site occupied by the burnt building. Committee members expressed the view that the fact that the site for the building had not been finalised offered no excuse for the failure to institute work on the erection of the three classrooms on the site of the burnt buildings.

In the temporary premises both teachers and pupils were at present carrying on under tremendous disadvantages, with two classes in a room, and with inadequate heating arrangements. To permit the Winter Show to be held, thq classes had been put to futher inconvenience by being transferred to another hall.

The lack of playing facilities about the temporary buildings was viewed in a most serious light, the danger of the children playing in the main street as at present being held to be very serious. The Committee resolved to forward a protest to the Minister at the delay in commencing work on the three classrooms referred to, irrespective of whether the remaining classrooms had been authorised. A copy of the letter is also to be forwarded to Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., asking him to press the matter.