BOARD OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17327, 26 November 1919, Page 11

BOARD OF EDUCATION

FACILITIES AT RUAKURA, THE DEVONPORT SCHOOLS. The 'Education Board met yesterday' afternoon and evening, the following members being present during the whole or part of the meeting:— E. C. Banks, chairman, Mrs. F. E. Baume, Messrs. J. S. Bond, A. Burns, J. Boddie, J. R. Penning, J. D. McKenzie. H. S. W. King, G. W. Murray, Dr. J. S. Reekie, and the Hon. G. J. Garland. Facilities at Knakura Farm. The supervisor of the manual* and technical branch, Mr. .1. P. Kalaugher, submitted a proposal for the erection of a lecture and demonstration room at the Ruakura State Farm, for which there was urgent need. After consultation with Mr. A- W. Green, manager at Ruakura, Mr. Kalaugher recommended that a lecture hall, to accommodate 160 persons, should be erected, according to design submitted by him, at an estimated cost, including furnishing, of £1650, the board to make a grant not exceeding £350 toward the cost. It was resolved to write to the Education Department to ascertain what it is prepared to do in the matter. . Accommodation at Devonport. The question of extra accommodation and extra teaching assistance at the Devonport School was brought up by Mr. King. He submitted correspondence from the committee pointing out that it could not be hoped the new school at Vauxhall would be opened at the commencement of the new school year. The regulations, he said, made ii. impossible to appoint a staff for the new school until it was .actually opened. He urged that steps be taken to enable a temporary school to be opened with an adequate staff. It was agreed to leave the iflatter in the hands of Mr. King and the advisory inspector, and that they endeavour to obtain a hall, and that if such a building is obtained the*school be established as from the beginning of February. A report received from the chairman of the Devonport Committee stated that the number of scholars in standard V. and IV. were respectively 112 and 114, whereas the accommodation, according to the 12 square feet minimum as fixed by the Department, was sufficient only for 70 in each standard.