EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD

The ordinary meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday, and was attended by Mr J. Wallace (chairman), the Hon. D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., Mr J. Horn, M.P., and Messrs J. Smth. R. H. S. Todd, L. Sanderson. G. W. Wood, G Livingstone, J. H. Wilkinson, and G. K. Graham." The Highcliff teacher’s application for top-dressing- of the paths at the school residence, at a coat of about £3, was granted. A letter was received from the Balclutha County Council stating that it had reconsidered its decision regarding the construction of a culvert on the road opposite Mr Lilly’s land, and that an .amicable settlement of the matter was probable.—Noted. The jOamaru North School Committee’s application for improvements to the drainage was referred to the architect to act.

The Ranfurly School Committee renewed its application for the removal of the school to the now site and for making provision for an increased number of pupils, TTi s roll number is 01.—The Chairman said that the school had never got an average attendance of 80.—It was decided to place the position of the school before the department.—Air Horn remarked that the buildings were old. and were not worth shifting.—Air Fleming pointed out that oven if the Ranfurly Committee got a new school it would have to have an average attendance of 80 if it hoped to retain three teachers. The Pukeuri School Committee wrote asking that the playground be improved during the Christmas holidays.—lt was decided that the architect should submit plans of proposed improvements for the consideration of the board and that the chairman should make a visit to the locality.

The application from the Hooper’s Inlet School Committee for a new tank was granted. It was decided to agree to the request of the Waipahi School Committee that members of the board should visit the district and confer with the committee on the diversity of opinion regarding the advisability of cutting down certain trees.— It was decided that the members of the district should visit the school.—The Chairman said he would also endeavour to join in with the visit.

’Hie Kaikorai Committee applied for the removal of trees and the erection of a concrete wall with a sft paling wall on top.—lt was decided that the erection of whole of the fence on the upper portion of the boundary be agreed to, and that the matter of a high fence for playing fives be referred to the school committee for its opinion and to ascertain what it is prepared to pay of the cost. As regards the lower half, the adjacent landholders to be asked if they are prepared to give any assistance in erecting a new fence along that boundary. The department intimated that a grant for a two-roomed portable residence had been sanctioned at the Luggate School.— Received with, thanas.—The Chairman stated that it was a pity this grant had not been made earlier. The department intimated that it could not do more than give assistance towards altering existing systems of heating. In approved cases it was prepared to provide one-third of the cost. —Noted. The West Taieri teacher was granted permission to let his school residence during the holidays. It was resolved to ask the department to provide a grant for altering buildings at the Balclutha District High School to make them suitable for the number of pupils expected at the beginning of the year. An application was received from the Mosgiel Committee for the re-establish-ment of secondary classes at the school. The committee forwarded nine additional guarantees from parents promising to send their children to the classes if they were re-established. —It was stated that owing to the proximity of Mosgiel to Dunedin in most cases it would be as convenient for the pupils to attend the High School in Dunedin ns to attend a district high school in Mosgiel.—Mr Fleming said the Mosgiel people had so far complied with the requirements of the Act. He moved—- “ That the board recommend the establishment of secondary classes at Alosgiel and the appointment of a secondary teacher with » view to establishing a district high school Inter if the results warranted this step.” This had been the course adopted in the case of Cromwell, Owaka, and other places.—The motion was carried. The Architect recommended that the following works be carried out;— Repairs to school at Hampden at a cost of £s6.—Adopted. Repair to drainage at Palmerston School. —Adopted. Repairs to the existing tank at the teacher’s residence at Maheno.—Adopted, Asphalting at AVaiwera School. The architect estimated the cost would be about £9O, -and recommended that a two-thirds subsidy be approved.—Adopted. Removal of a stable to the back of the Purakanui School property. The architect asked authority to visit the school and carry out what work ho considered desirable. —Adopted. Request from the Lawrence Committee to alter the furniture in the infant department- —Adopted. Repairs to playground at Port Chalmers School. —Adopted.—As regards additional work proposed the architect recommended that tne committee should pay one-third of the cost of top-dressing the asphalt, in accordance with the usual custom.— Adopted. Repairs to the pipe line from the tank on the hill to the Kurow School.—Adopted.