EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23328, 21 October 1937, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board, which was commenced yesterday, was attended by the chairman (Mr James Wallace), Messrs D. Marshall, C. Richards, D. T. Fleming, W. M. Cooper, D. Sutherland, E. Morgan, N. Colquhoun and D. C. Cameron. Subsidies The Warrington School Committee applied for assistance in topdressing the lawn tennis court at the school. The architect estimated the cost of material, with railage and cartage, at £7 12s, and labour at £s.—lt was agreed to allow half of the cost. The Glenkenich Committee’s application for assistance in fencing the grounds, at an estimated cost of £l2 2s lOd, and gravel £4 7s 7d, was considered, and half of the cost was allowed. The Tahakopa Committee applied for assistance in concreting paths at the school. The architect estimated the cost at £2l 8s. —Half of the cost was granted. The Stuarts Committee applied for assistance in concreting paths at the school, at an estimated cost of £35 16s.—Half of the cost was granted. The Edievale Committee wrote asking if the board would top-dress and repair the asphalt at the school if the committee made a donation of £5. The architect estimated the cost at £l3, and the board had previously approved of the usual £ for £ subsidy.—Agreed to, the board to make a subsidy of half of the cost. The Musselburgh School Committee renewed its application for the erection of a shed for bicycles, pointing out that a number of children required bicycles to enable them to attend the manual training centre at Macandrew road. —The application was refused. The Purekireki Committee’s application for assistance in purchasing a piano at an estimated cost of £25 was agreed to, the board to allow one-third of the cost. The Dunback Committee applied for assistance in purchasing a piano at an estimated cost of £4O. —Agreed to, the board to provide one-third of the cost. Architect’s Recommendations The Cambrian Committee applied for a more suitable coal shed at the teacher’s residence. The architect reported that the present shed was in bad order and he recommended that one of the old out-buildings at Omakau be moved and fitted up as a coal shed at a cost of about £B. Approved. The Cambrian Committee submitted an application for an extension of the school porch to the house hand-washing facilities. The architect recommended in view of the climatic conditions. The committee had agreed to assist by providing the pipes and laying on water to the basin, and was willing to provide £lO towards the cost of the extension. The estimated total cost was £22.—Approved. The head teacher, Purakanui, wrote applying for repairs and renovations at the residence. The architect reported that renovations were necessary at a cost of £l9 10s, renewal of the chip heater £B, and sundry repairs £4—a total of £3l 10s. Further, the entrance to this residence was not gravelled, and there were no formed paths. The estimated cost was £ 15.—Approved. The Duntroon School Committee wrote asking whether the board would join in a scheme to supply water to the township. The estimated cost to each residence was £2O. The architect reported that thete was an electric pump at this school and it supplied water to the garden and residence. It was proposed to extend this service to supply the new outhouses.—The request was declined. An application was received from the George Street School Committee for renovations to the janitor’s house and the erection of a separate bathroom. The architect reported that the renovating work would cost £ls, and a bathroom about £7o. In view of the age of the house, which was considered too old to justify repairs, it was decided to decline the application in the meantime. The North Taieri committee forwarded an application for two windows in the northern wall of the classroom. The architect reported that this would certainly improve the lighting and the cost would be £ls.—Agreed to. The High Street committee applied for a sink with water laid on in the upstairs passage of the school. The architect recommended that this be held over until the school was remodelled, when provision would be made for washing facilities and water supply on the top floor. The present position suggested for this by the committee would be a classroom when the school was remodelled.—The architect’s recommendation was approved. Departmental Grants In respect of the Dunedin North Intermediate School, the department advised having made a grant of half-cost of improvements to the land leased from the Otago Harbour Board to provide additional playing area for the school.—lt was decided to thank the department.. Advice was received from the Education Department that it had granted half of the cost of the work of replacing the present flushing system at the Mornington School by the individual pull system.— Noted, and it was decided to reply thanking the department for its action, but suggesting that it allow full cost. The Department of Education advised having made a grant to cover the cost of connecting up the existing drainage system at the Alexandra School with the borough system.—Noted. Airedale School The Airedale School Committee wrote reporting that it was in favour of closing the school and sending the children at Teaneraki. —Consideration of the suggestion was deferred until the next meeting of the board. Teachers’ Refresher Course A letter was received from the South Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Ihstitute reporting that the refresher 'course held on September 18 was entirely success-, ful, over 60 teachers participating. The branch expressed appreciation of the board’s assistance. —Noted. Cleaning of Schools Several teachers wrote reporting that oiled floors were not being scrubbed before the commencement of each term, and that sometimes fresh oil was applied without scrubbing being attended to. —Received, and it was decided to circularise committees requesting that the floors be scrubbed before they are oiled. General The Teaneraki committee wrote asking the board to appoint a repra-

sentative to be present at the opening of the school bazaar, to be held on October 23.—Mr Richards was appointed to represent the board. The Miller’s Flat committee wrote asking the board to appoint a representative to attend the opening of the new jubilee school gates on October 29.—Mr Richards was appointed.