EDUCATION IN OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 2

EDUCATION IN OTAGO

MONTHLY* MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board yesterday was attended by Messrs James Wallace (chairman), W. Cooper, D. C. Cameron, N. Colquhoun, D. Marshall, W. B. Sutherland. E. Morgan. C. Richards and D. T. Fleming. The Caversham committee’s offer to find half the cost of erection of shelves in the corridors, the estimate for which was £2O. was declined. An application by the Highchft committee for assistance in ourchasing a piano was granted. The architect’s recommendation that interior renovation work be carried out at the Sawyers’ Bay School at a cost of £l2 10s was adopted. ' „ „ ~ The North-East Valley committee’s request for a window in the north wall of the teachers’ room was granted. Applications for interior renovations costing £H' at Benhar and for improvements and renovations to the headmaster’s residence at Pukeuri at an estimated cost of £43 5s were granted. The architect was authorised to act in an application from Pukeuri for the levelling of the floor of the infant room and interior painting. The Oamaru North committee applied for the erection of an additional classroom, and it was decided to support the application to the department. The head teachers application for the painting of the intend of the shelter sheds was declined. An application from the Dunedin North Intermediate committee for the painting of the exterior of the school was noted. The architect reported that an endeavour would be made to paint the' buildings some time next year. . , , . The architect was instructed to make necessary repairs to the teacher’s residence at Owaka Valley. The Oamaru South committee reported that the Minister of Education had visited the school and that it had placed before him requests for a new open-air room for the infants and the remodelling of the front of the main school, so as to provide two new up-to-date rooms. It had also asked for an improved heating system in the main school The architect stated that he _ would report on these requests on his next visit to North Otago. In any case, this work was not on the urgent list now before the department. The Anderson's Bay committee asked that a comprehensive scheme of ground improvements should be placed on the Public Works list. The architect’s estimate of the cost was £ 1880. The chairman said that the board could not support such a scheme until it knew the nature of it, and the question was held over. The request of the Caversham committee that the school bell should be erected in a belfry on the lawn was declined. A further request was made for the painting ot the janitor’s residence and the fence at the main school, but it was decided that the work should await rotation. DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS The department advised that grants had been made for three additional classrooms and an administration block at Pine Hill, the improving of the water _ supply at Kurow, and for alterations the science laboratory and the provision and furnishing of an office for the headmaster at Palmerston. In reply to the board s recommendation that a new school be built at Mosgiel, the department asked that a- sketch and estimate of the proposed scheme should be submitted as early as possible. ihe architect was instructed to act. Advice was received from the department that arrangements had been made with the Department of Housing Construction to place at the disposal of the Education Department an area of one acre adjoining the school site at Wakan. Mr Cameron commented that the area originally promised was four acres and a-hal£. The City Council was protesting against the reductloThe department’s notification that the increased allowance made to school committees last year was to be continued this year was noted. The reservation of 10 per cent, ot the total for improvements to school grounds was now withdrawn, and the whole amount was available for the general purposes of committees Any amounts now held by committees for ground improvements could now be used for general purposes It was intimated also that the subsidy at the rate of £2 for every £ 1 raised locally for the erection ot school dental clinics had been restored. The dental equipment would be provided by the Health Depaitment, the Education Departments subsidy being toward the cost of the building only. As in the past, it would be necessary for local committees to provide any other furniture that might be required. The department advised that pupils who were eligible for conveyance to public schools but were actually attending private schools were to be carried in existing contract and departmental bus services on precisely the same conditions as public school pupils, provided that accommodation was available in the buses. GENERAL

The Lower Harbour committee reported that a district meeting had decided to recommend to the board that the school should be closed and the children driven from Heywood Point to Purakanui (four miles) and from the lower road to Port Chalmers (six miles). The teacher had reported that next year there would be approximately eight children from Heywood Point and five on the lower road. The West Taieri committee reported that it had adopted a resolution favouring the combining of the West Taieri School with Outram. The board decided to invite tenders for the conveyance of the children. In reply to a request from the Fruitlands committee that the board should arrange with the Public Works Department for a connection to the pipe line for the purpose ot supplying the school and residence with water, it was reported that the committee had been asked whether it had considered the matter or driving to Alexandra, as the school had fallen to Grade O and the present teacher was under notice of transfer. The Waikouaiti County Council advised its acceptance of the board s offer of £2O in connection with the drainage scheme at the Kantane School. , „„ _ . It was decided to grant £?- 2s to the Lawrence District High School to assist in its scheme of swimming instruction. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS The following resignations were accepted:—Headmaster; James H. Scully (Moeraki) Sole teacher: Edwin J. Tapp (Buscot). Assistants: William J. Bennett (Forbury). Karen S. Andersen (Macandrew Road Special), Mary E. Young (Palmerston District High). Domestic science instructress: Margaret H. Pithie. The following appointments were confirmed:—Sole teacher; Mrs Ivy B. Munro (Owaka Valley). Assistants:

Allan D. Coates (Balclutha) and Ernest A. Searle (North-East Valley). Secondary assistant: Mary H. A. Scott (Tapanui District High).