EDUCATION IN OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 5

EDUCATION IN OTAGO

MEETING OF BOARD HEATING SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS Advice that the department was prepared to make more provision for the installation of up-to-date heating systems in approved schools was received by the meeting of the Otago Education Board yesterday. There were present: Messrs J. Wallace (chairman), D. C. Cameron, C. E. Richards, W. D. Sutherlad, N. Colquhoun, E. Morgan, W. R. Brugh, D. T. Fleming, D. Marshall, and W. N. Cooper. Heating in Schools The department intimated that it was prepared to provide, in approved cases, a grant of two-thirds of the cost of installing up-to-date heating systems in schools to replace existing facilities on condition that the board found the remaining third from its maintenance grant. A resolution was carried —(1) Thanking the Minister for his decision to cancel the regulation requiring school committees to contribute toward the cost of heating systems and septic tank installations; (2) informing committees that as one-third cost of heating systems and one-fourth cost of septic tank installations were a charge against the maintenance grant, only a limited number could be carried out each year; (3) asking the architect to prepare a list of, say, 10 schools in which central heating systems would be an improvement, and 12 schools in which septic tank installations were desirable, the schools to be ranged as far as possible in order of necessity. Subsidies The Mosgiel District High School Committee asked for assistance in clearing and levelling the new recreation area, and suggested that if five men could be obtained for three months under scheme No. 13, it would pay half the cost of the contribution asked for by the Unemployment Board. The total amount would be £lB, and the board agreed, to contribute half. The North-East Valley Committee applied for a subsidy towards the cost of a piano for the Opoho School, and a grant of one-third of the cost (£27) was' approved. „ A grant of half the cost (£35) of completing the Waikouaiti School grounds was approved. The Cromwell District High School Committee offered to find one-third of the cost of a bicycle shelter (£2l). and this was accepted. Repairs and Renovations The Kauru Hill Committee’s request for kerbing to the paths, at an estimated cost of £7, was granted. The Forbury Committee asked if the grounds could be concreted when the new school was finished. The architect reported that £2OO was provided in the new building grant for concrete work and £SO for a grass: area or garden plot in the quadrangle. When the building was finished all of the ground apart from the grassed area would have a hard surface, either of concrete or asphalt. The committee also applied for interior and exterior renovation of the janitor’s residence and the outside painting of the gymnasium. The architect reported that the outside work would be done, but that the interior work todhe janitor’s residence was usually carried out on a subsidy basis, since the department did not include those residences in the maintenance grant.—lt was decided to have a report on the cost of the interior work. . , . The Pine Hill Committee asked that th? concrete area between the shelter shed and the new administration wing should be extended. The architect reported that £99 15s was provided in the new grant for additional concrete. To concrete the area requested by the committee would cost £152.—1t was decided to hold over the request for the additional area. It was decided to make application to the department for the renovation of the head teacher’s residence at Wed-, derburn.—lt was reported that the total cost would be £ll2. The Otepopo Committee reported that the total cost of boring for water had been £4l 18s 7d. The board had agreed to find £lO and the committee was to find the remaining amount. It now asked the board to Increase its contribution to half the cost, and also that, since there was now an ample supply of water, the septic tank system should be proceeded with. The architect reported that the total cost would be £253.—1t was agreed to contribute half the cost of boring, and to apply to the department for a subsidy for the complete work. The Teaneraki head teacher’s application for the addition of a veranda to his residence was granted. The Alexandra School Committee offered to find one-third of the cost of enlarging the hot-air heating system, so that it could be extended to the new detached infant room. Allowing for thejpresent plant, the cost would be £l32.—The offer was; accepted in the meantime, and it was decided to make application to the department for the full two-thirds grant, the board’s contribution to be one-third. A renewed application for the lining of the gymnasium at the Kaitangata School, the addition of a window and interior painting was held over.---The usual grant of £2 2s toward .swimming instruction costs was nuide. Committee Elections The board, approved of the following names recommended by committees to complete the full committees:—Blacks, Mes:rs E. Goodman and lan McKay; George Street, Mes-rs R. Walls and H. McMasters: Hawea Flat, Messrs A, Allison and J. Gray; North-East-Valley, Mr E. H. Shenherd: Oamaru North. Mrs A. Gibson: Purekireki, Messrs F. Girvm and N. Bayne: Sutton. Mr W Henderson; Walton—Messrs A. Melrose, F. Buchanan, and F. Glover. Committee Audits The auditor reported that 24 schools had not so far submitted their accounts for audit, and it was decided that no payments should be made to any committee until the audit was completed. Conveyance and Consolidation Mr Fleming reported the result of his meeting with parents concerning the proposed consolidation of Katea with the Owaka District High School. There would be 17 primary pupils and three secondary pupils. If the bus were to travel via Hunts road the present service there would not be required, and. taking this saving into account, the cost of consolidation should be less than the running of the Katea School. —It was decided to Invite tenders. The Ardgour School Committee wrote approving of the proposed consolidation of its school with Tarras. On the question of providing additional accommodation at Tarras. the architect reported that there were three proposals for consideration: (1) The erection of a new school of two rooms and the conversion of the present combined school and residence into a teacher's residence; (2) the removal of the Ardgour School to Tarras; and (3) the conversion of the present resi-

dence portion into a classroom and the erection of a new residence when required. As the present Tarras School is 48 years old. it was considered that the erection of a new two-roomed school would be the most satisfactory, and it was decided to make application to the department for a new building, A request from the Pine Hill committee that the board should arrange for the school bus to stop at suitable places in Dalmore on the way up to pick up children who now walk to school was declined, A letter was received from the Hawea Flat committee reporting that members of the Luggate. Albert Town and Maungawera committees had been interviewed with a view to amalgamation in the district. The Maungawera committee also reported on this subject. stating that the committee and householders were not in favour of amalgamation, and the matter was held over.

The Stirling committee asked that tenders should be called for the conveyance of Inch Clutha children to the Stirling school. —It was decided to resume the winter service.

A letter was received from the department staling that a petition had been forwarded through Mr J. W. Munro. M.P., to the Minister of Education tMr P. Fraser) from residents o;t Leith Valley through the Leith Valley Progressive League asking for more favourable treatment of children travelling from Leith Valley to the George Street School. —It was decided to inform the department that the board consideren the present service satisfactory. There had been no complaints for some months. It was decided to forward the lowest tender for the conveyance of Mosgiel secondary school pupils (£2 5s per school day) to the department for consideration.

General The Tainui Committee asked that the board should reconsider the Tainui School boundaries, and it was decided that a meeting should be arranged between the chairmen and clerks of the Tainui. Anderson’s Bay. and Musselburgh committees and the town members of the board to discuss the position. A request from the Tapui Committee for a special grant of £8 for topping the trees round the school grounds was granted. Resignations and Appointments Resignations were accepted as follows: —John E, Stevens (headmaster at Naseby), Mabel M. Howes (sole teacher at Lindis Pass) Nesta Tyndall (infant mistress at Mornington). Tui I. Gall (assistant at Heriot), Margaret N. Borthwick (assistant at Moeraki), John C. Harris (assistant at Normal) Catherine A. O’Reilly (assistant at Tokomairiro D.H.), Hugh L. McKinnon (secondary assistant at Mosgiel D.H.). and Edgar D. Farrant (secondary assistant at Strath Taieri). The following appointments were confirmed:—Nesta Tyndall (infant mistress at Normal) Colin C Gillies (sole teacher at Moa Creek). Francis H Waldren (sole teacher at Moa Flat) Tui I. Gall (assistant at Balclutha) Edgar D. Farrant (secondary assistant at Mosgiel D.H.). and Rubv D Hav (secondary assistant at Roxburgh D.