EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING ISue monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was commenced yesterday, and was attended by Mr James Wallace (in the chair) and Messrs W. M. Cooper, D. Marshall, D. T. Fleming, W. R. Brugh. E. Morgan. W. D. Sutherland, N. H. Colquhoun. D. C. Cameron, •nd C. E. Richards. SUBSIDY The Kaitangata Committee applied for ground improvements.—The architect stated that there were two proposals. The first scheme involved no cartage, but in the second scheme the excavated material would require to be carted away. He recommended No. 1 scheme. The amount required to supplement the wages under the unemployment scheme would come to a total of About £3o.—lt was decided to pay half-cost outside the Government sub•idy. ARCHITECT’S RECOMMENDATIONS The Green Island Committee applied for improvements in the lay-out of the grounds and outbuildings.—The architect reported that, apart from the work which could 'be carried out by unskilled labour, and concrete walls and paving under the Public Works scheme, the cost to the board would be about £250. This included the removal of the boys’ shelter shed to a new position, the erection of new coal shed, and drainage.—The matter was held over for a month. The head teacher at Inch Valley applied for the removal of a stove from the kitchen to the kitchenette and the installing of an open fireplace in the kitchen.—The architect reported that this proposal would involve the erection of a new chimney. The total cost would be £3l 10s— It was decided to ask the School Committee its views on consolidation.

The head teacher .at Kaitangata applied for additional storage space in the Infant Department and for an alteration to the back entrance doors of the school.—The architect reported that the doors were situated at the junction of two corridors, and they opened inwards. A porch was necessary to protect the doors.. The estimated cost was £ls.—The first "application was granted and full cost was granted for the second application. The head teacher at Kaitangata applied for the installation of general service points in the dining room, drawing room, and, front bedroom at the residence.—The architect reported tha there was one general service point in the kitchen—lt was decided to grant two points. The head teacher at Maheno applied for the erection of a veranda at the residence—The architect reported that the residence was erected some time in the seventies, and an addition of two rooms made in 1883. There were now six rooms. Considering the age and state of the present building, he did not think much expenditure was justified, and, in place of additions, it would be better to give consideration to the erection of a new residence. A closed-in veranda would cost about £6o It was decided to make application to the department for'a new relidence. • The Milburn Committee applied for hie removal of a gorse fence bounding the Main road and the erectiqn of a p,qst-and-wife fence. —The architect recommended at a cost of £8 IDs.— Agreed to. The Omakau Committee applied for the installing of ah electric lighting point in the corridor, —The archill tect reported that, a lighting point in the corridor was a convenience, but the department did not consider it necessary.—lt was decided to inform the committee of the department’s attitude. ’’ „ . The Palmerston District High School Committee wrote protesting against the new secondary room being placed in the lower playground—The, architect reported that, there was not sufficient area m ground to erect the building in the upper playground without Interfering with the lighting or the present school. The proposed site was on the northern boundary of the lower plrying area. There should be no difficulty on account of drainage, this being the chief reason advanced by the committee.—The matter was held over for a month. The Palmerston Committee also •tated that in view of the fact that in three rooms the'windows were tpo high and in another two rooms there was insufficient light, it urged that remodelling be given effect to in the five • rooms.—The , architect stated that he had nothing to add to his previous report, in which he stated that to remove the present Windows and fit new windows of modern type would cost approximately £560 and would not improve the rooms to any great extent.— it:was decided to hold the matter over for a month, pending an inspection of the school. The Palmerston Committee also applied for new furniture for both the teachers’ room and headmaster’s office, and reported that furniture for the headmaster’s office was on order and he would inspect the present furniture in the teachers’ room. The painting work had already been authorised, rnd would be carried out next time men were in the district. —The matter was left in the hands of the architect. . , The Seacliff Committee applied for alterations to-th- dental clinic, and also for painting.—The • architect reported thr t the. board was not Responsible for constructional alterations, but only for maintenance work, such as painting. To paint the interior, would cost about £B—Agreed to. i The Tuapeka Mouth head teacher app'ied for the renovation of the kitchen. The architect estimated the cost at about £5 10s.—Agreed to. The headmaster at Weston, applied for improvements at the residence.— The architect recommended a new sink and bench, the papering of the hall and one bedroom, and the painting of the kitchen. He also applied for a small veranda or porch. As the front door faced the south-westerly weather, a small porch would give adequate protection at an estimated cost of £lo. agreed to. ROXBURGH HIGH SCHOOL

The department intimated that it approved of a subsidy towards the cost of (reeling an assembly room at the Roxburgh District High School on condition that the committee contributed £2OO towards the cost.—lt was decided to ask the committee if it were prepared to contribute the amount. SMALL WORKS The department intimated that it had be:n decided to revert to the former practice by which the cost of small works was made a charge on the grant for maintenance. The maintenance grant would, therefore,/be increased as from April 1 last, and the board would be required to carry out all works at schools and residences, for which the department’s grant would be £75 or less.—Noted. . The department intimated that in view of its memorandum regarding small works, no grant would be made f r installing hot water in the Romahapa residence. —Noted. OAMARU SOUTH The Oama.ru South Committee applied for the installation of electric light in Standard HI and Standard IV classrooms, at an estimated cost of £6 15s. The committee also renewed its application for the installation of a hand basin in the staff room. This was declined on a previous occasion because of the cost of the drainage. The lowest quote now was £3l 10s. The committee now asked what assistance the board would be prepared to make.—The first application was granted, and it was decided to grant half-cost towards the installation ot the basin. REMODELLING DESIRED The Weston Committee’s application for the remodelling of the school so that if possible it might be made into an open-air type of school, was referred to the department. APPLICATION FROM HILLEND The Hillend Committee applied, for the installation of an electric light in the school —Agreed to.

CYCLE SHED REQUIRED The Musselburgh School Committee renewed its application for assistance in the erection of a cycle shed required for the most part, for children who rode bicycles to the Macandrew road Manual Training Centre—The matter was referred to the department. GLENORL SCHOOL The department advised that it approved of the acceptance of the tender of £2Ol obtained at auction for the Glenore residence property.—Noted. KAIKORAI SCHOOL The department intimated that it would provide two-thirds of the cost of installing a hot-air heating system

in the Infant Department at the Kaikorai School, provided the board would find the remaining one-third from its maintenance grant. In view of representations that had been made it also desired to know whether the board proposed to repaint the infant school in conjunction with the remodelling that was being carried out. —The first matter was agreed to, and the architect was asked to report on the question of painting the infant school. RESIDENCE AT PALMERSTON The department intimated that in view of the board’s report of October 6, 1936, on the condition of the teacher’s residence at Palmerston, it was not prepared at this stage to view

favourably a proposal to dispose of the existing property and erect a new residence on the site recently acquired Hold over.

ST. BATMANS ACCOMMODATION The department advised that before considering a proposal for improving the residence accommodation at St. Bathans it desired to be advised whether the board was of the opinion that the St. Bathans School was one which would be likely to attract the services of married head teachers in the future if more suitable residential accommodation were provided.—lt was decided to reply that the board considered that married teachers would be attracted.

lease of property The secretary reported that an inquiry had been received whether the Otiake School property was for sale.— It was decided to offer the property on lease. FAR EAST RELIEF FUND The Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society expressed its thanks for the contribution of £B7 13s lOd from Otago schools Two doctors, fully equipped, have been despatched, and has been busv a< the scene of operations for some time. Substantial monetary aid had also been sent to the International Red Cross in charge of relief operations ir China. —Received.

BACKWARD CHILDREN The department intimated that ap- , proval had been given tc the establishment of an occupation centre in 1 Dunedin for pupils who were so back- . ward that they were unable to profit ■ from the type of instruction given m 1 the special classes. As the result of an examination conducted by the ( school medical officer and the super- i visor of special classes, 13 pupils were recommended for immediate admission. It was understood that a room was available in the old Moray Place School building.—The board agreed to accept the offer for a centre in Dunedin, and town members of the board were constituted a committee to go i into the scheme.

SIZE OF RESIDENCES The department intimated that it had been decided that for Grade lIIA and above the standard accommodation should be five rooms.— Noted. TECHNICAL SCHOOL MANAGERS The board decided that the election of a parents’ representative on the Technical College Board of Managers should be held on August 6.