EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was concluded yesterday. The chairman (Mr James Wallace) presided. RESIGNATIONS ACCEPTED The following resignations were accepted:— Headmasters, Edward M. Stevens (Waitati), Ivan H. Findlay (Warrington); sole teachers —George H. Geddes (Chaslands), Sylvia C. Turner (Otekura). Margaret Reilly (Poolburn), Herbert J. Craig-Parker (Purakanui); assistants —Winifred P. Hay (Caversham). Mary M. Barclay (Forbury). Jessie Watson (Hawea Flat). Elizabeth M, Young (Kensington), Sarah E. McDonald (Lawrence District High). APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED

The following appointments were confirmed:— Headmaster, Edward M, Stevens (Lawrence District High); sole teachers, Margaret Reilly (Berwick), Robert C. Haig (Blackstone Hill); infant mistress. Elsie J. Crawford (Mornington): assistant. Elizabeth M. Grant (Stirling); secondary assistant. Alan W. I. Duncan (Strath Taien). FINANCE Accounts amounting to £25,435 15s 7d were passed for payment. SUBSIDY GRANTED The Maheno Committee wrote stating that the grant of £2O for filling up the gully had been expended, and that it would cost £lO to fill up the grounds another foot all over. —It was decided to make a grant of £5. ARCHITECT’S RECOMMENDATIONS The Hyde Committee applied for the levelling of the floor of the classroom. The architect reported that the floor of the other room which was not used had been levelled, but that the present room was regarded as much warmer. However, as there were only 12 pupils at the school he did not think there was much occasion to level this floor. Heating by means of a stove was recommended at a cost of £8 10s. —lt was decided to make a grant of £8 10s. The head teacher of the Ranfurly School applied for a sun porch. The architect reported that this residence had been designed to provide three bedrooms, a dining and living room combined, and a kitchenette. The erection of a sun porch on the sunny side of the house would seriously affect the lighting of the other rooms, while any position on the south side would be exposed and cold.—The application was declined. The Concord Committee wrote stating that the asphalt did not appear to be satisfactory and was not standing up to the lorries which brought coal into the school. The architect reported that ordinary asphalt or any of the bitumen preparations would not stand up to heavy traffic such as this. An inspection showed that much of the asphalted area and the entrance in particular was badly star-cracked on this account. Repairs were possible, but he recommended that the area be laid down in concrete and placed on the next year’s public works list.—The recommendation was approved. The Port Chalmers Committee applied for a concrete path at the Technical School. The architect reported that to lay down a path in concrete a distance of 37 yards would cost about £l4.—lt was decided to carry out the work. , . It was decided to make a grant of £25 for work at the head teachers residence at Moa Flat. It was decided to pay half the cost of £l3 10s for the renovating work at the Forbury School janitor’s residence. CONVEYANCE PROPOSALS

The parents in the Ranfurly district renewed their application for a conveyance service. The board had decided in March that the service was not warranted in view of the comparatively small number of children and the estimated cost, £255 per annum. The solution would appear to be, according to the report submitted by the board, the establishment of a secondary department at Ranfurly, when in all probability a conveyance for secondary pupils would traverse the proposed route. The school committees of the Ranfurly, Waipiata, Patearoa, Gimmerburn and Naseby Schools had been asked to ascertain how many children would attend a secondary department if one were opened at Ranfurly next year. The chairman said that one of the great difficulties in this district concerned the transport. It was decided to await the reports from the school committees named. The Arthurton School Committee notified that if the nine children attending the Arthurton School were to be conveyed to Waipahi the attendance at Waipahi would be raised to 36, which would entitle the school to two teachers.—Noted, the department to be asked to consider the matter. The Pine Hill School Committee renewed its application that the school bus pick up the children between Orbell street and Liberton when coming up the hill in the morning. The service could be limited to periods of boisterous weather only. It was decided to endeavour to make some arrangement with the bus proprietor. Only one tender was received for the transport service between Katea and Owaka. The tender was at £2 per school day, and the cost will run out at about £4OO per annum.—Tender to b? submitted to the department. Only one tender was received for the Barr’s road-Owaka service—at the rate of 14s per school day.—The tender has been submitted to the department for its consideration. Glenore-Clarksville District to Tokomairiro—The secretary reported that, subject to the approval of the transport inspector, arrangements had been made with the rural delivery contractor to convey the Glenore children to and from Milton. This would enable the school bus to take the children in the Crichton direction. —Noted. PART TIME PUPILS

The department intimated that, provided adequate accommodation was available, and subject to the approval of the board and head teachers, parttime pupils might be admitted to secondary departments of district high schools for subjects such as typewriting and shorthand, and to woodwork and domestic science classes at manual training schools No fee was to be paid. The chairman: A very good idea We will do our best to help. The proposal was approved. REMODELLING OF SCHOOL A letter was received from the Maheno School stating that during the visit of the board in May of last year the uestion of remodelling the school had been discussed. The committee asked that the matter should now receive consideration. It was decided to hold the matter over for a month.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS The following names, recommended by committees to complete the full number, were approved:— Green Island: Mr James D. C. McDougall. Hindoo: Mr 11. Webb. Mosgiel: The Rev. J. N. Goodman and Messrs W. W. Turnbull and W. Cousins Palmerston: Mr George Ross. Waitepeka: Messrs S. Caldwell and H. Robinson. A protest against the appointments to the Mosgiel Committee was received from Mr W, A. Scott, of Mosgiel. but was not upheld, as the usual custom was being followed. SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS RECOMMENDED The following recommendations were approved:— Makarora: Messrs G. R. Humphrey and A. Ross. North Taieri: Messrs G. Williams and J. L. Skinner Waiporl Townsh p: Mr C. H. Cotton Moeraki: Messrs F J. Carter and A, Booth. The Pukeuri Committee asked that the teacher be allowed to act as clerk. —Agreed to, ST. LEONARDS SCHOOL A letter was received from the head teacher of the St, Leonards School asking for improvements at the residence, and a letter from the School Committee suggesting that a new residence should'be erected.—The architect reported that the residence had been erected in 1880 and that two rooms had been added in 1906, while other

improvements had been carried out since. The building, although badly affected by borer in places, was in fair condition otherwise, and did not warrant condemning. Improvements and renovations to make the house more up to date could be carried out at a cost of about £57. It was decided to carry out the work suggested at a cost of £si. TEACHERS’ SALARIES The department intimated that married male Training College students, probationary assistants, and relieving teachers might be paid a special allowance in order to bring their salary up to £209 15s per annum. The information was noted. SIZE OF CLASSROOMS The department, in reply to an Inquiry from the board, wrote stating that it was the desire of the Minister that 20 square feet be provided for each child. If the roll of a school was not likely to increase beyond 50. however, two classrooms, say, 24 x 22, should provide accommodation in accordance with the Minister’s desire. The determining factor was to be the provision of 20 square feet for each child that was likely to attend, no classrooms to be larger, however, than 26 x 24. The information was noted.