EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD

DECISION REAFFIRMED

Protesting against any interference witlr the Wilden school, a deputation from the district, including School Committee memoers, waited on the Otago Education Hoard at its monthly meeting yesterday. The deputation wanted the board to alter its earlier decision that Dunrobin children should be conveyed past the Wiiden Scnool cn route to the consolidated school at Heriot. Members of the deputation were heard at length, their principal submissions being that the roaus were dangerous in snow conditions, the district was not suitable for consolidation, and the majority of the people did not want consolidation. Mr S. Sim, a past president of the Heriot School Committee and president of Federated Farmers, Otago, said he thought that the board's decision to run a bus as proposed was foolish. The roads were extremely dangerous in winter, he said. The chairman, Mr J. I. Fraser, explaining several points to the deputation, said there was no intention to force consolidation on any school. After the deputation had retired, Mr N. H. Colquhoun moved that the board’s decision be reaffirmed. An amendment that, in the light of the fresh evidence, the question be again considered, moved by Mr W. M. Cooper, was lost, and Mr Colquhoun’s motion was carried. The meeting was attended by the chairman and Messrs J. V. Riach, H. A. Brough, R. E. Hunter, Cooper. W. Jacobsen. G. W. Carrington, Colquhoun, and G. S. Fincham. The architect reported that at the request of the Minister of Education, Mr McCombs, arrangements had been made to install fluorescent lighting in St. Mark's Hall at Green Island, now used as a temporary classroom. The estimated cost was £SO, and this could be the subject of a separate claim to the department.—Approved. A letter from the town clerk, Mr R. A. Johnstone, advised that the General Committee regretted that it could not reduce the charge proposed of £250 for the use of the Municipal Baths.—lt was decided to reply that the board could not pay more than £l5O. On the recommendation of the architect, it was decided to apply to the department for linoleleum to cover the infant room floor at the Mornington School. This decision was made in view of the department’s advice that it would accept an application for linoleum to cover one infant room, as an experiment. A report from the architect that linoleum was required at the Owaka and Alexandra cookery rooms to replace linoleum now worn out and dangerous was noted. Application, it was stated, had been made to the department for a grant lo cover the cost. The department advised that the Government was unable to provide funds for the erection of a new house for the senior secondary assistant at the' Kurow District High School. —Noted. June 14 was the date fixed for the election of the school committees that had failed to be elected at the first opportunity. In connection with the Education Board elections, it was reported by the secretary, Mr C. R. McLean, that nominations would be invited about June 12. Resignations and Appointments The following resignations were accepted:—Grace M. Fraser, assistant, Concord; Annie F. Simpson, assistant, St. Leonards; Eunice M. Gibson, assistant, Miller's Flat; Dorothy M. Denholm, assistant, Oamaru North; I’leen I. Marshall, assistant, Occupation Centre; Beatrice Bell, assistant, Caversham; Jocelyn Murdoch, assistant, Cromwell District High School; Foster M. Mitchell, woodwork instructor, Milton and Roxburgh centres. The following appointments were confirmed;—Special positions: Jessie I. Wright, head teacher, Roxburgh Health Camp (transfer); Mary E. Keen, assistant, Moray Place Speech Clinic; Joan M. Green, secondary assistant, Lawrence District High School; William A. Meates. secondary assistant, Ranfurly District High School. General positions: Eric S. Macfarlane, head teacher, Benhar (transfer); David R. Loan, sole teacher, Omarama; Ivan W. Hanna, sole teacher, Ida Valley; I’leen I. Marshall, assistant, Kaitangata; Joyce M. Bailey, assistant, Omakau; Kathleen M. Brydon, assistant, Maori Hill; Eunice M. Gibson, assistant, Maori Hill’ (transfer); Annie F. Simpson, 8.A., assistant. Sawyers’ Bay (transfer).