SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18817, 21 September 1935, Page 4

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

GISBORNE SIDE-TRACKED ILB. BOARD PROTESTS DECISION DEFERRED Keen disappointment and -concern were expressed by Gisborne members of the Hawke's Bay Education Board yesterday concerning the intimation from tho Education Department that the whole question of the establishment of an intermediate school at Gisborne, and the adjustment of accommodation at Gisborne Central, may bo deferred until, the . return of the Director of Education from his overseas tour.. Members of the board generally supported the complaint of representatives from Gisborne, andthe treatment given to Gisborne applications 1 was compared most unfavorably with that given to Danne--virke's application for the erection of a new school at Dannevirke North, a grant for which had boon approved by tho department. *lt was pointed out that the Gisborne infant school replacement had stood at the head of tho urgency list maintained by the Jlawke's Bay Education Board for several years, and that the proposals regarding the’establishment of the intermediate, school at .Gisborne would, if 'carried info effect, remove this long-standing grievance. The board, while welcoming the announcement that the department would provide funds for the Dannevirke North School, emphasised its view that the adjustments at Gisborne Central were still more urgently . needed. GISBORNE PROPOSALS The matter came beforo the board first in a letter from tho Department of Education, acknowledging receipt of the board's latest communication containing proposals for the establishment of intermediate departments in connection with the Gisborne High School, also in regard to the proposed future status of the Gisborne Central School. Tho department's letter stated that the whole question was still under consideration, but in view' of the fact that in no circumstances could the changc-.ov-er be arranged for the beginning of next year, it was possible that a final decision might be postponed until the return of the Director of Education. The - proposals - forwarded by the board were, briefly, that the intermediate departments should be attached to the separate boys’ and girls’ sections of the Gisborne'High School, and that the Gisborne Central brick school should be used for. the accommodation of both infant classes and primary standards, ■up to Std. IV; certain remodelling of the building being recommended to bring it into line w r ith requirements for this purpose; that the new school site in Cobden street be s.old, and that, tho school dental clinic now on that site should be removed across the road and located within the main school block; and that- the old infant school, regarding which there hds been so mpeh criticism in recent years, Should be dfsposed of t 6 the best, advantage. MONEY DIRECTED ELSEWHERE It was pointed out by Messrs. ,J. S. Wauchop and T. A. Coleman, Gisborne members of the Hawke’s Bay Board, that the elimination of the present infant school at Gisborne had been before tho department for years, but that as soon as it became possible to spend money on new school buildings, apart from emergency work necessitated by the earthquakes, tho money was directed elsewkere, despite the board’s- having" maintained . Gisborne Central at the head of its urgency list throughout. Gisborne members agreed that Dannevirke was fortunate in securing a grant for its new school, but protested against tho further postponement of consideration of Gisborne’s requirements. The Dannevirke School had always been rated by- tho board as of loss urgency than Gisborne Central, and it was strongly felt that the matter of adjustments at Gisborne had been side-tracked oneo again. Other members of tho board took the same view as the Gisborne representatives, and it was decided t.o forwnrd a strong protest to tho Education Department, and urge that the decisions of the recent conference at Gisborne be given effect to.