NEW SCHOOL AT SURREY PARK

Southland Times, Issue 23838, 8 June 1939, Page 6

NEW SCHOOL AT SURREY PARK

Eastern Area Of City To Be Served ROLL NUMBER OF 200, EXPECTED Good progress is being made with the construction of the new primary school at Surrey Park which is to serve the eastern area of Invercargill. The contractors began work in January and it is hoped that the school will be ready for occupation before the end of the year. The recommendation to the Department of Education to build the school was made by the Southland Education Board because of the growing pressure on the accommodation of the North and Middle schools. In recent years the city has spread rapidly in the eastern direction and in a comparatively short time vacant areas have been transformed into well-populated residential suburbs. It is expected that at least 200 pupils will attend the new school. Set in four and a-half acres of ground, the school will be an attractive building. It will consist of six rooms, all extremely well-ventilated, the latest ideas for the provision of the maximum amount of sunshine and fresh air having guided the architect in drawing the plans. Brick and timber are being used in the construction work and the building will have a roof of concrete tiles. There will be no head master’s residence attached.

Although the files of the Education Board speak of the Surrey Park school, no name has yet been officially given. That will be done by the board later, although it is thought likely that the original name will be retained. Another duty that will face the board will be to fix a district, within the bounds of which householders will have the right of electing a committee. Appointments to the school staff will be made after applications have been called. Naturally there is no idea yet how many teachers will be employed but under the regulations a roll number of 201 entitles a school to a staff of six, a head master and five assistants. When the new school is completed there will be six State primary schools in the city and one not far from the boundary. The city schools will be St. George, South, Middle, North, Waihopai and Surrey Park and the Waikiwi school serves a suburb.