EDUCATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 1, 19 July 1946, Page 5

EDUCATION

WHAKATANE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Whakatane School Committee was held in the High School last evening, Messrs. J. W. Wilson (chair), J. H. Duthie (secretary), F. Clarke (treasurer), W. Whittaker, F. W. Lysaght, and G. H. Dainton being present. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs H. D. Paterson, W. E. Armstrong and G. E. Mahy. Accounts totalling £34 were passed for payment, the sum including part of the cost of carrying out extensive improvements to the Infant School grounds. Increased Grant Intimation was received from the Education Board that as that body had recently received an increased grant from the Government, it had been decided, in the case of District High Schools that the school Fund Allowances should be computed on a basis of ninepence per squafie foot of classroom floor space plus 5/- per head of the primary roll for the previous September, plus 10/per head of the secondary roll for March of the current year. This would mean that as from April 1, the Whakatane Committee would receive £690 6/9 per annum, or £172 11/8 per quarter. Arrears for the June quarter had been paid into the bank, the nett amount credited to the Committee being £67 10/5. Commenting on the new grant, the chairman stated that although the amount represented a very satisfactory increase, the Committee would still have to keep a watchful eye on expenditure. From the Adult Education Group, a letter was received, thanking the Committee for the use of the school duifing the recent Adult Education Week. . A donation of £3 3/- was enclosed to defray expenses in maintenance. School Rifle Range A matter which arose, and which was fully discussed by the Committee, was the question of shifting the present school miniature rifle range, to allow future building work to proceed. The point which came under consideration was whether it was to be re-erected, and if so, where. The Committee in general, felifc that there was a certain element of danger attaching to a rifle range actually in the school grounds. The Headmaster (Mr. I. B. Hubbard), agreed adding that it was better to be on the safe side, and if it were ■to be re-erected to take it out of the school grounds altogether. It had been inspected, he said, by two Army officers from Paeroa, and arrangements would be made for its removal by the P.W.D. It was decided that under the circumstances, it would be wiser .and safer not to. have the range reerected in the school grounds. Headmaster’s Report The report, presented by the Headmaster (Mr. I. B. Hubbard) showed the school rolls to be as follows: High School, 225; Middle School, 314; Infant School, 148; Ohope Side School, 48; Total, 735. A suggestion that the girls needed a room where they could change before engaging in Physical Training or sports was discussed by the Committee, and it was agreed that it might perhaps be possible to erect a screen or partition across one of the cloak-rooms.

On the subject of the need for sheds in connection with the daily supply of milk to the school, to be commenced in the near future, the chairman stated that the Committee had already communicated with the Health Department on the matter, and it was deemed wisest to wait until an officer of the Department from Gisborne visited Whakatane next month, before any definite move in the construction of the sheds was made.

It was decided to have the-stumps bordering the western side of the school ground removed if possible. Filling the Hollows.’ At the last meeting of the Whakatane School Committee, it was decided to write the Whakatane Borough Council requesting that those parts of Goulstone Road where the school buses pulled up be filled with metal again. The Headmaster (Mr. I. B. Hubbard) stated that the Council had done this before, and there should be no difficulty in having it done once again. Where ever the school buses pulled up, he said, the- road was gradually worn into a dip. When wet weather came the dips, filled with mud -.and water, and made the entrance to the school very unpleasant.