CHURCH SCHOOL TO CLOSE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 7

CHURCH SCHOOL TO CLOSE

Staff Shortage At Rotorua (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 30. About 100 pupils in the postprimary department of St. Michael’s School. Rotorua, will be searching for a new school at the end of this term. The Roman Catholic authorities have decided to close the department owing to lack of staff. Most of the children will be forced to apply to the already-overcrowded Rotorua High School. The Rev. Dr. J. J. Flanagan, secretary to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, said that illness among the teaching staff was responsible. Those parents who could afford it would send their children to Roman Catholic schools in other centres. The rest would have to go to the local State school. A number of parents of children attending the school had been warned of the likelihood of the closing, and had been told to arrange other means of education. The principal of the Rotorua High School (Mr W. G. Harwood) said that “by hook or by crook” he would find accommodation for all the students who did not go to Roman Catholic schools elsewhere. His timetables would have to be considerably adjusted to meet the needs of a big influx. With its roll of 890 the school was already overcrowded. However, he had two prefabricated rooms which were to have been removed. They would have to be retained if the extra students were to be comfortably accommodated. Additional staff would have to be appointed.