SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 April 1938, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MEETINGS 'OF y HOUSEHOLDERS ’ \ . „ THE OPOTIKI D.H.S. The biennial meeting .of .householders was Held on Weqnesdayi last at ihV Opotiki D.H.S./ 'there being a poor attendance. The balance-sheet^ 1 and statement were read and adopted. There was one change in the committee, Mr C. F. Cave taking the place of Mr W. F. CressweJl. (resigned). - The officers electedi were as' follows:Chairman, Mr A. E. Payne. Secretary, Rev. A. C. Hampton. Treasurer, Mi- W. J. Inskip. Committee, Messrs. W. Anderson, D. tV. Aula* F. Cave, G. Reeves, J. Mansell, C. F. Cave. " Following is the biennial report presented by the'.chairman, Mr A. E. Payne:— Ladies and Gentlemen.—Once again it is ray pleasing- and priviege -to -report on your committee’s activities at the school during the. past two years. The grounds have been kept neat and tidy and the buildings have been kept in good' repair. The older portion of the school has been thoroughly renovated inside and out with new -paint, giving the school a- smart appearance. A radio set has been, installed, and is used mainly for educational lectures.

Your committee wish to thank Mr Fleming, who gneerouslv donated the set. It is proposed to. have extensions of the radio set made throughout the whole school at a ! later date, thus bringing the school in . line with the,; most up-to-date city schools. The tone of the school is excellent. Like most schools there have been many changes in the staff, the most notable being the resignation of the headmaster, Mr Kibblewliite, who was promoted to the Te Kuiti D.KSchool. Mr Kibblewliite was very popular and did yeoman service during bis stay with us. We wish him every success in his new sphere of activities. His successor, Mr A. de Montalk, is with us and we are pleased La welcome him and to give him any assistance that may be required. Although Mr-de Montalk lias been with us only: a short time, we- feel that we are most fortunate in Mr de Montalk’s appointmnt a« head, and that he will fully uphold the high standard of efficiency set by his predecessors. We

have also to thank the staff as.a whole for:, their enthusiastic co-opera-tion with the- committee in furthering the interests of tlie school. 'Thanks are due to the Ladies’ Committee who have so efficiently assisted in all our social function&: to the Old Pupils’ Association for'their donation of the annual ‘ prizes and their assistance in many other ways. The assistance of parents, at all times has been most gratifying, making the task of the committee a work of pleasure. The number of pupils'’ from outlying districts isincreasing, and accommodation is once again becoming a problem. Your committee have approached the Education Board with-a view to remedying this. The'school roll ' at present is 320 pupils in the primary school and 9b pupils in the’secondary department',, making a total of 416. Your committee were successful in their 'application to the Education Board in obtaining a. site of B if acres of land for the purpose of erecting a new high school, and in view of the increasing numbers of pupils, it is hoped- that the building operations may soon be commenced. The Woodlands School. At tlie biennial meeting of the Woodlands School Committee held last week, the following officers were elected:— Chairman and secretary, -Mr S. Maxwell. Treasurer, Mr A. L. Fetch. Committee, Messrs G. Vanstone, B. Bay and W. H. Lambert, •\ The Otara School. The .election of officers, at the biennial meeting of the Otara School Committee resulted as follows: — Chairman, Mr C. Black. Secretary, •fM'r JARoe/ Committee, Mrs K. -Brown, Mr L. Holman and Mr G. S. Earp.