Waiouru fights to save kindy

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 460, 3 November 1992, Page 1

Waiouru fights to save kindy

By Jan Savell Representatives from the Ruahine Kindergarten Association were forced to backtrack on a board of management decision to close the Keningston Street Kindergarten when they met with the Waiouru community last week. Seventy parents came to a consultative meeting to be told of the management board's decision to close the smaller of Waiouru's two kindergartens in two month's time. The angry response was such that Kathy Fraser, President and Chairperson of the Ruapehu Kindergarten Association Board of Management, promised that the issue would be reevaluated at the next meeting of the Board. "The minister of Education has stated that ; no kindergarten will close as a result of bulk funding and we as a community, loyal to the government of the day, will do all that we 1 can do to ensure that the minister's integrity remains intact with regard to this issue," said Tom Cook, former chairperson of the Weir Tce Kindergarten committee. Kathy Fraser and Marita Broadhurst, Vice President of the Ruahine Kindergarten Association's board of management, explained that the Association is under financial pressure due to bulk funding of teachers' salaries based on licensed ro 11s. The ro 11s at Waiouru have been 20 ner

cent lower causing a deficit of $40,000 for the Association. This has been covered by cross subsidization from other kindergartens in the region. "In 1993 there will be no cross subsidization in the Ruahine Kindergarten Association. Cross subsidization is not equable and cannot continue. All threeteacher kindergartens will have rolls increased to 45," said Kathy Fraser. Ms Fraser said a meeting the previous evening of the board of management had decided closing Keningston St Kindergarten and increasing Weir Tce kindergartens roll to 45 was the only sustainable solution. Outraged parents bombarded the Association's representatives with questions. "Defence is going through what is probably one of its most radical changes. I've seen the population move out but I can tell you all my sources say Waiouru is on the way up.," said Colonel Clive Sinclair, Commander for the Army Training Group. "I've seen the roll drop and now it will skyrocket." Teacher Salaries paid by community After two hours of heated discussion Kathy Fraser offered an interim solution of keeping open the kindergartens for Term 1 in 1993, with the proviso that any shortfall in funding for teacher salaries would be made up by the community. Ms Fraser said she would take the recom-

mendation to .an informal meeting of the management board next week.

Should the decision made by the board be unacceptable to Waiouru residents

they will have opportunity to put their views at the Turn to page 2

Kindy

From page 1 next formal meeting of the Board on 24 November. Waiomu parents criticised the Association for the premature nature of its decision when Waiouru 's military camp is in a period of growth. By 7 December Waiouru will have a waiting list for housing and the trend is expected to continue. "These people feel that because Waiouru is on the extreme edge of the association's area of responsibility it is an encumbrance and a liability to the association," said Tom Cook. "The Ruahine Kindergarten is the meat in the sandwich but, as our representative body, we feel you should be working to serve us. You should be helping us compile a presentation.

Not as we jeel, responding to an arbitrary set of rules, to this community 's detriment," he said.