Waiouru pre-schools to amalgamate

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 686, 13 May 1997, Page 1

Waiouru pre-schools to amalgamate

By Anne McElwain At a meeting on 5 May the Wanganui Free Kindergarten Association an nounced the decision that the two Waiouru kindergartens would amalgamate. In a letter to all parents, family and caregivers the board of management said that this decision "was made to ensure that Waiouru could continue to be provided with a Kindergarten service." Under bulk funding it was no longer viable to operate two kindergartens with rolls at less than maximum levels. Salaries, maintenance and other

costs remained at fixed levels while the grants were based on the number of children attending each session. Fund-raising by the committee and increasing parental voluntary donations were the only other options available to balance the budget. From Term 3 Keningston Kindergarten will have 45 children with three teachers in the morning and 30 children and two teachers in the afternoon. The decision regarding which kindergarten should close was based on the age and condition of the buildings and grounds, and quality of resources. Weir Terrace Kindergarten will close as it is the

older of the two. All three teachers currently employed will retain their positions under the amalgamated structure. Teachers of both Kindergartens held a meeting last Friday to discuss this decision and to plan the process for integrating children and families into the new service. The teachers expect that no child currently attending kindergarten will be put off the roll as a result of the integration process. However, the age at which a child enters kindergarten may increase slightly from the present entry age of just under three years.

The association acknowledged that the decision to close one of the two kindergartens was not an easy one. They urge those concerned to discuss day-to-day issues with the teachers. Other matters can be directed to the Association through the executive officer. One of the positive outcomes of this decision is that having the maximum number of children in each session will mean that less fund-raising will be necessary to balance the budget. This will hopefully mean less work for the kindergarten committee.