EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. CONSOLIDATION MATTERS. The monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs A. W. Jones (chairman), L. Evans, S. Rice, W. Carswell and G. F. Johnson.

The application of the Myross Bush School Committee for the installation of electric light at the school was granted on the usual conditions.

The architect was instructed to arrange for the installation of a septic tank, and the carrying out of concrete work at Halfmoon Bay, to report regarding the proposal to acquire an addition to the playing area at the school and to arrange for other repairs if such were deemed necessary. The architect was also instructed as follows regarding the following schools:—Nokomai, to supply tools for the school gargen, the cost to be charged to a grant for incidental expenses; Invercargill Middle, to arrange for the erection on a subsidy principle of a bicycle shed; Knapdale, the carrying out of repairs to the residence if such were deemed necessary; Invercargill South, to arrange for the erection of display boards in various classrooms; Edendale, to arrange for the remodelling of the school; Ohai, to report, in conjunction with the senior inspector, regarding increased accommodation.

Among the resolutions of the executive committee approved by the board were the following:— Glencoe. —That the application from the committee for an increased grant towards incidental expenses be received and a grant of £3 be approved.

Benio. —That the communication from the Department regarding the disposal of the old residence be received, the secretary to advertise for tenders for the purchase of the property. Tuatapere.—That the communication from the Department approving of a grant. for the installation of a septic tank at Tuatapero be received, the architect to make the necessary arrangements to have the work carried out when the Department's confirmation is received.

Myross Bush. —That the board undertake to supply the necessary fencing materials required by the committee provided the committee undertakes to carry out the work.

Glencoe. —That the report of the chairman regarding the meeting held in the Glencoe School in connection with a proposal to consolidate Glencoe and Upper Hedgehope districts with Lower Hedgehope be received, application to be made to the Department for permission to call for tenders for conveyance. Gorge Road Consolidation.

Mr J. A. Nicol, of Kapuka, waited on the board regarding the proposed consolidation in the Gorge Road district. He alleged that a grave injustice would be done to his child if the consolidation was put into effect; furthermore, that many parents in the district had no intention of sending their children to the consolidated school at Gorge Road. The question had been debated for six years which, he urged, was six years too long, for the children were suffering. Mr Nicol also argued that there was grave danger of serious accident on the roads to young children going to a consolidated school. If consolidation were to be gone on with it should not be at Gorge Road. The district would demand a new school in a more central position. The chairman said that consolidation at Gorge Road was unquestionably the best and most economical solution of the matter. More consideration had been given to consolidation at Kapuka than in any other district. Petition From Otapiri. ’ Messrs B. Butson and J. Keith, of Otapiri, waited on the board to urge that the Department reconsider its decision not to proceed with consolidation in the Otapiri district. The following petition,’ signed by 35 residents of the district, was presented to the board to be forwarded to the Minister “We, the undersigned residents of Otapiri School District, regret your decision not approving of the Southland Education Board’s consolidation proposals and cannot understand your reply that the Otapiri School meets the reasonable needs of the district considering that children of school age are not attending school and others have to be boarded away from home or taught by correspondence. We would also point out that several residents have left the district as their family became of school age. We beg therefore that you reconsider your decision and sanction the calling of tenders for conveyance by the board.” The chairman said that the board was surprised at the Minister declining to proceed with the consolidation. The deputation could rest assured that its petition had the unanimous support of the board. * ■ School Attendance.

The attendance officer (Mr J. B. Cosgrove) in his report stated that for the month of April he had received returns from 167 schools. These contained the names of 99 defaulters. In most cases the reasons for non-attendance were accepted as they appeared valid, but 14 warning notices were sent out and two informations were laid. Only three schools returned their percentage as below 80. One was affected by sickness and the other two by the absence of Maori children who had not returned from the islands. The ten schools with the highest percentages were Arthur’s Point 100; Eastern Bush 100; Te Tipua 100; Waikaka Valley 99.1; Orawia 99; Sunnyside 99; Wyndham District High 98.9; Pyramid Siding 98.5; Roslyn Bush 98.5; Riversdale 98.1. One hundred and twenty-nine gave their totals as ranging from 90 per cent, to 100 per cent. The average percentage for the 167 schools sending in returns was 92.28,