TARANAKI SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 11

TARANAKI SCHOOLS

BUILDING STAFF'S WORK EDUCATION BOARD MEETS Progress with the erection of the new school at Mangatoki had not been as great as expecled, the men having been taken o/T for a fortnight because of the commandeer of the mill output for the Waiouru c vnp works, reported the architect, Mr. C. H. Moore, at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. This had delayed the arrival of timber. Work on Ihe new residence at Normanby should be started shortly. Applications had been inade to the department for grants for teacliers' houses at Turuturu and Mokau, plans and estimates having been prepared. An amended proposal was sent forward for a type A dental clinic for erection at the West End school. An clcctrical hot water installation had been completed at the Urenui residence. A report by Mcssrs. J. A. Valentine, chairman, and J. McAllister regarding the provision of edueational faciiilies for the children at the Moki sawmill was adopted and it was decided to place before the department alternative suggestions to establish a school at Moki, using the disused school at Paraketu Valley, or to convey the children to the Tahora school. It was pointed out that the opening of a school at Moki would reduce the Tahora school roll, so that an extra rooin would not be required. The report of Mcssrs. T. J. Grifiin and F. A. Lee on their visit to Omata was adopted and it was decided to grant the committee £18 towards the work proposed. He had scnt out 25 notices to parents regarding irregular attendances, and had visited two Maori parents, with the result that their children were now attending school, reported the attendanCe oflicer, Mr. G. Pascoe. Damage Alleged. A letter from the Education Department notifying that it had received a complaint from Mr. D. Simpson concerning damage to his property from flooding from the West End school was referred to Mr. W. H. Jones and the architect. It was decided to send Mr. A. L. Herdman a cofry of the eulogistic remarks in the inspector's report concerning his serviccs to the Opunake District High School. An application of the Urenui school committee for additional ciassroom accommodation was referred to the senior inspector for a report. It was decided to take no action concerning the Huiroa school committee's request for' consolidation. The proposal to purchase a site for a house at West End was contrary to the Education Department's policy of not providing teachers' residences in city areas, stated a letter from the Education Department. A letter was receivcd from the Mt. Messenger school committee asking the board to take a survey of all schools in Taranaki to ascertain what method was in operation for the evacuation of schools in an emergency caused by fire or earthquake. The committee expressed the opinion that fire and earthquake risks were always major considerations. The board was asked if it had any plan formulated for air raid preeautions. Members of the committee did not wish to appear as alarmists, it was stated, but they considered "safety first" plans should be ready. It was pointed out by the board that the emergency preeautions scheme met the need. The board approved the request of the Ihaia committee for permission to alter the school hours so that the school would open at 9 a.m. and elose at 3 p.m.