Skateboarding ban at school

Mangawhai Beach School has banned skateboarders from its premises following ongoing damage to the school.

The school’s Board of Trustees has requested that school security and Police enforce the decision.

Board chairman Bruce Nelder says the Board has mixed feelings about the policy, as it has always considered the school to be a community asset and welcomes the use of its grounds outside of school hours. However, the ongoing damage to the schools decks, railings, seats and lunch tables is excessive and unsustainable.

“It would seem every surface is a challenge, with little thought to the consequence of paint removal, gouging and eventual cracking and breaking of the surface,” he says. “The school fully supports the proposed Mangawhai Activity Zone being planned for Thelma Park.”

The board is also frustrated with the unprecedented level of vandalism to the school over the summer holidays and Waitangi Weekend.

“We’re not suggesting skateboarders are responsible but once again the community has been let down by some rat bags.

“However, most worrying to the Board was the attempted arson on New Year’s Eve. Whilst the arson attempt was amateurish, under different circumstances it had the potential to send a whole block of classrooms up in smoke. We don’t need to spell out the tragedy this would be for the school and our community.”