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Minister David Seymour was in town last week to visit the Silverdale and Destination Ōrewa Beach business associations, Ōrewa College and Mighty Ape.
At Ōrewa College the Associate Minister of Education (Partnership Schools) sat down with Principal Wiri Warriner and the school’s senior learning team.
Seymour assured them that they could speak freely and that he had “no spies from the Ministry of Education” accompanying him on the July 25 visit.
He was told about flooding that requires the school to retreat from Ōrewa Estuary, as well as plans to build a 12 classroom double storied block which have been shelved a number of times.
“The Ministry told the school we needed more roll growth before getting the new classrooms, Warriner said. “We want to know the roll number we need to reach, before we get excited again about that plan.”
Seymour said he had had that same conversation about infrastructure multiple times with schools and there was about to be “significant change”, with work underway to change the structure of how school property is managed.
A review into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function began in March and was due to be delivered to Education Minister Erica Stanford by the end of last month.
Seymour also talked about the need to give schools more autonomy, including a plug for charter schools.
A tour around the school included a visit to Learning Support and some Year 8 classes.
The Act Party leader got a warm welcome from a few students, who asked for autographs and handshakes – no cellphones at school meant no chance of a selfie.
