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Mahurangi School principals have reacted with cautious enthusiasm to a Government commitment to pump $400 million to improve the condition of their school properties.
Last month, the Government announced nearly every state school in the country would benefit from a one-off cash injection, equivalent to about $693 per student.
Smaller Mahurangi Schools will receive a minimum of $50,000, while Mahurangi College will receive the maximum of $400,000.
Money can be spent on various projects including classroom upgrades, replacing roofs and guttering, and installing energy efficient heating and lighting.
Otamatea High School deputy principal Dirk Smyth says the announcement was a pleasant surprise.
“We are very excited to have an additional $280,000 to spend on school property, we definitely need it,” he says.
His sentiments were echoed by Wellsford School principal Dave Bradley, Pakiri School acting principal Jacqui Settle, Snells Beach principal Kathryn Ramel and Mangawhai Beach School principal Aaron Kemp.
Ms Ramel says it will be nice to attend to upgrades as needed rather than waiting until things are at desperation point.
She adds that as a newish school, Snells has a shorter list of necessary upgrades than most.
“That being said, we have faced big challenges with having new rooms built fast enough to meet demand. We have had to have a class in our library the past term, and while this will be remedied with new builds over the holidays, no school should have to lose their library. It’s a vital resource,” she says.
Most principals were still waiting to see more details surrounding the Government’s announcement before identifying how they will use the money.
But Jacqui Settle anticipates Pakiri will spend money maintaining the school’s wastewater system and pool, while Mr Kemp says a likely use will be re-surfacing outdoor courts and paving areas.
Other principals tempered their enthusiasm with some criticism. David Bradley says the fact that funds are being distributed on the basis of roll size rather than need was “great for some, but not so good for others.”
“This extra funding will help us complete more projects than normal in the next five years. But to do everything we would want to do, we would need significantly more,” he says.
His sentiments were echoed by Dirk Smyth.
“There will definitely be major projects that still need attention. For example, a suitable workspace for teachers is considered such a low priority by the Ministry that our teachers will most likely have to continue using their outdated and inadequate workspace for years to come,” he says.
The Government noted schools spend a significant portion of their property budget on addressing health and safety issues and often deferred modernisation and upgrade work.
Mahurangi-based Labour MP Marja Lubeck says she has visited many local schools in the last few years and it is clear that many need money to upgrade classrooms and school grounds.
She was especially concerned at the trend to create extra classroom space by utilising the school library.
“Our Government does not believe this is acceptable and the funding in theis package will help with issues such as fixing roofs, windows and walls to provide modern, comfortable classrooms,” she says.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the investment is great for local tradespeople.
“We want schools to engage local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, landscapers – this is an opportunity for work at a local level in every town and city in the country,” she says.
