More Building Projects, say Principals

Written by ZIZI SPARKS, North Shore Times

Principals are frustrated by a lack of long-term planning as they face ever increasing student numbers.
North Shore Principals Association president Craig Holt says new buildings are at the top of the agenda.
“On the whole, the principals I talk to are all saying they are experiencing roll growth and will be over the next three to five years,” Holt says.
The Ministry of Education has a number of building projects on the go across seven Shore high school, two intermediates and 14 primaries.
However, there’s still a high level of frustration around the strategic planning of when and where schools get new classroom space, Holt says.
“I don’t think the ministry [of education] is doing the job they can with the resources they have. It seems to be we chase our tail in terms of planning for roll growth.”
Holt says, his own school, Willow Park, doesn’t work planned, but it needs some.
North Shore Secondary Schools Principals’ Association president and Long Bay College principal Russell Brooke says he expects population growth to effect his school around 2023.
“Long Bay Primary School is going up by 50 to 60 children every year and that’s going to follow through,” Brooke says.
“We’re desperately trying to get the Ministry of Education to look ahead but their focus is on the next five years.”
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye recently announced $4 million to fix Long Bay Colleges leaky buildings as well as the block damaged by fire on February 24.
Weather tightness is also being addressed at eight North Shore schools.
“People need to realise leaky building across New Zealand are as big as natural disaster. It’s its own disaster. It’s a huge thing for the Government to try sort out,” Brooke says. “There’s about $1.5 billion worth of leaky buildings. They’re conflicted by tying to get things sorted out quickly and look ahead.”
The Ministry of Education’s head of the education infrastructure service, Kim Shannon, says the Shore building projects will ensure there are enough learning spaces for students and upgrade school buildings.
The total cost of building repairs couldn’t be provided by the ministry because this would “undermine commercial negotiators”.