Proposed new school networks for Northland

Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced today a proposed new school network for Northland schools that could unlock $4 million for local education - $697,000 for the Russell Peninsula and $3.3 million for Central Northland.

"This review is about making sure local education stays strong and of a high quality to withstand the pressures of declining rolls and the current surplus capacity of 520 student places. I want education resources to be spent on teaching children, and not on maintaining under-used or empty buildings," Trevor Mallard said.

"In Central Northland it will result in approximately an extra $1.53 million in education development resources within individual schools, $437,000 for joint education initiatives, and $1.4 million for property work going back into schools, on top of the funds schools will be entitled to under their five-year property plans. "In the Russell Peninsula area there will be an extra $441,500 in education development resources within individual schools, $126,000 for joint education initiatives, and $130,000 for property work, in addition to the funds schools in the area will be entitled to under their five-year property plans.

"The review has been a chance for everyone to share ideas and work together to ensure Central Northland schools provide a quality education that is sustainable well into the future and that Maori language provision is strengthened," Trevor Mallard said.

Proposals under the review are:

Central Northlandretain Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere, Kawakawa School and Hukerenui School;merge Tautoro School and Te Kura o Awarua on the Tautoro site to form a Year 1-8 school with Tautoro as the continuing school;merge Moerewa School and Otiria School on the Otiria site with Moerewa as the continuing school;merge Maromaku School and Towai School on the Maromaku site with Maromaku as the continuing school; andclose Te Kura o Matawaia, Motatau School and Orauta School.

Russell Peninsularetain Karetu School;retain Russell School;close Ngaiotonga Valley School, Helena Bay School and Punaruku School and establish a new school (Whangaruru School) on the Punaruku School site; anda school will be retained on the Waikare School site as either a new Kura Kaupapa Maori or Designated Character School.

Trevor Mallard expects to make his final decisions in April after further consultation with the schools involved. Any further submissions are to be made through their boards of trustees. The Ministry of Education will then work closely with schools to ensure a smooth transition so changes are in place for the 2005 school year.

The board of each continuing school will manage the transition period and govern the proposed new school until elections can be held. At least one person will be co-opted to that board from each of the other merging schools.

The Ministry's submission to the Minister will be available on the network review section of the Ministry's website: from 10am tomorrow.

Questions and answers on school network reviews are attached.

Under the proposal, schools will get the following estimated extra funding, as a result of average savings made through the review process. The extra funding follows the student and the estimates are based on assumptions about which schools children will attend.

Estimated extra funding:

Central Northland

Tautoro School/Te Kura o Awarua
$176,500 in Education Development Initiative (EDI) resources
$50,370 for joint education projects across schools
$573,914 in extra property funding over and above schools' five-year
property plan

Moerewa/Otiria school
$543,000 in EDI
$155,060 for joint projects across schools
$389,866 in extra property funding

Kura o Matawaia
$142,500 in EDI
$40,650 for joint projects across schools

Motatau School
$251,000 in EDI
$71,640 for joint projects across schools

Orauta School
$240,000 in EDI
$68,500 for joint projects across schools

Maromaku/Towai school
$176,500 in EDI
$50,370 for joint projects across schools
$449,339 in extra property funding

Russell Peninsula

Whangaruru School
$441,500 in EDI
$126,010 for joint projects across schools
$129,949 in extra property funding

ENDS

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