$500K to maintain closed schools
More than half a million dollars has been spent maintaining closed school sites in Canterbury, figures released by the Ministry of Education show.
Of 26 schools closed since 2011, 14 racked up maintenance costs while Government departments considered their future use.
The ministry said the $529,341 spent on closed schools to February 27 had ‘‘generally been for power and general maintenance to keep the buildings functional pending long-term decisions’’.
Other ongoing costs included rates, water, security and ‘‘other projects’’, head of education infrastructure service Kim Shannon said.
Rental income from community groups leasing several local schools helped recoup $46,772 of the ministry’s expenditure.
More than $200,000 had been spent maintaining Hammersley Park School and Kendal School, which were being leased by the Shirley Toy Library, Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild, disability support service SPELD NZ and blind education network BLENNZ.
Shannon said the ministry was ‘‘considering whether there is a future need’’ for the schools, closed in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Other sites, some still in the early stages of the years-long process of selling off Crown land, accrued costs despite being disused or on offer to private buyers.
About $98,000 was spent on McKenzie Residential School. The school, closed at the end of 2012, had been minimally used since and was being offered for sale to iwi and its original owners. Shannon said maintenance costs were high because of the school’s ‘‘extensive grounds’’.
North Brighton’s Freeville School accrued $36,448 in maintenance costs, despite being disused since 2014. The Parklands Bowling Club purchased two buildings left on site with plans to relocate them at a cost of $2.6m, but the land was yet to proceed to sale.
A total of $27,642 was spent on the former Glenmoor and Marshland schools sites. Both had been cleared of buildings and were not in use.
Schools that went underwent construction immediately after closure or were managed by other schools had not incurred maintenance costs.