Principal vows to avoid zoning ‘no man’s land’

Christchurch’s Linwood College will change its new enrolment zone to avoid a ‘‘no man’s land’’ if plans to reduce Cashmere High School’s boundary are approved.

Under proposals announced last week, Cashmere High will exclude areas of St Martins and Opawa from its enrolment zone in a bid to manage growing student numbers, while Linwood College will introduce its new zone on January 1 next year.

About 15 streets are outside of both zones and several families contacted The Press with concerns they would be ineligible to apply for either school.

Linwood College principal Richard Edmundson said he was aware of the problems that could occur if Cashmere introduces its proposed boundary in 2021.

‘‘The clear commonsense and moral answer will be for us to change our zone if Cashmere’s zone is changed,’’ he said.

‘‘I want to avoid anywhere becoming a no man’s land.’’

Diane Hayes is one of several parents who lives near Waltham Primary School and in the current Cashmere zone. ‘‘If the Cashmere zone changes in 2021 and the Linwood College zone doesn’t change, we will be without being in a high school zone that is not religious,’’ she said.

Linwood College principal Richard Edmundson says changing its zone is the ‘‘commonsense answer’’ if Cashmere High’s plans are approved.

The Ministry of Education’s sector enablement and support deputy secretary, Katrina Casey, said ‘‘there will never be a gap in zones’’.

‘‘Linwood College’s revised zone will take effect on January 1, 2020. It will only need to change again if Cashmere High School’s zone change is approved,’’ she said.

Cashmere High board chairman Geordie Hooft said the proposed changes were needed as the school has capacity for 1800 students, but currently has about 2000.

A consultation process is under way until February 10.