Work on school begins
It’s the first of its kind for the Waikato and only the second in the country.
Construction has begun on Sylvester School, a public private partnership (PPP), meaning the private sector has designed, is building and will maintain the school property over 25 years, while the education side remains the responsibility of the principal and the board of trustees.
‘‘It means [I] and the board will not have to worry about building maintenance, cleaning, caretaking and security issues,’’ principal Tony Grey said.
‘‘It frees up our time so we can concentrate on the children.’’
The primary school will open the beginning of 2019 in Hamilton’s fastdeveloping north, Rototuna.
Over the past two years, a junior and senior high school have opened in the area. The bid for the Sylvester school was won by the ShapEd consortium, led by PIP Fund II.
Maintenance of the site for 25 years is the usual term for these contracts, said Kim Shannon, head of infrastructure services for the Ministry of Education. Grey said it is a great opportunity. ‘‘I like that the whole community is forming at the same time. It’s not just a new school, there [are] also new developments happening – early childhood centres, retirement villages and shopping centres.
‘‘The school and board are really keen to play a central role in the establishment of identity in the area.’’
Construction is under way at the school on the corner of Hare Puke Drive and Borman Road.
It is currently one of three PPP primary schools being built in 2018.
The school is near a reserve and will be next to a city council destination playground.
Grey said he’s already seeing huge potential in the school with its state-ofthe-art design and landscape features – right down to the reticulated sprinkler systems on the field, the playground, sun shades and worm farms.
‘‘The benefit really is the investment they’re putting into the facility right from the starting point.
‘‘[In order to see] a lot of that stuff normally in a state-built school, you’d be having to fundraise yourself or do it afterwards.
‘‘But this is all done up front at such a high level.’’
The as yet unnamed school will cater for students from Years 1 to 6. It will take enrolments from the second half of this year.
The school will have a community information evening at 7pm on Wednesday, February 28, at Rototuna Junior High School.