Mayor suggests high schools merge?

Horowhenua Mayor Brendan Duffy appears to have floated the idea of Levin’s two high schools combining.

And one of the schools has confirmed it has proposed that the two schools – Horowhenua College and Waiopehu College – get together for discussions about what education in the town should look like five or 10 years down the track.

When Fairfax Media first asked Duffy about the move this week, he said: ‘‘ I’ve had no dialogue with anybody in relation to schools working co- operatively together.’’

When questioned further, he said he had ‘‘ engaged in dialogue to determine where the level of interest might be in promoting the concept of a community discussion’’.

A source has told Fairfax that a letter to the Ministry of Education on Horowhenua District Council letterhead has been circulated to schools by Duffy, to gain support for an inquiry into the possible benefits of combining Horowhenua College and Waiopehu College.

Another source confirmed discussions by the board of trustees at one of the high schools after being approached by Duffy about the letter to the ministry.

The discussion included speculation that a large section of land potentially available on Kawiu Rd would be an ideal site for a super school.

Both sources said they were concerned that the discussions were not being aired publicly, but asked to remain anonymous for fear of fallout from leaking information.

Horowhenua College board of trustees chairman Chris Hartwell confirmed discussions had taken place relating to queries raised by Duffy and the future of secondary school education in Levin.

‘‘ We’re certainly aware as a board that Brendan has raised that issue of raising the educational outcomes within Levin. We’re looking at, in five to 10 years’ time, what will Levin look like, and what will education require then?’’

The issue was too large for the board, and needed to be discussed by the wider community, Hartwell said.

The board had also proposed that the two colleges ‘‘ get together to discuss that’’.

However, predetermined there were no outcomes, he said.

‘‘ At this stage we support what the mayor’s trying to do, to initiate some discussion around raising educational outcomes, and looking to the future.

‘‘ And we’re supporting going back to the ministry to ask them to engage with the community around this.’’

It is understood the questions about the future of the two colleges was prompted by concerns around the perceptions of the quality of education in Levin.