Big upgrades for top of the south schools
Three schools in the top of the South Island are in line for a major upgrade, as part of a $30 million investment by the Government.
Ten classrooms are due to be replaced and 13 others refurbished at Golden Bay High School as part of a $12m cash injection, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced yesterday.
A $9m project at Collingwood Area School will replace around 10 classrooms, the library, and technology, science and administration buildings. The school’s gym would also be ‘‘completely revamped’’, with ‘‘first-class facilities’’, Hipkins said.
‘‘The two schools are an integral part of the small Tasman (district) community, and this investment is hugely important for the people of Golden Bay.
‘‘This Government is also investing $9m into modernising Queen Charlotte College [in Picton], with 14 classrooms, a technology block, a library and the administration block being refurbished.’’
The investment was muchneeded because the buildings had deteriorated over the years, he said.
‘‘I’m proud to announce these projects, and to ensure that students all over New Zealand can learn in an environment that inspires and supports them to achieve to the best of their potential.’’
West Coast-Tasman Labour MP Damien O’Connor was at Golden Bay High School yesterday morning to share the news with staff and students.
‘‘This high school is a really important part of the community,’’ he said. ‘‘[The money will] bring it up and modernise it a bit. Teachers will be a lot happier.
‘‘We have taken a thorough look and realised money should’ve been spent a long time ago.’’
Students and teachers whooped, cheered and clapped at the announcement.
Principal Linda Tame said the funding would refurbish most of the school’s classrooms.
‘‘So exciting – we’re really looking forward to thinking about how we can use the buildings as we move into the future.’’
Tame said traditional classroom ‘‘boxes’’ were not flexible, as they could hold only 30 students. ‘‘What if we want to have 60? Or community groups?’’
Year 9 student Pippa Struck said the funding was ‘‘really cool’’.
‘‘I feel like these days there’s so much more tech happening. It would be really cool to have some in our school, as we can use it and learn about it.’’
Fellow Year 9 student Ana Vaughan said she would love to see the school buying new equipment ‘‘to help our education grow’’. Dylan Pascoe said some of the buildings were very old and could be cold, which made them poor learning environments.
‘‘We have taken a thorough look and realised money should’ve been spent a long time ago.’’ Damien O’Connor, West CoastTasman MP