Big rebuild part of securing Salisbury School’s future
It was threatened with closure two years ago, but now the country’s only single-sex residential school for girls with intellectual disabilities is to be entirely rebuilt.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced yesterday that Richmond’s Salisbury School would undergo an $8 million overhaul to guarantee its longterm future.
‘‘Almost all of the school’s buildings are more than 50 years old, and much of it over 90 years old,’’ Hipkins said.
‘‘They are not inspiring environments for learning and living, and they don’t meet our high standards for delivering education. This is particularly important at a residential special school, where suitable facilities require very high specifications.’’
The school’s residential and ancillary buildings will be demolished or removed, along with its administration block and day school. They will be replaced with new residential units and an administration block, a multipurpose hall, and a dining facility and kitchen.
A new day school will also be built as part of the project, which is expected to begin in 2021.
Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin said part of the 10-hectare site would be freed up for other educational purposes.
‘‘Work is under way to further boost enrolments and ensure all young people who need it can benefit from these specialised learning environments.’’
The Salisbury School board said it was ‘‘thrilled’’ about the redevelopment plans, as the outdated classrooms and run-down residential accommodation were no longer fit for purpose.
‘‘It is really exciting to know we will have new school buildings specifically designed for what our extraordinary students need, given that their needs are a lot more complex today compared to when our current buildings were designed,’’ board chair Emma Thompson said.
Salisbury students had complex needs ranging from vision or hearing impairment to autism, Down syndrome or dyspraxia, she said.
The board thanked staff for
their patience, and said it was the commitment of trustees and Brenda Ellis, who stepped down as principal last month, that had helped it get to this point.
Salisbury School caters for 20 students aged eight to 15, and hopes to increase that to 40 girls.
The roll dropped to single figures in 2015, after a prolonged battle with the Ministry of Education, following an attempt by then-education minister Hekia Parata to close the school in 2012.
Parata lost the fight in the High Court, but in June 2016 she indicated that Salisbury could close in January 2017. However, she repeatedly delayed an interim decision.
It wasn’t until December 2017, three months after the general election, that Hipkins announced he was ending the closure process.
Long-time supporter of the school and Labour Party candidate for Nelson, Rachel Boyack said she was ‘‘delighted’’ by the announcement. ‘‘Nelsonians are extremely proud of Salisbury School, the students and the staff, who perform a valuable role in our community and provide a centre of educational excellence for families across Aotearoa New Zealand.’’