Schools to share in $396m
Taranaki schools will receive up to $400,000 each from funding announced yesterday for improving school property.
The grant is based on a perstudent calculation with even the smallest schools, such as Ahititi with a roll of 10, getting $50,000. The largest schools, such as New Plymouth Boys High and Hawera High School, will receive a maximum of $400,000.
It is part of a one-off cash injection of $396 million for improving school property announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
It is worth $693 per state school student, with each school receiving a maximum of $400,000.
No school will receive less than $50,000 – meaning some schools with less than 10 students will still be receiving $50,000. Schools that help special needs students will all receive $200,000.
It is the first major investment brought forward by the Government’s decision to increase its borrowing to make infrastructure investments.
It is the largest investment in school property in 25 years – and schools will need to spend it within two years. It is available to spend immediately.
The Government is also offering the living wage to all school support staff, including teacher aides and cleaners.
Announcing the investment, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said schools would spend the funds on needed upgrades that have been put on the back burner.
‘‘The Government is taking advantage of historically low interest rates to improve school buildings and grounds and creating jobs,’’ she said.
This could include classroom upgrades, replacing roofing and guttering, upgrading storm water drainage systems, installing energy-efficient heating and lighting or resurfacing outdoor areas.
‘‘This package is a real shot in the arm for our schools,’’ the prime minister said.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said in recent years many schools had to put off building projects and make do with patched-up classrooms and playgrounds.
‘‘When we have the opportunity as we do now, we should and can do better to lift the quality of the classrooms students and teachers spend so much time in.’’
Only state schools opened before 2015 are eligible – just over 2000. National Party Leader Simon Bridges said the Government was spinning ‘‘business as usual’’ as stimulus.
Taranaki schools’ funding (school, school roll and amount in funding listed) includes:
Bell Block School (434) $300,762 Central School (302) $209,286 Coastal Taranaki School (261) $180,873
Devon Intermediate (374) $259,182 Egmont Village School (156) $108,108
Fitzroy School (397) $275,121 Frankley School (265) $183,645 Hawera High School (721) $400,000 Hawera Intermediate (315) $218,295
Hawera Primary School (215) $148,995
Highlands Intermediate (703) $400,000
Huirangi School (112) $77,616 Inglewood High School (380) $263,340
Inglewood School (355) $246,015 Kaimata School (107) $74,151 Kaponga School (110) $76,23o Manaia School (91) $63,063 Mangorei School (335) $232,155 Marfell School (109) $75,537 Manukorihi Intermediate (268) $185,724
Merrilands School (200) $138,600 Mimi School (47) $50,000 Moturoa School (127) $88,011 New Plymouth Boys’ High School (1221) $400,000
New Plymouth Girls’ High School (1234) $400,000
Norfolk School (143) $99,099 Normanby School (162) $112,266 Oakura School (358) $248,094
Omata School (178) $123,354 Opunake High School (316) $218,988
Patea Area School (172) $119,196 Puketapu School (New Plymouth) (359) $248,787
Rahotu School (150) $103,950 Ratapiko School (23) $50,000 Spotswood College (709) $400,00 Spotswood Primary School (280) $194,040
Stratford High School (493) $341,649
Stratford School (437) $302,84 Te Pi’ipi’inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea (109) $75,537 TKKM o Tamarongo (10) $50,000 Tikorangi School (161) $111,573 Toko School (136) $94,248 Urenui School (93) $64,449 Uruti School (13) $50,000 Vogeltown School (362) $250,866 Waitara Central School (92) $63,756
Waitara East School (258) $178,794 Waitara High School (363) $251,559
Waverley Primary School (103) $71,379
Welbourn School (376) $260,568 West End School (New Plymouth) (358) $248,094
Westown School (125) $86,625 Woodleigh School (419) $290,367