Most quake-prone school buildings still used
Most of the 40 school buildings across the country that have been identified as earthquake-prone continue to be used, but where these buildings are located and how long they will continue to be used before remediation can be done remains unclear.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) revealed there were dozens of school buildings nationwide that have been assessed as being below 34% of new building standards (NBS).
This came after Burnside High School, the South Island’s largest secondary school, abruptly closed after two of its classroom blocks, blocks I and J, were given a 15% NBS rating. The school, with a roll of about 2400, was closed yesterday and today to rework classes and reallocate teaching spaces so teaching can continue until its new classroom block opens in July.
Blocks I and J had years ago been assessed as being up to standard, but were recently reassessed due to required weathertightness remediation.
Meanwhile, the school is also waiting on the outcome of two seismic assessments on other buildings which would be delivered over the coming months. “Once we receive any further detailed seismic assessments of these buildings, we will be guided by the percentage NBS, taking the same robust and proactive approach that we're taking now,” said principal Scott Haines.
The Press asked the MOE for a list of the 40 school buildings that had been assessed as being earthquake-prone, but was told this would be treated as an Official Information Act request which can take up to 20 working days to respond to.
Sam Fowler, the ministry’s head of property, said of the 40 buildings most remained in use while various stages of remediation work or planning was underway. “Some of these buildings are still going through a seismic assessment with fully informed decisions yet to be made.”
The ministry was unable to say if parents at all the schools where the 40 buildings are located had been informed of the assessments and whether the school would continue using the building.
Fowler said the official advice was that a low NBS rating did not trigger the need for concern or immediate action, because the risk is very low. “When assessments and implications have been worked through and understood, we support schools in their communication with their wider school community.”
Secondary Principals’ Association president Vaughan Couillault told RNZ principals wanted the MOE to provide schools with more urgent help and solutions to problems with school buildings since these buildings are owned by the Crown and not the individual schools. He said principals were not experts in terms of the seismic stability of a building. “So advice and guidance is one thing but taking ownership and creating solutions is another. And it’s the solution creation for buildings that principals don't own that we find very very challenging.”
Fowler said where buildings have been assessed as earthquake-prone, the ministry will prioritise their remediation within the legislated timeframes outlined in the Building Act. “These timeframes vary from 7.5 years for school buildings in high seismic areas, like Christchurch and Wellington, up to 35 years for buildings in low seismic areas,” he said.
Haines said Burnside High School’s new classroom block, Pukehinau, forms part of the Canterbury Schools rebuild project. Once opened, it would provide sufficient space for the school to go back to its normal timetable.
“[Pukehinau Block] is stage one of a multistage programme to replace ageing buildings that should have been finished in 2022. Burnside and Papanui High Schools are the last two high schools in Canterbury to have their CanterburySchools rebuild programme complete.”