Alexandra Primary School was one of 22 Otago and Southland schools affected by the Ministry of Education’s decision to put building projects on hold while they are reviewed for value for money.
Mrs Mackley said the school was due to start a multi-purpose learning environment (MPLE) project when it was told the Ministry of Education would be reviewing the financial viability of the school’s project.
"We were so close to being able to start", Mrs Mackley said.
"The hugely disappointing part for our school, and its community, was that we were literally two to three weeks away from beginning the demolition of our old vacant 1950s classroom block, which would then give us the space to start building our new MPLE building", she said.
A weather tightening project, to repair leaks in an existing building, was also put on hold.
"Our school’s kaimahi [staff], ākonga [pupils], board of trustees and whole whānau community were pretty devastated when the projects were paused."
The school community had worked alongside an "excellent design team" who had put a lot of work into the design process.
"For now all we can do is cross our fingers that our project, specifically the MPLE, will be recognised and prioritised as being beneficial for our school and its community, and will get the go-ahead.
"Currently, we do not even have a space where our whole school can gather together ... a MPLE will give us the flexibility and means to offer rich and authentic learning opportunities on our school site."
The proposed design also included a library — a space the school had not had for more than 12 years but one "all schools and their ākonga are entitled to".
The project’s tender had already been awarded to a local building company, who were also affected by the pause in development.
Mrs Mackley hoped the review would only result in a short delay for the school’s new build.
"It would be great if the Ministry of Education can carry on with their commitment to improving the learning environments for our tamariki, kaiako [teachers], tumuaki [principal], kaimahi, whānau and wider school communities."
Five of the eight schools in Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell were affected by the pause in projects.
Data released by the Ministry of Education to RNZ last week shows 352 building projects across 305 schools around the country are on hold as they are reviewed for "value for money".
Minister of Education Erica Stanford told the ODT last week there were more projects in the pipeline than the ministry could afford to complete.
She had inherited a ministry with a pipeline of projects it could not deliver on, she said.
