Redeveloping the existing brick junior block at the Waitaki Valley School to meet modern educational needs and standards would have cost more than replacing it with a new building, the Ministry of Education says.
Property manager Paul Burke said $3,969,000 had been budgeted for the new replacement school. A quantity surveyor's report in 2006 estimated the cost of upgrading the existing building would be $275,000 more than a new replacement school.
The Otago Daily Times sent a list of questions to the Ministry about the plans for the school and claims by some Kurow residents public money was being wasted and redeveloping the old junior block would be cheaper.
They were also critical that the community had neither been consulted about the plans nor provided with enough information about alternatives, including redevelopment.
Mr Burke said the replacement building would have five modern classrooms, storage, resource and administration spaces, which would allow for a variety of activities including art, drama, group work and casual learning.
It had been designed to take account of teaching and learning needs for the 21st century, along with better heating, lighting and insulation.
"Use of modern materials will result in less maintenance and general upkeep," he said.
Apart from the cost of redeveloping the existing junior block, it would still remain an old building. A condition report showed that it was more cost effective to replace the existing building rather than refurbish it.
The higher costs were for new sun shades, resulting in alterations to exterior walls at higher costs; existing ramps not complying with new legislation and needing replacement; doubtful condition of sub-floor framing below concealed floors; replacement of decayed exterior cladding excluding the brick veneer walls; timber windows and doors that required replacing or repainting; replacing the leaking roof; altering and upgrading interior spaces; upgrading and replacing plumbing fittings in toilets; replacing floor coverings; and upgrading lighting, electrical and data services.
In terms of consultation, Mr Burke said the school's board of trustees was responsible for any it considered appropriate. The ministry's relationship had been with the board.
A contract for the work wass due to be awarded soon and Mr Burke said the board had not advised the ministry it wanted to review the project.
Board of trustees chairman John Watherston said the board was aware some members of the community still harboured concerns about the plans, but it was confident it had followed due process over consultation.
At the end of the day, it was the board's responsibility to make a decision based on all the facts and board members believed it had made the correct one.
That had included studying all the options, including redevelopment of existing buildings.
"I believe, as chairman, that within the next decade, the community will look back at the new building and the way the campus has evolved and be 100% in support," he said.
The school campus would become much more than what it was before and now, when it had been an area school with primary and secondary pupils.
The pre-school centre was planning to move there and that, along with other plans, would see it develop into a "community campus".
Waitaki Valley School
• Formerly the Kurow Area School; primary and secondary pupils.
• Review of Waitaki Valley Schools carried out in 2003.
• Otematata and Hakataramea Valley Schools, later joined by Cattle Creek, closed and combined with Kurow.
• Waitaki Valley School started in January, 2004.
• Existing roll 89 pupils.
• Plan is for a new $3.969 million school.
• Five classrooms, administration, and communal area, meeting rooms, staff room, toilets, reception area, wet areas and outdoor learning areas.
• Redeveloping the existing 1940 junior block would have cost more.
• Contract expected to be announced next week.
• Pupils will shift to former high school buildings.
• Last assembly in old buildings at 1.30pm on April 9.
• Demolition expected to start at Easter.
