Three existing Ministry of Education prefabricated buildings based at Waitaki Girls’ High School were moved to the rural primary school last October and a recent ministry tender awarded to Breen Construction for nearly $750,000 has meant reconstruction and refurbishment of the new teaching and multi-use spaces began this month.
Kate Mansfield started in her role as principal of the school nine years ago when the roll was 65 and there were four classrooms.
The roll is now 125, and space has been at a premium for not only the pupils but the school staff.
She was elated construction was ‘‘finally’’ under way.
‘‘It is really exciting. ... We have had to fight for everything we can get and my role growth is not just overnight, it’s been going for a long time.’’
Mrs Mansfield said finding space at the old school that has served its community for over 120 years, has been ‘‘diabolical’’.
They have had to be ‘‘quite creative’’ by using the school library and a community building on the school grounds, that is funded by the school board, for teaching spaces, she said.
‘‘Initially the ministry said it would just be for a short period of time.
‘‘But we’ve had that class in the library since mid-term in 2023, so it’s been a good year and a-half.’’
With the school doubling in size since Mrs Mansfield tenure, there has also only been ‘‘standing room only’’ for some in the staffroom, the number of staff growing from eight to 25.
Mrs Mansfield told the ministry it had become a ‘‘health and safety’’ issue for her staff and she was pleased one of the three buildings would be a multi-use space that could function as a staff room, and a break-out and space for a ‘‘learning co-ordinator’’.
The two other buildings will be dedicated classrooms.
Seventy percent of the pupils had English as a second language, with a large Filippino community, she said.
‘‘The need for breakout spaces where teacher aides and teachers can take children away and just give them those small group supports and we just haven’t had that space here.’’
Mrs Mansfield said 99% of the families in the school community came from dairying which creates a flux in the roll, with people moving in and out of the area.
The expected roll at the end of the year was 135, she said.
Breen Construction is contracted to finish the classrooms by term 3.
- By Jules Chin
