Selwyn_Times: March 06, 2024

Wednesday March 6 2024 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
College ‘devastated’ by Govt’s
planned campus cut-backs
THE MINISTRY of Education
has decided to strip back,
redesign and delay Rolleston
College’s planned new campus.
Principal Rachel Skelton said
the ministry has indicated to
her it has “no appetite” or commitment
to continue with stages
two and three of the campus
development.
“As a school
community, we
are devastated.
The presented
plan means the
campus cannot
function as
a school and
Rachel
Skelton
is completely
inappropriate
to cater to the
ministry agreed initial build roll
of 1500 students,” Skelton said.
Stage one of the campus
has also been pushed back
from July this year to 2026
and gym classrooms have
been eliminated, alongside
hauora services for nurses and
counsellors, and essential staff
facilities.
Skelton said the ministry’s
decision will “have massive
implications for our current
learners and future generations”.
“The ministry’s proposed
changes to stage one of the
new campus are substantial,
inappropriate and deeply
concerning.
“Instead of classrooms, they
have proposed to use makeshift
Portacom buildings indefinitely,
as learning spaces with no
purpose-built fit-outs.
“While the science and
technology block will
undergo minimal alterations,
the gymnasium’s redesign
eliminates all classroom spaces,
hauora services for nurses and
counsellors, and leaves staff
without essential facilities.”
Skelton said the ministry
is failing to provide the
foundational resources
necessary for effective learning.
“A new campus is not a luxury
but an urgent necessity with
the unprecedented growth in
Selwyn to ensure that every
student receives the quality
education they deserve.”
Rolleston College is one of the
fastest-growing schools in New
Zealand with its roll expected to
reach 3000 by 2030.
The current school campus is
home to 1800 students.
Skelton said she has invited
Prime Minister Christopher
Luxon, Education Minister Erica
Stanford and National’s Selwyn
MP Nicola Grigg to come to the
college and hear its concerns.
Grigg told Selwyn Times she
was aware of the population
pressures faced by Selwyn
schools. She pointed the finger
at the Ministry of Education for
the delays.
“To be clear, the Government
has not asked for any school
building projects to be paused
or halted – it is the Ministry of
Education.
“The ministerial inquiry
launched by Education Minister
Erica Stanford is intended
to identify where school
developments around the
country may have been overengineered
or over-specified.”
Selwyn Labour Party
spokesperson Luke Jones said he
was “appalled” at the decision to
pull back on the upgrades.
“This government is choosing
tax cuts over our kids being in
fit for purpose learning spaces.
“My thoughts are with
Rolleston College students,
parents, school senior
leadership, and the community
who will be left with much
confusion and uncertainty
over the future of education in
Selwyn,” Jones said.
NEWS 3
HAVE YOUR SAY: What do
you think of the Ministry of
Education’s decision? Send
your views in 200 words or
less to barry@starmedia.kiwi
In Brief
NEW CHAIR FOR
TROUBLED MALVERN
COMMUNITY BOARD
Bruce Russell has been elected
chair of the Malvern Community
Board and John Verry deputy
chair. The board had a major
shake-up at the end of last year
after chair Ken May and board
member Sean Ellis resigned over
infighting. Russell, who served as
interim chair while a by-election
was held, said the community
board was now ready to move
on and get back to serving the
community as intended.
SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT
BREACHES FIRE BAN
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
is speaking to a Springfield
resident who breached the fire ban
with a backyard fire. Firefighters
were called to the property last
week. FENZ community risk
manager Dean Harker said his
team would be speaking to the
resident in an education-first
approach. Harker said breaching
a fire ban has maximum penalties
of two years in prison or a
$300,000 fine.
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LAYBY WELCOME
For smart watering tips visit:
selwyn.govt.nz/watersense