School's future uncertain

The fate of a Hillsborough school could be decided by the Auckland City Council today.

Monte Cecilia School, located on the grounds of Monte Cecilia Park, is being earmarked for removal or repositioning within the park as the council moves ahead with plans to buy all of the properties in front of the Pah Homestead to provide "a big shop front to the public" from Hillsborough Rd.

School board chairman Duncan McGill will present his case to the council’s arts, culture and recreation committee today.

The committee will then meet confidentially to discuss the future of the school.

Mr McGill says a report commissioned by the council, that was unfavourable to the school remaining on site, was received just two days before Christmas.

Because of short timeframes and school holidays, he says it was unfeasible to get the report reviewed by their own consultants in time for today’s meeting.

"The process is flawed," he says. "The council hasn’t observed proper process to give us an opportunity to consider their report. They have not provided sufficient time and all relevant parties haven’t been properly consulted."

Mr McGill will ask the committee to postpone any decision until the school has obtained its own independent report.

In November the committee set up a working party including members of the school, the council and Catholic diocese.

The working party has met just once.

Auckland city councillors Glenda Fryer and Cathy Casey are also calling for more time and say the process is undemocratic.

In addition to asking that the future of the school be discussed in public, the councillors will be asking the council to delay further decisions until the school community and the parish are fully consulted.

- © Fairfax NZ News