Waihaorunga school to shut

Waihaorunga School is set to close voluntarily, as the Government looks to axe nine schools.

The Waimate District primary school with nine pupils is in negotiations with the Ministry of Education for a bus service to take the pupils to another school.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said the Government was looking at closing nine schools as well as Christchurch's Aorangi School. Six, including Waihaorunga, have small rolls and have opted to close voluntarily. All the schools will know their fate by the end of first term next year.

The list was made public yesterday by Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty, who was concerned schools would be closed against their will.

Waihaorunga School board chairman John Colvill said last night the school's roll had been at nine for a couple of years, with one teacher based at the school.

"I can't really comment at the moment as we are in negotiations with the ministry."

Waimate District deputy mayor Peter McIlraith said he had worked with the school board as it negotiated with the ministry for a bus service to take the pupils to another school.

"The board has made the decision to close but are having trouble getting the ministry to agree to a suitable bus service.

"The cost of running a bus service is nothing compared to the cost of running a school. I don't know why the ministry is quibbling over this. A school that surrenders to voluntarily closure should be given what it wants.

"The teacher and board have been very clear through the whole process that the children are their main priority."

On top of the six which are closing voluntarily, two others were recommended for closure by commissioners appointed to run the troubled schools. The last school on the list, Felix Donnelly College, is fighting closure. This week it advertised for five teachers.

Closure of the 10 schools, including Aorangi, will mean 258 children looking for a new school. Ms Tolley has faced fierce opposition over her decision to close Aorangi School, once attended by Prime Minister John Key. Aorangi will take its bid to stay open to the High Court next Wednesday.

Ms Tolley said last night she was not concerned by the number of schools being considered for closure.

"I am considering each case on its own merits. Every case is different, but the prime concern with any school closure is the education and wellbeing of the students," Ms Tolley said.

Schools being considered for closure: Manawahe School, Whakatane, decile six, roll of 12.

Tokoroa East School, decile one, roll 44.

Otairi School, Hunterville, decile seven, roll four.

Te Kainga Whaiora Health Camp School, Gisborne, decile one, roll none.

Waimata Valley School, Gisborne, decile nine, roll six.

Aorangi School, Christchurch, decile three, roll 87.

Waihaorunga School, Waimate, decile seven, roll nine.

Otepopo School, North Otago, decile seven, roll nine.

Waldronville School, Dunedin, decile eight, roll 18.

Felix Donnelly College, South Auckland, decile one, roll 69.

- © Fairfax NZ News