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After a meeting to consider ways of keeping the school open, Labour MP Clare Curran (left) and Green MP Metiria Turei (right) walk with Forbury School principal Janice Tofia. Photo by Craig Baxter. |
It seems Forbury School is not going to roll over without a
fight.
The board of trustees and staff met Dunedin MPs Metiria Turei
and Clare Curran yesterday to investigate ways of keeping the
school open, despite the likelihood it will be closed at the
end of the year by Education Minister Anne Tolley.
Principal Janice Tofia said the community was growing anxious
and more vocal about what might happen to its school, and the
group met to compile sensible arguments against closure
rather than emotive ones, in the hope of changing Mrs
Tolley's mind.
Although rolls at other schools in South Dunedin had been
declining in recent years, Forbury's roll had more than
doubled in the past decade, from 62 to 145.
Mrs Tofia said that was one of the many reasons the
ministry's proposal to merge the school with Macandrew
Intermediate was "wrong, wrong, wrong".
"The proposed merger of Forbury and Macandrew would result in
three large schools in a space of 2km.
"This raises issues about where the children will come from.
There will be competition between the schools and this could
very well result in an uneven distribution of students."
Of particular concern if it was disestablised would be the
effect on Forbury's learning environment.
Mrs Tofia believed it would severely disrupt the positive
sense of community associated with the school.
"Forbury School, and all it stands for, is a safe, secure and
special place for the children. Many of the children will not
cope with change - a change such as this can be as tragic as
a death."
Ms Turei said her daughter attended Forbury School and had
nothing but words of praise for Mrs Tofia and the quality of
education there.
"The kids that are coming out of here are going on to do
amazing things. Kids do so well here because the teaching
force and the leadership provided by Janice is excellent."
Ms Curran said the meeting aimed to provide mechanisms by
which the people in the Forbury community could speak out and
have their views heard.
The group has begun circulating a petition calling for the
school to be left open, and a protest march along George St
has been organised to leave the Dental School at 10.30am next
Saturday. The initiatives were just the first of many that
would allow the community to voice its concerns during the
next three weeks, Mrs Tofia said.
The school and its parents have until the end of the month to
persuade Mrs Tolley to keep the school open.
- john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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