Debbie Dickson
To accommodate a "roll peak" at Remarkables Primary
School, classrooms at Queenstown Primary School are being moved
across town.
They will go first to the airport for "retrofitting", before
going next door to Remarkables Primary School.
The Ministry of Education has applied for consent to
temporarily relocate the double classroom to the Queenstown
Airport for it to be insulated to cope with noise because of
the school's close proximity to the airport.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education said it should
be retrofitted and positioned at Remarkables Primary School
in time for the start of the 2013 school year.
"This and the two other classrooms to be provided next year
are to enable Remarkables school to manage a roll peak.
"A decision will be made later as to the retention or removal
of any temporary classrooms."
Remarkables Primary School principal Debbie Dickson said it
was her understanding a double unit would be moved from
Queenstown Primary School in mid-November, but there was no
confirmation about where the other two classrooms would come
from.
Eventually, four classrooms will allow for a further 100
pupils at the school.
Enrolments at Remarkables Primary School had continued to
increase and 465 pupils were now enrolled. More were expected
by the end of the school year, despite the school's capacity
of 460 pupils, Mrs Dickson said.
When asked whether the extra classrooms would satisfy demand,
the Ministry of Education said "the provision of a further
two teaching spaces ... will do so".
In August, the Otago Daily Times reported the school roll
could increase to 530 by mid-2014, according to the school's
board of trustees.
The resource consent application said the airport had been
chosen to retrofit the classroom because "it is a noisy
environment, where there are no significant adverse effects
from the temporary activity".
"A school is a noise-sensitive environment, where it would be
inappropriate to undertake construction works during term
time."
An earlier proposal to use rooms at the nearby KingsView
School was not accepted by the board of trustees or the
principal.
A new Wakatipu primary school is expected to open in about
two years' time.
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