Families are thinking of leaving Queenstown because of
schooling issues, City Impact Church Early Childhood Centre
manager Shaun Vining said at a meeting in the resort last
night.
About 37 people attended the meeting convened by the Wakatipu
Education Community Group (WECG), to discuss proposed zone
changes for Remarkables Primary School.
Mr Vining said the early childhood centre had 104 children
attending the centre already, with 220 more on the waiting
list.
About 85% would be affected if the Ministry of Education's
proposal to rezone the school went ahead.
The proposal would exclude suburban Lake Hayes Estate, Quail
Rise, Tuckers Beach, Marina Heights and the northern side of
Frankton Rd from the school's catchment from the start of
term two next year.
The ministry's proposal stemmed from its concerns of
overcrowding in the $17.3 million primary school, only 18
months since the first pupils began attending.
Mr Vining said two families had said this week "it's going to
be too difficult", so were moving away.
"We really need to put our heads together and think of plans
to increase our education around the area."
The meeting, chaired by WECG member Kate Smith, was attended
by Remarkables Primary School principal Debbie Dickson and
board chairman John Stalker, KingsView School principal
Rebekah Key, Queenstown Primary School principal John
Western, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden, chief
executive Debra Lawson, strategy manager Phil Pannett and Cr
Cath Gilmour.
Ms van Uden said the council was "not in the business of
providing education to this community".
Last night parents of pupils and prospective pupils, along
with residents, were encouraged to make submissions on the
proposal, which would help form the basis of a submission
from the school to the ministry, due next month. Submissions
are due at the school tomorrow.
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