Sara Cohen rebuild next year

A preliminary architectural impression of the new Sara Cohen School for Dunedin pupils with...
A preliminary architectural impression of the new Sara Cohen School for Dunedin pupils with special needs. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Following many years in the pipeline, the $4million rebuild of Dunedin’s Sara Cohen School is now within sight.

Ministry of Education infrastructure services head Kim Shannon said the ministry had been working closely with the school to develop a new facility to meet the long-term educational needs of Dunedin children with special needs.

"The project is currently in the design phase and will deliver a modern, fit for purpose school, equipped with appropriate supporting facilities to reflect the needs of its students.

"We expect to conclude the design phase in late 2020 and once a contractor has been appointed, construction will then be undertaken in two stages, to minimise disruption to the school’s operations."

Principal Matthew Tofia was delighted the planning was almost complete and construction was now on the radar.

He hoped demolition would begin when school finished for the year in December.

He said only some of the buildings would be demolished to make way for construction of the new school.

The remaining buildings would be used for teaching while construction was taking place, and would be demolished when the new school was completed.

It was hoped construction would be complete in 18 months.

Board of trustees chairwoman Sharon Oliver said the building project was "a long time in the making" and she was looking forward to having a fit for purpose facility that would provide a healthier learning environment for its pupils.

She said the school had many pupils with extremely high health needs.

"In two-years time, our staff and our most vulnerable children will be in a facility that they deserve.

"The current state of the school is not fit for purpose."

Mr Tofia said the new school would contain a lot of state-of-the-art equipment, including a hydrotherapy unit and an inclusive playground with special interactive equipment.

"Essentially, the hydrotherapy unit is a resistance pool with a treadmill in it which will help our physio and occupational therapists with the work they need to do with these kids."

He said the school’s ultimate aim was to open many of the school’s facilities — including the playground — to the wider Dunedin special needs community.

"The playground will be like a community pool, where people can come and get a swipe card and access the facilities outside school hours.

"We want it to be a hub for our community."

Ms Shannon said in addition to general accessibility to all areas, there would be good accessibility for parking, drop-offs and turning areas suitable for special education transport.

"Our priority is to assist the school to develop a new facility to meet the long-term educational needs of the students."

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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