The Government is about to provide the biggest capital injection for school maintenance in 25 years, but there is just one problem: Otago principals may be concerned they may not have enough time to spend it.
Nearly every state school in the country will receive extra funding, valued at $693 per pupil, to bring forward urgent school property improvements.
The money can be spent on classroom upgrades (including making classrooms more flexible and modern), replacing roofing and guttering, upgrading stormwater drainage systems, installing energy-efficient heating and lighting, and even resurfacing outdoor courts and paved areas.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the investment would be great for local tradespeople.
"We want schools to engage local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, landscapers – this is an opportunity for work at a local level in every town and city in the country."
Otago Secondary Principals’ Association chairwoman Linda Miller said yesterday’s announcement took her and other principals completely by surprise.
"It’s good to see an attempt to address the serious underfunding of school property that has existed over past decades, and that the scope of what can be funded is broader than possible currently; for example, resurfacing courts and paved areas."
However, she was only "cautiously optimistic" the funding injection would result in property improvements that would benefit pupils, because schools only had two years to spend the money.
She was concerned there would not be enough time to get consents in place, let alone find tradesmen in Dunedin at a time when a new hospital was about to be built.
"Ministry of Education property services are stretched as it is, as are the tradespeople who will be called on to do this work.
"This brings into question the ability for schools to complete the work within 24 months."
She wanted more detail about the policy before saying she was "confident" the money would be able to be used in the timeframe outlined.
Ms Ardern said the one-off cash injection was the first project to be announced from the Government’s infrastructure package to future-proof the economy, and some schools would receive up to $400,000 to spend on needed upgrades that have been put on "the back burner".
"The Government is taking advantage of historically low interest rates to improve school buildings and grounds, and creating jobs up and down the country.
"It’s the biggest capital injection for school maintenance funding in at least 25 years."
She said she had visited many schools and was "hard pressed" to name one that did not need the funding.
Key elements
The planned school capital injection:
Total value of the package is $396million.
Each eligible school will receive $693 per pupil, up to a maximum of $400,000.
Every school will receive at least $50,000 regardless of roll size.
Special schools will receive $200,000 each, regardless of roll size.
Money needs to be spent within the next two years.
About 2050 state schools opened before 2015 are eligible.
Integrated schools, schools built through a Public Private Partnership, or schools in leased accommodation are not eligible.
