The school’s $5 million redevelopment project was meant to start in early 2018 and be completed by 2019, but contractors were unable to start until last week.
The work is part of the Ministry of Education’s Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme, in which 115 earthquake-affected schools will either be rebuilt or refurbished.
Principal Lisa Dillon-Roberts said there has been delays with the entire project and the setbacks had been frustrating.
"It’s behind due to delays with the project contractors," she said.
"But we will be very happy to have new facilities soon.”
Finding a good school design that is fit for purpose within the budget that MOE was prepared to allocate was also a challenge.
The school has not seen any considerable building work in decades, but it did not mean its facilities were not safe.
By the end of next year, Merrin School will have a new hall and a block with five teaching spaces, and all other buildings will either be demolished or refurbished.
The Government has invested $1.3 billion into rebuilding, restoring and renewing schools across the city in a 10-year programme.
It includes flexible teaching spaces with the potential to be expanded or reduced, and energy-efficient buildings with the latest technology.
Half of the redevelopments are now finished, but the whole programme was meant to be completed by 2023.
