Oxford school’s redevelopment plans on hold

As an Oxford school marks the opening of a new building, the wait continues for a complete rebuild.

Oxford Area School celebrated the official opening of the new Takurua building with the community last week, but principal Mike Hart says the school now faces uncertainty with further redevelopment plans.

The school has been caught out by the Government’s review of school building projects, putting a pause on the long awaited redevelopment.

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced last month there would be an inquiry into school building projects, which immediately put a pause on 350 projects around the country.

"Stage two has been paused. It has been designed and consented, but there is no timeline,’’ Mr Hart said.

"But we are terribly grateful for what we’ve got,’’ he said, referring to the Takurua building.

A $10 million redevelopment of the school was first announced in September 2018, with two new buildings planned.

The new Takurua building comprises six teaching spaces for science, food technology and general teaching, a new library space, canteen and administration spaces.

It means the school has been able to demolish its old science and technology block, but the planned music, art and technology block is now on hold.

These first two stages of the redevelopment, if completed, would give the year 1 to 13 school capacity to grow from 500 to 600 students.

The school’s master plan has further stages as the school roll grows, including a new school hall.

For now secondary school students are continuing to make do in outdated buildings.

Mr Hart said students were pleased to be in the new science labs

"It is great to have the new labs as in the old building they were really old, like when you and I were at school.’’

The new library has rollaway shelves so it can be opened up as a large community space, with the attached food technology classrooms and canteen able to be used for catering.

The layout for the redevelopment and the naming of the classrooms is based on the alignment of the night sky in November.

Takurua is the Māori name for Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky

Te Waka o Tamarereti, which encapsulates constellations such as Orion’s belt and the Southern Cross, has been incorporated into the school’s cultural narrative with the help of Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, with the story illustrated on panels in the new building.

Lighting has been placed in the ceiling in the reception area to identify the stars Takurua and Aotahi (Orion).

The year 4 to 6 block, which was opened eight years ago, was already named Aotahi.  The school was instrumental in a successful application for international dark sky park status for the 11,350 hectare Oxford Forest Conservation Area.

Volunteers from the school’s observatory initiated the Oxford Dark Sky Group, which has been working with the Waimakariri District Council on changes to the District Plan as it works towards dark sky reserve status.

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.