Twenty Mid Canterbury schools are set to benefit from renovations and upgrades costing more than $3 million through the School Investment Package.
The funding package, announced last month, provides most state schools with one-off funding to help them with property projects. It needs to be spent in the next two years.
Among the district’s schools currently getting work done is Chertsey School.
It is in the middle of a $100,000 facelift with work under way to modernise and upgrade classrooms, bathrooms, the school’s dental clinic and the library. A roof replacement has also recently been completed.
Ministry of Education acting head of education infrastructure service Rob Campbell said the work at Chertsey was part of the the school’s 10 year property plan, which sets out the priorities for maintenance and upgrade of their facilities.
Long term plans are done by all schools, and the approved work is funded through the Ministry of Education.
"The estimated total cost of these works is in the region of $100k and they will help ensure the school has modern, fit-for-purpose facilities to support teaching and learning."
He said schools across Mid Canterbury were either planning or delivering capital investment in their facilities in line with their plans.
"Twenty schools in the area will also benefit from a total of over $3m in extra property funding provided through the Government’s School Investment Package to upgrade and renew their facilities. This funding needs to be spent in the next 24 months."
Mr Campbell said in addition to business-as-usual work, funding had been approved for significant redevelopment projects at Ashburton College (around $60m) and Ashburton Intermediate (around $5m).
"At Allenton School, the redevelopment (around $5m) will include the provision of a roll growth teaching space. These projects are now in the planning stage."
