"Then the school's insurance broker informed the school that the insurer had made a mistake in calculating the excess. Apparently the insurer failed to realise the excess had to be calculated against the total value of the all school buildings, so the excess comes to just over $41,000."
Rob Giller, acting head of the education infrastructure service for the Ministry of Education, said the ministry's insurance policy did not cover damage to swimming pools, their surrounds or associated facilities.
"We are sorry to hear of the damage to Carlton School's swimming pool."
He said if individual school boards of trustees wanted to insure their pools and surrounds, they needed to arrange their own insurance.
"Although we are not normally involved when schools make a claim with their own insurance provider, we are happy to offer advice or guidance if schools ask for it."
He said the school pool and the building that houses it were owned by the ministry, despite volunteers raising funds and contributing labour to the building of the pool.
"The building was put up in 1998 using what was known as Financial Assistance Scheme funding, which means we met 50 per cent of the cost of construction with the rest funded from the community.
"Under this particular scheme, ownership of the building remains with the ministry."
Mr Giller said that "like every other school with a pool, funds are available to maintain and insure it through the school's operational funding".
However, Ms O'Connor described that comment as "a bit disingenuous".
"Last year we received the grand total of $401.09 for pool maintenance in our operations grant.
"It costs the school around $3000 annually to run the pool, let alone do any extras like repairs to damage."
Although the pool is covered and has a heater fitted, Ms O'Connor said it was being under-used because heating was unaffordable.
Whanganui district councillorPhilippa Baker-Hogan contacted Ms O'Connor and wanted to investigate whether the council might be able to assist.
"It's a great little covered pool and a real asset to Whanganui school children," Ms Baker-Hogan said.
She said she was appalled to learn about the insurance excess amount for repairs to the pool.