A tiny school in Waitakere needs help the Ministry of Education isn't keen to give - money to maintain and extend its classrooms. Varsha Venugopalan reports.
Down a steep hill at the end of Lone Kauri Rd, near Karekare, an isolated little teal-blue cottage is concealed from view. Chattering kids can be heard from over the fence. Inside, a colourful display of their drawings decorates the walls. Two groups of children sit on mats.
Supervisor Jan Parkes says Lone Kauri Community School is hidden intentionally. "Nobody usually just walks in here. It's a matter of security," she says.
After getting the children to settle down, she runs through the school's history.
It was set up in 1978 as a satellite, or off-site school, for the Oratia District School, so children could be closer to their homes and parents. Only children who live in Karekare may enrol; the roll varies from 20 to 30, ages 5 to 11.
However, all is not splendid in this isolation. The school is doing it tough trying to raise money for new building extensions. Board chairman Simon Stoddart says: "These extensions will involve extra room for a kitchen, re-roofing, repairs and a technology area."
Two weeks ago, the school mounted its largest fundraiser of the year, at the Karekare Races. Children and parents helped by baking, selling food and setting up stalls for the races. The money from the races will be split between the local surf lifesaving club and Lone Kauri School.
Another supervisor, Vivian Mulgrew, explains that the school's building was built by local families. It is owned and funded by the local community, but the staff and educational resources are funded by the Ministry of Education, which is why the ministry does not fund any building extensions or enhancements for the school.
Maintaining the building is becoming expensive for the community, says Mr Stoddart. Charitable organisations have denied funding [for upgrades] to the school many times because that's considered a job for the ministry.
It's a sticky situation and Mr Stoddart says money from the races may not be enough to pay for the proposed extensions. Current savings of $10,000 won't even cover the first stage of extensions, which are expected to cost $80,000.
The Ministry of Education's annual allowance of $25,000 is needed to cover frequent repairs and hardly touches improvements to school facilities.
The school has battled the ministry to remain open. "We have to take the fight to the top," says Mr Stoddart.
Mrs Mulgrew says funding for small schools is dropping, and Lone Kauri's best hope is that a willing party will offer to fund the extensions.
Farm day all year
A special notice to parents at Lone Kauri School reads: "If you find the gate closed when you get to it, please remember to shut the gate again once you have gone through it. We don't want the sheep and the cattle to get out.''
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