By TONY VERDON
Millions of dollars of taxpayers' money is being pumped into one of the best-equipped schools in the country, Avondale College - which is in the Mt Albert electorate of Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The college will receive $2.6 million in property funding under a $20 million scheme to bringing all schools to a new national standard.
But the principal says he does not know why his school is getting the money.
Avondale College is one of 19 secondary schools identified as having "high-priority deficiencies".
It will receive more money than any of the other 18.
Helen Clark said the money for Avondale College reflected the importance the Government placed on bringing every school to a new property standard.
"With excellent facilities a school can focus on providing the best for its students," she said.
But Avondale's principal, Brent Lewis, said he did not know in which aspect of the new national standard his school was deficient.
"We have some of the best facilities in the country," he said.
The new national property guide aims to create a fairer approach to property in schools.
It is based on a complicated series of formulas taking into account issues that include the school roll and the amount of space devoted to specialist subjects.
But it does not take into account school property paid for through community fundraising.
Mr Lewis said: "A lot of our facilities are right up there with some of the best in the country, certainly of those I have seen anywhere."
This was due mainly to the efforts of the school and its community.
He said his college had a professional-standard recording studio, excellent recreation facilities, and other facilities any school would be proud to have.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the new guide would give schools the flexibility to organise their own property priorities.
"The new guide recognises the needs of the modern secondary school and diversity in the sector."
The curriculum had been updated and different schools now wanted to do different things for their students.
Surroundings had to complement each school's needs.
The other schools in the Herald circulation area to receive extra property money are:
Kamo High School$767,000
Howick College$2,476,000
Glendowie College$989,000
Onehunga High School$1,234,000
Hauraki Plains College$358,000
Forest View High School$470,000
Tauhara College$976,000
Trident High School$881,000
Whakatane High School$1,224,000
Napier Boys High School$414,000
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