Thursday, November 30, 2017
More than one subject is studied during the day at the CAO building.
Photo Sven Carlsson OB4057-03
Sven Carlsson
Plans by Opotiki College to take back the Community Activities Office building solely for school use have disappointed its community users.
They have questioned why they are being “kicked out” of the building on December 14 and asked to go elsewhere when the activities office fulfils a much-needed service and the school has other empty classrooms on site it can use.
Main tutor and former Adult Community Education (ACE) co-ordinator Ruby Roache said the teaching at the Opotiki CAO building was unique in New Zealand. “We unpack the person and validate them,” she said.
“We have good support from Whakatohea and past students.”
Other CAO supporters describe how the classroom is full of people of different ethnicities and ages learning such things as digital literacy, driver licensing and gaining NZQA credits; many of them people for whom mainstream schooling has not worked out.
“They left school with no focus or qualifications.
“This space that we are in has provided an encouraging outlook and hope for these people.”
They are sad that having always worked well together for the betterment of the community and its people, the relationship between Opotiki College and the Community Activities Office is now falling apart and students, and their education, are suffering.
However, college board of trustees chairwoman Catriona White said the Ministry of Education had confirmed the CAO building, Block F at Opotiki College, was fully-owned by the college board.
“The college meets all costs associated with the insurance, repair, cleaning and maintenance of the building,” she said.
“It also pays running expenses, such as phone line and electricity.”
In addition, law changes meant there was now less freedom when it came to the use of school-based facilities.
“The landscape has now changed on how school facilities can be used during school hours when children are on site under the board’s care,” Mrs White said.
“As a consequence of these laws, we are required to ensure that every adult who has unsupervised access to our children has been vetted by the police.”
PANI Maxwell, Reremoana Mary Frethy, Claire Reed and Nina Phillips are some of students showing their work during the Te Ao Takahuri exhibition. Photo Sven Carlsson OB4055-01
The CAO building was in the heart of the school, and it was where guidance counsellors and nursing staff met with vulnerable children who needed support.
“During school hours we have no way of monitoring who has access to the children of our community under the current model,” Mrs White said.
The board was making “significant changes to teaching and learning” at Opotiki College to provide an education that enabled Opotiki children to reach their full potential.
“We need this space in order to provide the quality of education our children deserve,” Mrs White said.
“The decision the board has made is intended to be a win-win for all.”
The board supported the opportunity for second-chance education as well as the gaining of skills for Opotiki community learners.
“We also want to do the best for the children of Opotiki College and we need to ensure we maintain their safety while they are at school.”
Learners external to Opotiki College would be able to use the space after school hours.
Legal requirement
OPOTIKI College Board of Trustees chairwoman Catriona White says directives from the Ministry of Education and new laws mean the CAO building cannot operate as it has.
Under National Administrative Guideline 4 that mandates what boards of trustees are responsible for it states: according to legislation on financial and property matters, each board of trustees is also required in particular to: comply with the negotiated conditions of any current asset management agreement, and implement a maintenance programme to ensure that the school’s buildings and facilities provide a safe, healthy learning environment for students.
“Two other laws have recently been introduced that impact on the compliance of the board and impacts on the use of the CAO building,” Mrs White said.
“They are the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014 and Health and Safety at Work Act 2016.”
Office aimed at community
Sven Carlsson
THE creator of the current Community Activities Office set-up says it was aimed at the community.
Former arts teacher Marie Cass said she was originally hired as extra staffing for the college and put in charge of the Community Activities Office.
“The original community office was four offices with a toilet,” she said.
“This was the administration centre while the night classes used the classrooms in the school.”
Principal Andrew Taylor had been very supportive of the community education, allowing a surplus classroom to be used for the venture.
Mrs Cass said she installed the kitchen at the premises and by running computer classes she raised money that helped build what’s there now.
Funding was also obtained from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and BayTrust.
Over time, Mrs Cass created a multi-purpose room for community education, which opened onto the street, towards the community.
“The venue could be used by lawyers who were sorting out a resolution between two families and needed to keep them separate,” Mrs Cass said.
Community money had gone into the creation of the Community Activities Office and Mrs Cass said it “would be a shame to lose the facilities”.
The buildings were a meeting place that furthered shared interests, aided the social structure and acted as a meeting place.
Labour MP Kiri Allan said the Government would restore funding for community education in the 2018 budget.