“There is black mould in areas too, and carpet has been kept since the 1970s.”
Planning for the rebuild began in 2021 and there is excitement in the school community for the new school which is set to open in 2025.
However, amidst the excitement is frustration over a lack of communication, facilities, resourcing and guidance for the school’s temporary facilities in the meantime.
“We were given seven weeks to remove all of our resources, clean them, sort them and store them in our temporary classrooms and anywhere we can find room, before we open our doors for the first day of learning at the end of the month,” says Ms Grant.
“We have had to look at everything in our classrooms to decide what to keep or throw away.”
The moving of resources from the buildings to the temporary classrooms required a team of six across seven days.
“This couldn’t begin until the tamariki were off site, and because our timeline was pretty tight, we made the decision to end term four a couple of days earlier than expected. Our Tīaho whānau were amazing.”
The resources continue to sit in classrooms as the school waits for work to be completed in the hall.
As she walks through the school yard with the sun beating down, she raises concerns about health risks in the school.
“Once the demolition begins, we will have no shelter for our kids when they want to play outside in the sun or rain.
“If they want to go from their classrooms to the library or their classrooms to the car park, for example, there is no shelter for them if it is raining.”
When approaching Ministry of Education managers of the design and construction phase of the school for support, Ms Grant says communication has been a challenge.
“We asked about water fountains or a place to store a hose and they have not given us anything.
“They are doing the best they can, but we need more support.”
The ministry has given the school the minimum requirement of toilets allowed in a school — eight.
“We have two in the hall changing rooms, a toilet for tamariki who have special needs . . .
And of the six toilets by the classrooms, two are allocated for staff, two for seniors and two for juniors.”
Five temporary pods arrived at the school last month, so there is plenty of learning space for the majority of students.
Two senior classrooms, however, will have to share a space in the hall that will also host a staff room, library and reading recovery.
“They were wanting to have our administration office, principal’s office and a sick bay in that same hall space,” says Ms Grant.
“We did not want a sick bay in a space where children would be learning — it is a health hazard and there is not enough room for admin to fit alongside two classrooms.”
Spaces for the two offices and sick bay are expected to arrive next week.
As workers strip down the current premises and others make strengthening and seismic works to the hall on Monday, there is no idea of a budget or a detailed deadline for work to be completed.
“It was proposed to be built in 2022, with a beautiful architectural design with a budget of $17 million but that figure has dropped.
“There is very little consultation between us and the ministry,” says a Tīaho School staff member working on the hall.
“They visit maybe once every three to four weeks and say ‘everything looks great, you guys are doing amazing’ and then leave.”
Changes from days as an intermediate
It’s the end of an era but the start of a new chapter for Wairoa’s Tīaho School in 2024.
The school on the corner of Kitchener Street and Clyde Road will only retain its hall, playground and pool in the rebuild.
Richard Lambert, lead education adviser in Wairoa for the Ministry of Education, has fond memories of the school.
Whether it was Wairoa Intermediate, Hillneath or Tīaho schools, he still remembers his teaching days there.
“People will remember the building blocks like Jonas, McKinnon, the tech block for woodwork and cooking.
“There is still student artwork from 25 years ago sitting on the walls.”
Tīaho School began life as Wairoa Intermediate. Government-driven changes saw the school become a full primary, Hillneath School, which operated until the end of 2004. It was decided that Turiroa School would merge with Hillneath to form Tīaho School as part of another reorganisation of Wairoa district schools under then-Education Minister Trevor Mallard.
It was reported last month that Tīaho School had black mould growing throughout the school’s classrooms.
The Ministry of Education brought temporary rooms to the school property for classes to occupy this year.
The new school is expected to be ready in 2025.
