Classrooms 'not fit for a dog'

STILL WAITING: Northland College principal Jim Luders is still waiting for a response to a building crisis that was identified by the ERO in 2012.

Northland College had deteriorated since she was enrolled there according to Northland Age photographer Debbie Beadle.

"The smell of damp and mould hits you when you walk into the old [currently unused] music room," she said.

"Principal Jim Luders said he wouldn't keep his dog in that room, so why should he ask students to learn there? There were holes in the walls and ceiling, the buildings are full of wood rot and roofs need replacing."

Those issues are not new, but have attracted huge media interest since Mr Luders publicly aired the view that his students were learning in the worst classrooms in the country. Some of the buildings, he said, were so dilapidated that the police had asked to use them for training purpose, given that they were the closest thing available to a ghetto.

"The conditions are appalling. They're unsafe. There are water leaks, mould, asbestos in parts. It's without doubt the worst school stock in New Zealand," Mr Luders said.

"I would challenge any school to send in photos that are worse."

The buildings had long been an issue at the 280-student school, which had also had problems with governance, attendance and achievement. Previous boards failed to maintain the classrooms, albeit funding a new administration block, and now commissioner Chris Saunders is trying to get new classrooms signed off by the Ministry of Education.

The head of the ministry's Education Infrastructure Service, Kim Shannon, said it was working closely with the school and had provided $1.5 million for urgent works, but it was important that the necessary time be taken to ensure the best outcome for the school.

"Extensive planning work is being undertaken to ensure that the school has buildings which are healthy and comfortable, and meet the students' needs," she said.

In 2012 the Education Review Office described the school's needs as urgent, labelling the buildings inadequate, unacceptable, no longer safe, poorly equipped and unventilated. The report added that the efforts of the school's leaders and staff were being undermined by the inadequacies of both the physical environment and resources for teaching and learning.

Some buildings have been knocked down since then, and some issues, including asbestos, have been temporarily fixed, with ministry support, but a new ERO report last month noted that most of the 2012 concerns had not been addressed.

"This situation continues to adversely affect the well-being of staff and students," it said, adding that even if the plans were signed off "soon" the classrooms would not be finished until at least 2017, leaving the students in sub-standard buildings for two more years.

Health experts have also warned of the dangers of students studying in such conditions, damp and mouldy buildings increasing the risk of respiratory ailments.

Mr Saunders said the school was in a dilemma because the state of the buildings was so bad there was no point spending money on a short-term fix.

"It's not a good work environment. It's not good for students or for staff," he said however.

"Everyone has been very patient, but it's getting harder and harder to make excuses. But nothing is going to happen by jumping up and down and carrying on. We just have to wait and see what the ministry decides."

A decision was expected soon, but Mr Luders was wary of getting his hopes up. He had expected a decision soon after his arrival in 2013, but he did not see the ministry as being at fault. The college had "got this way because of mismanagement. But that's not these kids' fault either," he said.

The process open and fair but was "just hopelessly slow". He suspected that something would have been done by now if the school was in Auckland.

And he did not want to see the situation blown out of proportion to the point where it affected the roll.

"I am proud of all the students at Northland College. They are achieving some fantastic results despite their learning environment, and this needs to be focused on too," he said.

"All our staff and students are committed to learning."