School for problem boys remains closed

A school credited with turning round some of the worst-behaved children in Northland remains closed and facing an uncertain future.

Parakiore Residential School in Kamo closed last September because of funding, staffing and health and safety problems.

Most of the children attending the school had earlier been either suspended or expelled from mainstream schools in Northland.

Ten boys, aged from 8 to 12, moved into the Parakiore complex in November 2003, where they lived together five days a week and did schoolwork in an adjacent building.

Their education was funded by the Ministry of Education, with the Anglican trust's residential arm funded by Child, Youth and Family.

Social workers worked alongside families and the boys.

The students also participated in activities at Kamo Intermediate.

But 11 months later, Parakiore closed and now the youngsters are back in the mainstream.

Kamo Intermediate pulled out of administering the school, citing a combination of funding, staffing, health and safety and operating concerns.

Intermediate deputy principal Peter Nicholson said the school had been given "insufficient funds to run the programme under conditions set out by the ministry".

He supported the Parakiore concept, "as long as adequate funding is in place".

Former Parakiore residential manager Hannah Pomare, of the Anglican Trust for Women and Children, said the ministry refused to fork out about $50,000 needed to keep it running smoothly, forcing its closure.

Since the children returned to mainstream schools about nine months ago, reports of their behaviour had generally been positive, she said.

"Something worked at Parakiore. We need at least two schools like it in Northland."

But the ministry said the closure was unrelated to funding. Northern regional manager Gordon Attwood said Kamo Intermediate's board of trustees suspended the class because of problems to do with student safety around the residential site.

"The residential part had significant issues that were impacting on the class, which was, therefore, discontinued."

Former Tai Tokerau district manager Jean Smith, who is now Central North regional manager, said bringing together boys with major behaviour difficulties was "very difficult".

But she was not altogether ruling out Parakiore re-opening.

"If that's what the [Northland] principals are wanting we would work really hard with them.

"It's about finding a host school to do it then seeing if all parties could make it happen.

"It took an awful lot of work to get it going initially and keep it going."

- NZPA