School merger – parents thought options were still open

Tuesday, July 1st, 2014

Some parents of Our Lady of Fatima School students were shocked to see a sign promoting a new school that would close their own because they believed consultation on the details of the decision was open until late July.

The school, in Christchurch New Zealand, is to be closed along with another school, St Paul’s in Dallington, which was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes.

A new school 495-pupil school is planned to be opened on the Our Lady of Fatima site.

It will be called St Francis of Assisi Catholic School.

The school merger will take place after a long period of uncertainty and consultation.

The Catholic parish in Mairehau failed to come to a consensus on the future of the two schools. Bishop Barry Jones was therefore forced to make the final call.

The parents say they thought consultation on the details of the decision was open until late July because the Ministry of Education still has its own ongoing consultation, which does not finish until July 18.

This consultation will decide when the new school will open – the start of term 3 in 2015 or the start of term 1 in 2016.

The ministry has no role in putting forward change options when integrated schools, like Catholic schools, are involved. It was providing support and information throughout the bishop’s consultation process.

Source