While it has had to close early due to classrooms inundated with water in a heavy downpour last week, Taupō’s Tauhara College promises it will open on time next year, although what the future holds remains unclear.

“What we can confirm is that we will be up and running for 2021,” a release from the school said on Tuesday afternoon.

“What our school will look like, we are unsure, but this is an exciting phase of our journey. We will have learning programmes in place for all students.”

An earlier communication to parents predicted a disrupted start to next year – which is due to start with an orientation day for Year 9s and 13s on February 3.

However, a Monday night Board of Trustees meeting had decided to withdraw from participation in the Provision of Schooling discussion “due to the change in circumstances stemming from the water damage”, said the release.

This was a discussion about future secondary schooling in the Taupō area instigated by the boards of Taupo-nui-a-Tia and Tauhara Colleges and facilitated through the Ministry of Education’s appointment of independent consultants, Edsolnz.

The process began in August with consultants Peter Gall and Michael Leach meeting with boards as well as teachers and students from both colleges and a survey of parents.

Various proposals were floated during the scoping meetings, including developing a super school on the Taupō College site, the two campuses dividing into a junior and senior high, possibly involving Taupo Intermediate School, or two single sex schools.

While the latter was in the mix, Tauhara College teachers, spoken to after the meetings, said it was at the bottom of the list and only briefly discussed.

Though Gall described the discussions in August as preliminary, he acknowledged talk of the school being overdue for a major overhaul.

During the downpour some staff said water was pouring down internal walls and out of light fittings. Phone video shows almost ankle deep water in some hallways.

The college which has a roll of 650, opened in 1976 as a temporary fix to reduce roll pressure on a burgeoning Taupōnui-a-Tia College, but has not gone through a major building programme, apart from the addition of a hall in 2009 and more lately two new English classrooms.

It was not included in recent Ministry announcements for major work.

It is also situated near a known subsidence zone due to geothermal extraction.

​Former principal Keith Buntting, who departed unexpectedly at the end of 2019, acknowledged at the time that “ongoing conversations” on property had been challenging.

In Tuesday’s media release new principal Ben Hancock acknowledged community support following the flooding but said the school would not have a full understanding of the extent of the damage until later in the month.

“The Ministry (of Education) emergency response team is assessing the site to identify the extent of the damage and what our next steps will be for our kura,” the release said.

A letter dated Friday, November 27, on the school’s website from Hancock said “we should have a clear picture around December 11, 12 when the consultant’s report is due.”

Source: Stuff.co.nz