Property
November 14, 2014
& LIFESTYLE
r
Industry P10-11 Comment Choosing the right agent
Interior Decor
P 12
Bathrooms built to last a lifetime
What's On
P 14-15
Miss Fletcher sings the blues
ASHBURTON Award winning
Proudly marketed by Ray White Real Estate FURTHER DETAILS
www.guardianonline.co.nz
What’s On
P3 Friday, Nov 14, 2014
P2
Since Sept 27, 1879
Retail $1.50 Home delivered from 95c
INSIDE
Entertaining You
Check out What’s On in your community on pages 14 and
15
* Community Events * Shows * Bands * Restaurants * Ballet
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
School’s orchard trashed A vandalism spree that destroyed donated fruit trees has devastated Netherby School staff and pupils. FULL STORY
P3
PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 131114-TM-039
Decile system to be ditched? BY DAISY HUDSON
DAISY.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
The controversial school decile system may soon be scrapped, even as Mid Canterbury schools await the results of the first update to the system in seven years. There are fears Mid Canterbury’s recent population boom could have a significant impact
on local decile ratings, leaving thousands of dollars of funding hanging in the balance. The decile system gives schools ratings based on the socio-economic circumstances of the community and that determines the level of funding schools receive – the lower the decile rating, the more funding a school receives.
Education Minister Hekia Parata has signalled possible changes to the system, telling the Guardian yesterday that current funding arrangements for schools were very complicated. “As I have been saying for some time, the decile system is well intentioned, but is a blunt instrument,” she said.
Ashburton College principal Grant McMillan said the current system was working well. “There needs to be a way to recognise that some communities can fundraise more than others, or raise funds easier than others,” he said. Netherby School principal Phil Wheeler believed the current system was important for
lower socio-economic areas. “Children that come from lower socio-economic areas get opportunities to experience learning opportunities they might not get at home,” he said. A ministry representative said all 2400 New Zealand schools should find out if their decile would change by November 20. Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!
Weather: High 18˚ - Overnight 9˚ Page 22
Puzzles: Page 21
Television: Page 23
Family Notices: Page 22
www.guardianonline.co.nz