School housing changes will benefit boards

School housing changes will benefit boards

The New Zealand School Trustees Association says Minister Kaye’s announcement that school boards of trustees will now receive the full proceeds from sale of surplus school houses is good news for school boards.

Boards of trustees provide houses for staff when there isn’t alternative rental property available near the school. Currently, the Ministry splits the proceeds from the sale of surplus houses with the board of trustees.

“Originally, the Ministry owned these houses” explains NZSTA President, Lorraine Kerr, “but several years ago the ownership was transferred to boards of trustees.

“Boards of trustees have taken on the work and the responsibility of school housing, and some of them were not in great condition when the boards inherited them so it seems reasonable that they should get the full proceeds” says Lorraine.

The net proceeds of house sales will be transferred to the board’s funds through their 5-year property funding Agreement with the Ministry, meaning the funds will need to be directed to other property priorities. The new arrangements do not extend to other surplus property.

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