Asbestos in School
Asbestos removal work at an Auckland primary school has been put on hold by the Ministry of Education due to concerns from parents.
A joint statement from the ministry's Kim Shannon and Hobsonville Primary School board chairman Lance Norman said this afternoon that they "will now review when the work goes ahead".
"The Easter school holidays is the next logical opportunity. Not all of the work would be completed during that Easter holiday period.
"We've listened to the concerns of a number of parents who don't feel they have been adequately informed about the work that is planned on the site.
"We have decided to pause further work on the site so we can provide more information about the planned work. "We would like to assure parents that we are confident that this work can be carried out safely."
Concerned parents are thankful for the ministry's about-turn.
Lea Ann Case has an 11-year-old daughter at the school and described the news as a "major relief".
"I'm very, very pleased and am now hoping the next step will be for the school to call a meeting for the parents and teachers to work out some options."
It would be preferable if the school could remain closed for a couple of days after the holidays if the work needed to continue, Case said.
Sally Bunce is a parent of a 6-year-old and said she was "thrilled" with the news, while Natalie Marsh, who has led the charge collectively for parents, was also pleased, but would have been happier if the project got pushed out until Christmas.
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