Property Management and Development 

The school has procedures which ensure that:

• effective measures are in place for keeping the school and grounds in a clean and tidy condition

• the school complies with minimum health, fire and safety standards

• school buildings and grounds are managed and developed to meet the school's Charter objectives 

• hazards are identified and managed

• the school complies with the conditions of the Property Occupancy Agreement.

Each year the principal reviews the performance and job descriptions of the caretaker and cleaners to ensure clean, tidy, safe and hygienic buildings and grounds.

Property Reports and Checks

• Compliance Schedule (Building Act) 

• The compliance schedule is kept at school with the inspection records. These must be kept for two years.

• Twelve months after the Compliance Schedule is established, and then annually/monthly, the board will send Argest a statement confirming that the required inspections have been carried out.

• The “Building Warrant of Fitness” confirming the items listed on the Compliance Schedule, and where they are found in the school, is displayed in the foyer. 

• The property person reports to the board each year on the state of all school buildings and grounds.

Capital Works Programmes

Developing programmes for capital works ensures that:

• capital works are planned, budgeted for, and carried out

• teacher, parent, and student views are considered when setting priorities for capital works

• major works are approved by the Ministry of Education which undertakes to maintain the works

• maintenance can be prioritised

• there is a system in place for teachers to request minor capital works for consideration in the following year's budget. 

Damage to School Property

Children are encouraged to view school property as their own while at school, but at the same time to treat it with care and respect. If anything is broken or damaged, it must be reported to the principal as soon as possible. The board is responsible for repairing accidental and deliberate damage that occurs during school hours, and can report acts of vandalism to the police.

All vandalism or damage is reported to the principal who takes the appropriate action. 

If school property has been broken or damaged as a result of school rules being broken then the cost of repair falls to the student(s) responsible.

Under certain conditions, schools can apply to the Ministry for additional funding. 

Use of School Buildings Outside School Hours

The use of school buildings, grounds, and school property outside of school hours must be authorised by the board. The board will set appropriate charges including insurance.

Anyone using the school buildings must abide by the  smokefree school status. Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the school grounds at any time.

Outside organisations and members of the community who want to hire the school facilities must write to the board. 

The board will consider each application and respond in writing following their normal  meeting.

Sleepovers at School

If any area of school is used for an overnight activity, guidelines are followed to ensure the safety of the participants and the building. An overnight activity could be a sleepover (involving our students, or a community group), or an activity that doesn't involve sleep (e.g. the 40 Hour Famine).

·                Any teacher planning an overnight school activity will follow the planning and risk management processes involved in organising an EOTC activity, including notification and approval as appropriate.

·                A community group activity must be approved by the board. The organiser of the event completes a casual use agreement and submits it to the board.

·                Anyone using the school buildings must abide by the school's policy regarding alcohol on school property, and our smokefree school status. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the school grounds at any time.

Fire safety

The local fire risk management officer must be informed that people are staying overnight, with the details of the date/s and areas they will be using. Any area used for sleeping must meet fire safety requirements:

·                The sleeping area must have an automatic fire alarm system and smoke detectors. If there is no sprinkler system, the area must not contain a kitchen.

·                If there are more than 40 people staying overnight, the group sleeping area must have an automatic sprinkler system and at least two means of escape.

·                No more than 160 people may be in one sleeping area.

To further safeguard against fire, the person in charge of the event must make sure that:

·                power points are not overloaded, especially with heaters

·                mattresses, sleeping bags, and other items are kept away from heaters, vents, etc.

·                everyone knows where the exits are, and the exits are well lit and unobstructed

·                everyone has unobstructed access to all exits

·                everyone knows the evacuation procedure and assembly points.