The news just keeps getting better for Ashburton College with its rebuild project receiving both a size and a cash boost.

In March Prime Minister Jacinda Adern announced at the college that there would be a complete, $50 million rebuild of the 50-year-old school.

That build has now been upped to include extra classrooms and a likely increase in spend of up to $60 million.

College principal Ross Preece said the change came after an error in the number of classrooms in the original documents was spotted.

The school has 62 classrooms, a roll of 1200 and is at 100 per cent occupancy.

The new build had just 64 classrooms.

When the rebuild was announced, the plan was to build support space – reception areas, library etc – for a maximum roll of 1600, however, with that proposal the devil was definitely in the detail, Preece said.

“At 1200 our roll is at 100 per cent capacity with 62 classrooms but with just two additional classrooms we were no better off.”

The school alerted the Ministry of Education and the plan was revisited with the outcome an increase to 76 classrooms and an indication the build cost would be closer to $60 million.

Classroom space for 1350 students would be built initially, but the plan includes provision for an extra block as the roll grows, Preece said.

Preliminary work on the rebuild has started, with interest registered from 12 architectural firms, both on and off-shore.

Site visits by some of those had already begun.

He anticipates the architect will be appointed by the end of September.

Staff and board members had been working on an education brief wishlist of ideas for the new school and there would be consultation with students and the community, he said.

While it was unclear when site work would begin, the ministry had set the latest date for completion at December 2025.

Whether the new school is built in stages or not depends on location.

If it was sited on the rugby fields and Middle Road netball courts then it could be completed before the old school was demolished, Preece said.

“When it comes to how and where, we’ll be guided by the experts,” he said.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 20 August 2019