Kawerau marches to keep school open | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Kawerau Intermediate's fight to keep the school doors open is continuing with a community march in the town planned for next week.

A call has gone out for the people of Kawerau to join a community march in the township that will end on the steps of the Kawerau District Council.

Students and supporters of the four schools who voted for the Ministry of Education's Option B, which would retain the intermediate, Kawerau South, Kawerau North and Kawerau Central schools, will be taking part in the march.

In notices about the march, the Kawerau community has been told now is the time to stand up for what it wants regarding their children's education in Kawerau.

Intermediate principal Daryl Aim said he expected more than 1000 people at the march on Monday.

"Considering well over 2000 people signed our petition, I am hoping the majority will come out and support us," Mr Aim said.

At 11am, classrooms of the four schools will stand empty as marchers leave the school grounds and make their way to the council building.

Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell will be handing over a joint submission from the four schools, the council and the majority of the community and Mr Aim said he hoped Rotorua MP Todd McClay would be there to receive the submission.

Mr Aim said Kunere Timoti, the Year 8 intermediate head boy who asked to speak on behalf of the student body when the ministry went with option C and led the haka performed on the steps on Parliament last Tuesday, was ready to do it all again on Monday.

Mr Aim said the past week had been a quiet one after last week's hikoi to Wellington.

"It's been nice just being the principal of a school again, interacting with the kids and continuing to receive phone calls, emails and letters in support of retaining the school."

He said there were still a number of things being looked at by the board of trustees to keep the doors to the school open.

"There is a really good feeling at the school right now. We are all positive and prepared to fight a good fight."