College in crisis

Van Asch College may be forced to cut staffing levels because of funding cuts of almost 50 per cent.

The chairman of the Van Asch College board, Mr Alan Bensley, confirmed this last night but emphasised that no “final” decisions had been made. The college was one of three special schools in Christchurch affected by funding cuts announced by the Minister of Education last November.

Van Asch funding was cut from $2.834 million to $1.494m, McKenzie Residential School from $1.365m to $816,652, and Hogben School from $3.918m to $3.177m.

The principal of Hogben School would not comment on measures it might be looking at, and the principal of McKenzie Residential School could not be reached last night.