Page 174 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

197.

KURR I KURR I SCHOOL

In the new School year of 1912, an Evening Continuation School was
commenced on 19th February 1912.

Kurri School was again raised in status in January 1913. This time
from a Superior Public School to a Junior Technical School, and providing
secondary education to the Intermediate Certificate level. - During 1911, the
Department of Public Instruction had introduced a new ~olicy or system of
'District Schools'. By 1913 this policy had been broadened by re-fashioning
the Superior Schools or District Schools ' •_ to provide for Commercial, Junior
Technical or Domestic Science, or a combination of all three. Kurri School
was to remain as a Junior Technical School until the construction of Kurri
High .SchooLover forty (40) years later. During this long period it developed
into five (5) Departments; .Infants, Boys Primary, Girls Primary, Junior
Technical (for boys) and Domestic Science (for girls).

The Department of Public Instruction's Records show that enrolments
at Kurri School by mid-1913 had grown to a tota1· .or 568 pupils - 300 boys and
268 girls. The Infants School in the same grounds had an enrolment of 365
pupils. Once more the Department of Public Instruction had to meet the
challenge of accommodation. During both 1913 and 1914, wooden portable
buildings were transported to enable Kurri Primary School to handle the
population expansion. Steps were taken and tenders called for the construction
of a further brick building, of eight rooms. The successful Contractor was
G. Grace. His quote was accepted on 6th February 1916. The building was
completed and ready for occupancy at the start of the 1917 school year.

Lot No. 2, Section No. 41, Town of Kurri, was reserved for a possible
Headmaster's residence site. This block was at the corner of Hopetoun and
Alexandra Streets, Kurri. The site was g:i.zetted on 30th November 1917.

An interesting feature in the Kurri School history is that in
August 1919, the school was closed temporarily. The buildings were used as
an emergency hospital during the 3ubonic Influenza epidemic.

The Department of Education Records show that Kurri School enrolments