Page 192 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

215.

L AGUNA S C H0 0 L

on 16th June 1881.

James Brown, a pupil-teacher, was appointed as an assistant-
teacher at Laguna in September 1881. It would seem that this was the
completion time for the new school and the second classroom.

George Brown, contractor of Cessnock, completed a weathershed
on 12th April 1883. His remuneration was £40.0.0. ($80.00).

A new wooden residence was completed on 23rd May 1896, by
Arthur Conway of East Maitland. His quote had been £179.19.6. ($359.96).
The School was repainted on 12th January 1900, by Charles Chapman of
Ellalong. For this work, he was paid £19.14.0. ($39.40).

During the early 1900's, school enrolments commenced to dwindle.
In 1906, although 16 children were enrolled, the daily average attendance
was only nine pupils. By 1909, enrolments had dropped to nine children.
As a result, in 1910, Laguna was made a 'half-time' school with Wattagan.
'Half-time' schools were those which operated week about. The 'half-
time' arrangement between Laguna and Wattagan schools continued from 1910
to 1926. During this period the teacher continued to live at Laguna
and during his week at Wattagan travelled daily to and from Laguna.

On 16th July 1926, when the Wattagan School enrolment had dropped
to five children, with a daily average attendance of three pupils, Inspector
Clements recommended that Wattagan 'half-time' school should be closed
and that Laguna should become a 'Provisional' ·school. Mr. F.B. Woodbury
of Wattagan was offered .a subsidy to assist in obtaining a private teacher
for Wattagan.

A bush fire on 4th February 1929, destroyed both the separate
boys and girls lavatories, portion of the playground fence and part of
the weathershed. Mr. L.W. Goodwin of Laguna was engaged at a fee of
£32.10.0. ($65.00) to replace, repair and restore the damage.