Education Minister Hekia Parata is offering to reassess the deadline for principals to respond to the Government's plan to overhaul education in Canterbury.
About 30 schools face closure or merger under a plan to reorganise the area's schools in the wake of the earthquakes in the Canterbury region.
Schools' responses to the plan are due by 7 December, but Ms Parata has indicated the deadline may be extended.
Principals have been offered an extra one day a week release from the classroom to organise their response.
The Canterbury Primary Principals Association says its members are satisfied with the offer.
