Education Minister Hekia Parata wants four schools that are to be merged into one in Christchurch, to consider the involvement of the private sector in designing, building and maintaining the new school.
The ministry wants three primary schools and Aranui High School merged on the high school's grounds in a $41 million development.
Involvement of the private sector was not in the original merger document the schools were going to be given; the information was added by the minister in her own handwriting before it was sent out.
Aranui High School principal John Rohs said it could block community access to the sporting and health facilities he hopes the new school will include.
He said this is because the private sector would need to turn a profit to make a return on its investment.
Aranui Primary School principal Mike Allen said asking a private company to maintain buildings could be a way for the ministry to pass the buck if there were problems with them.
The ministry is consulting the schools until July and a final decision is due in September.
Auckland's Hobsonville Point Primary School was the first to involve the private sector in building and maintaining a school.
Principal Daniel Birch says he no longer has to spend time worrying about maintenance or constructing new buildings and the community has not been blocked from using the facilities.
