Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Anglicare Victoria chief executive officer Paul McDonald has written to Education Minister James Merlino requesting a meeting to discuss the future of the organisation’s “life-saving” Bendigo school.
The request follows the announcement of the Educational Services Unit’s closure last week, which was met with widespread distress and confusion from students and parents.
Despite previously telling the Bendigo Advertiser the decision to close the ESU was not due to financial considerations, regional director Carolyn Wallace yesterday cited changes to the school’s funding model as being behind the closure.
”We were advised by the department that our current model cannot continue beyond 2016,” she said.
“Additionally, the funding model does not support the student/teacher ratio our students require.”
But Mr Merlino said the Education Department was yet to receive written confirmation from Anglicare that the ESU would close.
“I have asked my department to make contact with [Anglicare] and provide me with further details about the situation and consider the options going forward,” he said.
“In the meantime, the department will contact each student’s family this week to start discussing the best pathway forward for their child.”
Mr Merlino said his priority was to support the students and their families.
“The department’s wellbeing and student support services, including counsellors, are also on standby to support the students and their families.”