A LOCKINGTON mother has welcomed a promise of $11 million to relocate Echuca Specialist School if the Liberal Nationals are elected to government in November.
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But Carolyn Lewis has criticised the politicisation of an urgent need for a purpose-built setting for children with disabilities to continue their education.
Nationals leader Peter Walsh and Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith visited the Echuca Specialist School this morning to announce a commitment to contribute $11 million for the upgrade, if a Coalition government is elected when Victorians go to the polls.
Mrs Lewis, whose 14-year-old daughter Kaitlyn attends the school, said she was ‘very happy’ to learn the community’s pleas were being heard.
“But I’m still sick of hearing that it’s a political competition for these kids,” she said.
“The school is about kids needing a new school, not what political party is going to give the money for it.
“I really think they need to stop using these kids for their campaign. They need to give the money now for the school, when it’s needed.”
The school community has been advocating for new, fit-for-purpose premises for at least 20 years.
Echuca Specialist School principal Paul Marshall said there was talk of a new school when he joined the staff 20 years ago.
“It’s taken so many years to get to this point,” he said.
Hope for that vision to become a reality surged following arrangements for a merger with Echuca South and Echuca West primary schools almost 10 years ago.
Echuca Specialist School council president Scott Morrison said plans for the new Twin Rivers Primary School included a new site for the specialist school, which serves families from Cohuna to Kyabram.
“As part of the planning process, it was always proposed the whole complex would be built in one go,” he said.
But the government is understood to have divided the project into stages, the first of which included the union of the two primary schools.
The specialist school was relegated to the second stage, which has been overlooked for funding in numerous government budgets.
Mr Morrison said the site for the new premises was ready and waiting at Twin Rivers Primary School.
Action group seeking progress
AFTER years of promises, concerned community members have created the Echuca Specialist School Action Group.
Mr Morrison, who is one of the group’s founding members, said the group was planning a campaign highlighting the urgent need for a new school. The group is also organising rallies.
The existing school was not purpose-built for students with disabilities and experiences issues with sewerage, power and water.
The buildings are also believed to contain asbestos.
Mr Morrison said the action group was seeking independent testing for asbestos, soil contamination, and structural engineering at the existing school site.
A response from the Victorian School Building Authority stated any testing would need to be approved by the department, as the school was the property of the Minister for Education.
It said the group could apply to have the testing done, but would need to justify the reasons for the request.
“It would then be at the discretion of the property unit to approve the application, and then actually conduct the testing,” the response stated.
Department of Education and Training policy precludes third-party contractors from doing any testing.
Contractors would need to be DET-approved.
The department has encouraged any community member with concerns to raise them with the department, which will assess and organise the testing, if required.
“The VSBA is working closely with Echuca Specialist School to rectify the issues regarding the sewerage,” a department spokesperson said.
Works are expected to occur in the second week of the school holidays and to be finished by the start of Term 3.
Education Minister James Merlino has promised to visit Echuca Specialist School ‘in the coming months’.
Politicians set their sights on Echuca
“No government has done more, or invested more, in special needs education than this government, but there is more to do.”
Those were the words of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who was questioned in relation to funding for Echuca Specialist School while visiting Bendigo on Friday.
“That’s the key point, there is more that we have to do and we are committed to getting that job done as well.”
Mr Andrews said there was ‘some history’ to the issues faced by Echuca Specialist School, and some funding had been provided for planning and for ‘early stages’.
“I understand that the Victorian School Building Authority and the minister’s office are working with the school as we speak, and have been for quite some time,” he said.
Two days earlier, the government he leads announced a more than $7 million ‘Inclusion Boost’.
The program will provide government schools with funding and guidance to: develop an inclusion and diversity policy; to educate parents and the broader community about the policy; and educate teaching and support staff about increasing participation opportunities for students with disabilities and additional needs.
“We’re supporting our schools to make sure that all students feel welcome, accepted and engaged so that they can participate, achieve and thrive in school and life,” Education Minister James Merlino said in relation to the program.
“Building the Education State means making sure everyone can access a great education – no matter their circumstances.”
The Nationals leader, Mr Walsh, cited similar motivations in his announcement this morning:
“Every child is entitled to the best start in life, no matter where you live,” he said.
Mr Walsh went on to say Daniel Andrews and Labor had failed to deliver for the community.
The Shadow Education Minister, Mr Smith, said the Liberal Nationals would make sure the new school was built.
“We understand how important this project is and we will help turn it from vision to reality for the Echuca school community by investing the funds needed,” Mr Smith said.
Senator Derryn Hinch is also expected to visit the school in July.
- with Adam Holmes
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