Public Education

Economic stimulus funds keenly awaited

Mitchell High School teachers Leanne Pares and Brenda Zivkovic in one of the kitchens in 2007.

Schools hope their time has finally come for decent funding.

By Kerri Carr

Campaigning during the 2007 federal election and since over schools' needs for resources seems to have echoed in the ears of federal politicians with the Rudd Government's February 3 economic stimulus package proposing significant funding for schools.

Among the many schools that faxed politicians with their resource demands in mid 2007 were Mitchell and Chatswood high schools.

In mid 2007 Mitchell High School Fed Rep Brenda Zivkovic faxed federal politicians including then Opposition leader Kevin Rudd and the shadow education minister.

Their resource demands included a new library big enough to cater for the school's population and a commercial kitchen for hospitality, so students could meet their course requirements.

Last week Ms Zivkovic said she hoped new library and commercial kitchen projects would qualify for the funding.

"It is satisfying that finally some decent funds are making their way into schools," she said.

"In particular, we look forward to the $200,000 grant which will go some way to rectifying the many, many maintenance and building issues we have identified over the past few years," Mr Williams said.

"In June, 2007, our staff compiled a 'wish list' of school improvements we felt would be needed to complement the great work being done by the staff and the community of Chatswood High.

"This grant, whilst nowhere near enough to cover the complete list, could go a long way towards: ridding the school of a white ant problem which is gradually devouring the administration block and several corridors, improving the deplorable condition of the Intensive English Centre's many demountable classrooms so that they are fit for use by classes, providing adequate outdoor shaded areas for students by funding a COLA [covered outdoor learning area] for the quadrangle, refurbishing two of the science labs so that they have safe and functioning gas and water taps, and properly surfaced floors and bench tops, improving our appallingly inadequate sports facilities.

"Public schools have been neglected for far too long and the Chatswood High staff eagerly anticipate the improvements that $200,000 will bring. It doesn't cover our wish list but, hopefully, it represents the beginning of a change in the attitude of governments in Australia towards the funding of public education," Mr Williams said.

Vox pops

Lina Lay (Homebush BHS): "The package [will] be great for schools to utilise. A LOTE [Languages other than English] faculty should be allocated their own computer facilities rather than have to share with the rest of the school [where you] can't get booked in...There is a lot of software that could be used if we had computers in a language lab."

Daniel Derbas (Birrong BHS): "I hope the funding will allow for air conditioning in schools...Since school has gone back a student has fainted as a result of the heat...Heat is an issue every summer. Fans just circulate the hot air."

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Last Modified: 20 Mar 2009