Dear editor,
Apart from massive transition issues, common sense dictates the site chosen for the new super school is highly inadequate. That alone should stop the super school transitioning until issues are addressed. Landlocked already, inadequate parking, reduced recreation area, lack of forward guaranteed funding and multiple multi-storey, high-density buildings catering for up to 3000 students on a site previously holding 542, there is no way but up (or build another school?) when the inevitable need to expand occurs.
City of Greater Shepparton population forecasts 2017 predicted an increase of 22.48%, from 67,958 in 2019 to 83,234 by 2036, a steady annual increase. Lack of foresight and no funding, demonstrates low regard for future site difficulties and an indefinite period of unnecessary transition. Do not transition; blend the students from Shepparton High if it must be closed next year, and build first on a more suitable site. Two new schools, north and south of town to cater for a growing population would be ideal and assuage the issue of parental choice and travel, having a comparable amount of students to most amalgamated suburban schools in each with room for expansion.
Verney Road School website shows problems that eventuate with lack of forward planning. “The buildings are modern; however, six portable classrooms have been added to meet the growing population. The school is landlocked by a housing estate on the north and a primary school on the west. Space for the students is at a premium and play times are alternated to accommodate each unit. The majority of students travel to school by contract buses, a small cohort travel independently on mainstream buses and approximately sixty students travel daily with parents/carers by car. Play, car and bus parking space is at a premium.”
Do we want overcrowding, staggered recreation times, no alternative, with recreation and transport parking space at a premium for future school communities? When these problems can’t be addressed for a special needs public state school of 188, what funding or support can you expect, for this white elephant?
According to ABC Wimmera reporter, Jessica Black, “The Warracknabeal community has been fighting for Government funding for the precinct for over 15 years to amalgamate the town’s primary school, special developmental school and secondary college onto the same campus. Stage one of the construction of the precinct was finished in November but the State Government has not allocated funding for stage two, and parents have said none of the classrooms built so far are fit for purpose.”
Other regional schools including Benalla P-12, Echuca Specialist School and Baimbridge College, Hamilton have waited years for projects or upgrades to be completed and experienced budget cuts, leaving many students in half-finished schools.
Public schools will miss out on up to $5 billion over 10 years due to the Gonsky 2.0 funding deal manipulated by the Victorian government, the lowest funder of public schools nationwide, which allows for previously excluded costs of up to 4% for other education costs that do not directly contribute to teaching, undermining the strategy of improving results for disadvantaged students with needs-based funding, and more funding going to non-government schools.
Funding issues will prevent this school becoming a reality in anything but name only, causing associated transition issues to a whole generation of Shepparton families indefinitely.
Yours sincerely,
Colleen Jones,
Shepparton.
