IN a visit to Verney Road School in July last year, State Treasurer, Tim Pallas announced $23.9M would be set aside for the 2022/2023 budget to begin relocating the school to the former Wanganui Park Secondary School campus on Parkside Drive, Shepparton.
Purpose built for 74 students in 1999, today Verney Road School has 250 students and 116 teachers and support staff dedicated to delivering diverse learning opportunities – but they have long exceeded their space to expand.
In response to the relocation, principal of Verney Road School Angela Buxton said, “Verney Road School will benefit immensely from the redevelopment of the old Wanganui Park Secondary College site.
“Our new school will provide us with opportunities to connect more with our community while the additional space will allow us to deliver more targeted interventions and support for our students. We look forward to connecting further with our families and wider community.”
Recently calling on the minister for education, the Hon. Natalie Hutchins to fully fund stage one of the relocation as well as commit to stage two of the funding, Nationals member for Shepparton, Kim O’Keeffe said current funding was not enough to cover the cost of building escalations and left a shortfall of $400k for partial clearance of the new site.
Praising the school for its provision of exemplary education and care, Ms O’Keeffe said, “I have invited the Minister to join me at both the proposed and current sites so that she can see the desperate need for both stages to be fully funded.”
