05 May 2011
Mr MORRIS (Mornington) — I raise a matter this afternoon for the Minister for Education — the matter of the Mornington Special Development School.
The action I seek from the minister is that he meet with representatives from Mornington SDS to discuss future accommodation arrangements for the school. Mornington SDS is currently located in Robertson Drive, Mornington. It does not share a site with MorningtonParkPrimary School, but it is basically on the same piece of land. It is housed entirely in relocatable buildings, and that has been the situation on that site for approximately 24 years.
Mornington SDS serves a large proportion of the northern and eastern sections of the Mornington Peninsula. Some years ago a plan was prepared with the ultimate aim of relocating the school to a new, purpose‑built facility at Hastings.
As a consequence the former government denied the school access to adequate funding for routine maintenance, effectively from the time the plans were prepared. In addition the school was similarly denied access to funding available to most schools under the federal government’s Building the Education Revolution program. Consequently the school was not able to participate in programs such as the Green Vouchers for Schools water tanks program, the National Solar Schools Program, the Schools Water Efficiency Program, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program and the South East Water conservation programs.
The school currently lacks an art room, multipurpose room, library, therapist rooms and food technology facilities, and there are even difficulties with a sick bay. The current site has a very limited play area and no opportunity for expansion. I have visited the school on many occasions in the last few years, both to present badges to the school’s leaders and to discuss the matter which is the subject of my adjournment contribution today.
I would like to place on record my appreciation of the great work carried out by principal Robyn Simmonds and all her team. They do fantastic work, and I take my hat off to them for the results they achieve.
It is important for parents, staff and especially for the students of the school that the situation be resolved. I urge the minister to make himself available to meet with representatives of the school so that the matter can be progressed.
Legislative Assembly 5 May 2011
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