State Government has failed to explain why it “short-changed” Chilwell Primary School of a planned two-storey development, according to an opposition MP.
Coalition Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur last month in parliament demanded acting education minister Gayle Tierney explain why the school was missing out.
But Ms Tierney’s response was “unsatisfactory and misleading”, Ms McArthur said.
Work began on the refurbishment of an “aged” wing instead last fortnight, despite months of campaigning by the school for a two-story replacement.
“It’s a great shame that the VSBA and the acting minister clearly prefer a less than optimal use of taxpayers’ money and have shown little concern for the school community,” Ms McArthur said.
State Government allocated $2.4 million in its 2017/2018 budget for the school and initial plans indicated a $2,409,967 cost for a two-storey rebuild.
But a series of cost increases led to VSBA instead offering a “complete refurbishment” of the existing wing.
The school’s council last year obtained a quote from a Geelong building company for a two-storey rebuild for less than $2.4 million.
But VSBA recently accepted a tender from the same company to complete a refurbishment.
Ms Tierney in her response said the two-storey option was $3.1 million above the budgeted amount.
She said the refurbishment would include “flexible learning” classrooms to expand into “circulation space”.
VSBA presented three refurbishment design options to the principal, school council and senior staff on 18 August, 2018, and “a preferred option was selected,” she said.
But Ms McArthur said VSBA provided one-page designs at that meeting and went with forward without seeking a decision from the school.
The expansion into the “circulation space”, or corridors, would actually reduce “general teaching” space, Ms McArthur said.
VSBA repeatedly ignored advice from the school council and failed to keep it properly informed, she said.
School council president Phil Joyce said he only discovered the “circulation space” plans following Ms McArthur’s question.
“The bottom line is they admitted the corridor was going to be used as teaching space,” he said.
“The teachers have all stated this will not work.”
The school community was “devastated” after raising about $100,000 for a rebuild, only “to fund a building that doesn’t fit our needs”, Mr Joyce said.
“All that fundraising they’ve spent their time doing … will be just used to make this building serviceable.”
