Mega-merger anger Parents express their opposition
25th February 2010
Author: Education | Karen Poh
Publisher: News Ltd Regional/Suburban
Publication: Leader-Heidelberg, Page 1 (Wed 24 Feb 2010)
Keywords: Martin (1),Dixon (1)
Edition: 1 - HB
Section: NewsMega-merger anger Parents express their opposition
BANYULE families are desperately fighting to keep their schools open.
At a public meeting in Bellfield last Tuesday, more than 50 parents, carers, educators and students spoke of their anger at the State Government's handling of the merger of Banksia-La Trobe Secondary College, Bellfield and Haig Street primary schools and the senior section of the Olympic Village Primary School.
Stage one of the project has already begun, with $20 million of state money pumped into a mega-school complex on the former La Trobe Secondary College site in Waiora Rd, Macleod. When completed, the 9.3ha site will cater for 1800 students from prep to year 12.
Many parents said they felt the Education Department had bulldozed its way through the decision-making process, with only token community consultation.
Banyule Councillor Jenny Mulholland, Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon and Northern Metropolitan state Liberal MP Matthew Guy were at the meeting.
Cr Mulholland said the merger was not family-friendly policy.
She said schools in the Heidelberg West region had been starved of resources for years.
Some parents said they would prefer to see the existing schools redeveloped instead.
One retired educator said the school closures would cause the demise of communities. ``The school is the community. Everything pivots around the school,'' she said.
Carl Ziebell, of Ivanhoe, said he was strongly against the idea of a prep-to-year-12 school.
Charles La Trobe College principal Glenn White defended the merger, and maintained there had been adequate consultation with the school community. He said enrolments were falling at the four schools and a merger promised better educational outcomes.
State Government spokesman Chris Owner said the schools officially merged on January 1 but would remain where they were until stage one was completed next year.
Is this the right education model for Banyule? Tell us at heidelbergleader.com.au
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