State funding shortfall stops schools merging - College council objects to 'bullying' - TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS
23rd June 2010
From the Parliamentary Library
Author: By JEWEL TOPSFIELD EDUCATION EDITOR
Publisher: Fairfax
Publication: The Age, Page 3 (Wed 23 Jun 2010)
Keywords: Martin (1),Dixon (1)
Edition: First
Section: News
State funding shortfall stops schools merging
College council objects to 'bullying'
A $27 MILLION merger of two schools is in crisis after Thomastown Secondary
College withdrew its support, amid allegations of state government
bullying.
On the eve of the July 1 merger, Thomastown's school council voted to walk
away from the amalgamation with Peter Lalor Secondary College because of
concerns over state funding.
School council member Shane Burke will also complain to the Ombudsman over
the bullying and intimidation he says the school received - despite the
Brumby government publicly vowing that, unlike the Kennett government, it
would never force schools to merge.
In a threatening email seen by The Age, Energy Minister Peter Batchelor's
electorate officer warned that Thomastown Secondary College was "definitely
in jeopardy of losing the funding" unless it agreed to the merger. Both
schools are in Mr Batchelor's electorate of Thomastown in Melbourne's
northern suburbs. "You should realise that your school is in the very low
[sic] of the 25 per cent of the state average in outcomes for students and
that you do need a change," the email said.
"However, if you can't see this then you have done some considerable damage
to your school community and it will be you and your school council members
that will take the blame for this."
The email, written by electorate officer Maureen Corrigan last September,
said the merger was Mr Batchelor's preferred option. "I have been extremely
disappointed in the view of your school council and principal and the
negativity that your council is projecting to the community," Ms Corrigan
wrote.
The state government has repeatedly vowed it would never force any school
to close or merge and any decision was for school councils to make.
Thomastown Secondary College school council president Stevan Kozmevski said
he was shocked by the email. "I couldn't describe my feelings . . . anger,
disgust to read that type of language coming from an electoral officer who
was supposed to be neutral," he said.
"This was between Peter Lalor and Thomastown, but it looks like they (the
government) have got their finger in the pie."
A spokeswoman for Mr Batchelor said the correspondence was poorly worded.
"The minister has instructed his electorate officer to ensure that no such
wording be used again, as it could be misconstrued as contradicting the
government's policy of no forced mergers of schools," she said. She said Ms
Corrigan had urged the school to resolve any outstanding issues so it could
maximise funding available for the merger.
Thomastown's school council last year agreed in principle to the merger
with Peter Lalor on July 1, pending funding for a new college and sports
facilities.
The project was estimated to cost $27 million. However, the school council
rescinded its support after the state government allocated only $5 million
in the May budget - half the amount the school was expecting.
Thomastown Secondary College principal Leonie White said the council held a
secret ballot of students, staff and parents last month, in which the
overwhelming majority opposed the merger.
Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon said Labor had forced the
closure or merger of 186 schools. "John Brumby's arrogant government
bullies and intimidates communities," he said.
But Peter Lalor Secondary College acting principal Kath Kenny said she
still hoped the merger would proceed.
She said Peter Lalor had agreed not to enrol year sevens this year, on the
basis the school would move to the Thomastown site from July 1.
"We believe a new school with state-of-the-art facilities would be a huge
boon," she said.
TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS
THOMASTOWN SECONDARY COLLEGE
Total enrolments 2010 515
2000-2009 enrolment decline 16%
PETER LALOR SECONDARY COLLEGE
Total enrolments 2010 152
2000-2009 enrolment decline 8%
Thomastown Secondary College school council president, Stevan Kozmevski
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