Race on to fix school
14th July 2010
Race on to fix school
MPs line up as election draws near
THE State Opposition has picked up the political pace by setting a date to visit Brighton Secondary College's crumbling science wing.
Liberal education spokesman Martin Dixon will tour the Marriage Rd school a week from Thursday to inspect its poor conditions.
State Education Minister Bronwyn Pike would not commit to a timeframe on any upgrade or a date to visit the school (``You'll have to wait,'' Leader, June 29).
The school needs a new science block because the old 1950s wing is so decrepit it is costing students marks.
Mr Dixon said the school's pleas for help had fallen on deaf ears. ``The school community is trying very hard and they are doing a great job under poor conditions,'' he said.
``Some schools seem to miss out and Brighton is one of them.
``I will go along and see what needs doing; I need to come and get a first-hand view of the issue.''
But he said the Liberals would not be giving any school funding commitments until closer to the November state poll.
In a letter to the Leader this week (Opinion, p24) Ms Pike returned fire.
``Unlike the Opposition, we don't force schools to merge or close,'' she said. ``Important decisions about schools are best made by school communities.''
Brighton Secondary's local political representatives back a campaign to rebuild the school.
Bentleigh Labor MP Rob Hudson last week said rebuilding the school was a ``very high priority''.
Brighton Liberal MP Louise Asher said she wanted the school to get a new science block.
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Martin Dixon MP
State Member for Nepean
Shop 1, McCrae Plaza
Cnr Lonsdale Street and Pt Nepean Road
McCRAE VIC 3938
Phone: (61) 3 5986 6661
Fax: (61) 3 5981 1360
Email: martin.dixon@parliament.vic.gov.au