School funds slammed

By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully primary school principals have slammed State Government maintenance funding as “grossly inadequate”.
But the Government rejected claims it had neglected the three schools.
Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling said the schools were shouldering a $436,096 maintenance shortfall based on a 2005 State Government audit.
Mr Wakeling said Mountain Gate Primary School had received $68,308 for repairs since 2005 – $21,259 less than the amount identified in the audit.
Kent Park Primary School was short $118,986 while Wattle View Primary School received just $35,981 of an estimated $331,832 required.
“This maintenance backlog must be cleared to ensure the availability of a quality education, something that we all agree our children deserve,” Mr Wakeling said.
A State Government spokesman rejected the claims.
He said the Government had committed $1.9 billion to rebuild, renovate or extend every Victorian government school and allocated more than $50 million for school maintenance in 2008-09.
The State Government has provided Kent Park and Mountain Gate primary schools with $5.516 million and $1.42 million respectively for ‘modernisation’.
But Kent Park Primary School principal Don Britt said the $5.516 million was to construct new buildings.
Mr Britt said the cash alleviated some pressure by replacing dilapidated buildings, but called for more maintenance funding.
“Annually we get a very tiny amount for maintenance,” he said.
“It’s insufficient to run buildings of this size. It’s grossly inadequate.”
Mr Britt said the older buildings that remained needed guttering, down pipe and roof repairs.
He hoped maintenance funds promised in the Federal Government’s February stimulus package would be available within the next six months.
Mr Britt said it would clear their maintenance backlog.
“These big boosts of money will help to alleviate the pressure,” he said.
“But we need more funding annually.”
Mountain Gate Primary School principal Leigh Baker said $1.42 million boost paid for seven new classrooms.
However, Mr Baker said many of the school’s current buildings desperately needed repair and were earmarked for demolition.
The school is waiting for funding to construct several more classrooms and other facilities but is unsure when the cash will come.
“We’re reluctant to spend money (on maintenance) if it would be demolished,” Mr Baker said.
“The frustrating thing is not knowing. We’ve still got roofing problems and cracked brickwork.”
Like Mr Britt, Mr Baker hoped the school could use Federal Government cash to take the pressure off.
“We try and maintain the buildings the best we can,” he said.
“Inside it’s a nice, pleasant environment to learn in but it needs work.”
Wattle View Primary School was unavailable for comment.