Funding push for special students

A FAIRER funding system for students with a disability was one of the items on the agenda when Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop made a flying visit to Foothills schools last week.
Ms Bishop began her whistlestop tour to the region on Wednesday, 30 August, with a meeting at Belgrave Heights Christian School before moving on to The Basin Primary School and concluding her visit at Boronia Heights College.
Accompanied by La Trobe MP Jason Wood, Ms Bishop spoke to Belgrave Heights College principal Andy Callow about a major government project to investigate flexible funding arrangements for students with disabilities.
Ms Bishop also toured the school’s primary and secondary facilities and spoke to Grade 5 pupils and special needs students about their future ambitions.
At The Basin Primary School, Ms Bishop met principal Graeme Russell to discuss the school’s $135,000 Investing in Our Schools grant application for converting seven old classrooms into five larger ones.
Mr Russell said the school had also applied for a grant under the Government’s Community Watergrants program after consulting an environmental plumbing group.
“We want to replace all toilets to dual-flush systems and all taps with slow-flow fittings.
“It was calculated our water use would be reduced by two-thirds,” he said.