Schools stop

By Tania Martin
BUILDING on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s education revolution has come to a grinding halt in the hills.
Contractors downed tools last month after it was discovered the plans for several schools had blown the budget.
In May, Kallista Primary School received $1.27 million under the Federal Government’s Primary Schools for the 21st Century initiative.
The cash was to be used in conjunction with $2 million from the State Government for a complete school overhaul.
But after having several trees chopped down to make way for the building, construction was suspended until further notice.
Principal Barbara Rose said Kallista was classified under the design plan known as the rural replacement template.
“Buildings of that template have blown the budget so they are redesigning them,” she said.
Ms Rose said any school with 150 students or less was facing the same problem.
“It’s been very disappointing and difficult to explain to the school community,” she said.
Ms Rose said a number of trees had already been chopped down to make way for the proposed construction.
“We had blocked off the playground equipment but they have given the kids the playground area back until this has been sorted,” she said.
But Ms Rose said Kallista was in a slightly better position than other schools.
She said also having the State Government cash meant the school could go out now and get a new plan.
However other schools in the same predicament will have to wait for the Education Department to put plans out for tenders to be redesigned.
Ms Rose said it could be another six months before other schools in the area were able to start building.
Other schools in the area affected by the delay include Sassafras and Silvan.
Under round three of the program, Sassafras received $1.1 million for much needed upgrades.
Principal Alex MacDonald said although he never saw the original plans, the school was told they had gone over budget.
“I don’t think we are going to get anything close to what we were originally told,” he said.
“It was to be three classrooms and a library and now we will be lucky to get the classrooms or a refurbishment of our original building.”
Mr MacDonald said it was disappointing but at least unlike other schools no work had started before the plans were recalled.
“In some ways it’s disappointing but on the other hand we might get what we want instead of what the department thinks we want,” he said.
Mr MacDonald said it could be February before the new plans were finalised.
A Federal Government spokeswoman said the money was provided to the relevant education authority which was responsible for building works.
The Mail contacted the Education Department but was unable to get a response before going to print.