Campaign starts on funding shortfall

Parents at Brisbane Water Secondary College have started a campaign to highlight a funding shortfall for construction of buildings at both Woy Woy and Umina Campus.

College Steering Committee chairperson Mr Bruce Graf said that $5 million had been promised for the "Stage 2" work at the school when the college was introduced, but this had been reduced to $4 million.

He said the State Government's "failure to fund the Stage 2 building infrastructure appropriately" was undermining the good academic work being done at the school.

Now, four years after the college formation, the $4 million would only pay for buildings valued at $3 million when the building program was first discussed.

"Bob Carr's broken promises about the initial and ongoing Stage 2 monies were to make the appropriate changes to the colleges' multiple campuses building restructure and facilities to create a great learning environment," said Mr Graf.

He said the parents would be approaching the new Premier Mr Morris Iemma to provide the money necessary to finish the Stage 2 building program.

"After four years, the college students are achieving great things due to the ongoing support from dedicated teachers, parents, members of the local Peninsula community and the children themselves," said Mr Graf.

"In 2002, we expected good learning outcomes to be achieved by 2007.

"Through the commitment to changes in teaching practices, improved learning outcomes have been achieved much earlier.

"The Senior Campus Years 10 and 12 Students results have put them into the highest performing Central Coast Secondary Schools.

"The State-wide ELLA Examination results have now shown higher figures in the high and proficient bands for every area of the tests.

"From 2003 to 2005. the College Junior Campus Year 7 and 8 has increased the percentage of students in both high and proficient bands while reducing the percentage in elementary and low bands.

"The rate of increase has been above the State figures over the period of time.

"The College Steering Committee, comprising representatives of the Peninsula's six feeder primary schools and the two secondary schools, should be congratulated for their courage and commitment to make the hard decisions and follow through with these changes for the betterment of secondary public education locally for all our children.

"It is a shame that the Carr Government, and all the successive Ministers of Education since the concept of a college system was introduced in 1999, have not seen fit to come forward and build onto the challenge and commitment to support the college.

"We thank our teachers, our students and our parents for the ongoing support to make this ever changing public education system grow and develop with strong learning outcomes for all our children, despite the State Government's failure to fund the Stage 2 building infrastructure appropriately."

Mr Graf said the parent would ask the new Premier to step up to the commitment of funding the completion of Stage 2 building works at the college.

Press release, August 9 Bruce Graf, Brisbane water Secondary College Steering Committee