Support for more schools

By Paul Dunlop
TEACHERS and school leaders have thrown their support behind calls for more schools in the Pakenham district.
The Gazette and Cardinia Shire Council are making funding for new schools the number one priority as voters prepare to go to the polls in the state election.
The local seats of Gembrook and Bass are expected to be two of the hardestfought contests in the Victorian poll.
A new primary school for Pakenham has been targeted as the most pressing need with expanded secondary facilities similarly in demand.
The calls come as parents are having to drive their children to schools in outlying towns because Pakenham’s schools are already filled to capacity.
Pakenham Consolidated School principal Leonie Campbell said she supported moves to expand education options in the town.
Ms Campbell is a member of the committee that is helping to coordinate planning for the new primary school for land on the Heritage Springs estate.
Construction of the multimilliondollar project is expected to begin next year with the school to open in 2008.
Cardinia Shire manager of community wellbeing Fiona Hodges warned the school would not be enough to meet ongoing demand.
“Over the next five years, the number of primary schoolaged children in Pakenham and Officer is forecast to increase from 2946 to 4736 – an increase of 1790 children,” she said.
Ms Campbell said when she started at the consolidated school 10 years ago there were about 420 students. There were now more than 840, she said.
“More schools will be needed as more families move to the area,” Ms Campbell said.
Ms Hodges said the council had been working closely with the Department of Education and Training to compile a list of future priorities.
Cardinia Shire’s education wishlist includes:
A new primary school in Shearwater Drive to service residents in Lakeside and other estates west of Pakenham, to be open by 2010;
The possibility of other new primary schools in the north west area of Pakenham and in Officer, depending on the rate of development and enrolments at existing schools; and
Sites identified for new secondary colleges in Pakenham and Officer and planning put in place for the construction of the first stage of a new secondary college within the next five years.
The council is also keen to see provision made for postcompulsory educational and vocational training facilities.