Mr MILLS - 2007-11-28
Is it not the case that under your stewardship of the Education portfolio, funding pressure resulting from the implementation of middle schools has forced Casuarina Senior College to amalgamate faculties, including Arts with Science and Careers with Library? Why is it that Labor says education is critical, however when it comes to taking action, you are degrading the capacity of schools such as Casuarina Senior College?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. Fundamentally, funding to schools is based on formulae that have been in place for some time based on how many students attend a particular school and the cohort or type of those students. What schools do, particularly a large school or college like Casuarina Senior College with over 1000 students involved, is to make decisions and base those decisions on their priorities of how to structure the campus. These priorities are determined by the principal. They are not determined by me, the minister. There has been no reduction in funding to Casuarina Senior College. As I am advised, there is actually an increase in funding to Casuarina Senior College for the next school year.
In respect of expenditure at Casuarina Senior College to accommodate Year 10s for this year, the government spent $3.4m on six separate buildings for five classrooms, upgrades of toilets, construction of a new bike shed, internal refurbishment and the construction of a new $1.8m multipurpose sports pavilion that I had the pleasure of opening, again, with the member for Johnston.
Mr Mills: What about the cyclone shelter?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Blain probably has not been out to Casuarina Senior College. He has probably taking a phone call from some disgruntled teachers there at Casuarina Senior College who do not support …
Mr Mills interjecting..
Ms Carney: You idiot.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I withdraw idiot.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: You should get a bar of soap for her, Madam Speaker.
It is no secret that Casuarina Senior College waged a very public campaign about the government’s middle year reforms and the introduction of the Year 10 students to the college that occurred this year. That was a very public campaign. We live in a democracy and support the fact that people can have a different view.
There is also no misapprehension at all that there are still a small number of teachers at Casuarina Senior College who have not agreed with the path that the government has taken. It is unfortunate that they continue to air concerns, but that is their right and I do not disagree with that right.
The vast majority of teachers at Casuarina Senior College, a lot of whom I know personally, are really pleased with the reforms. They can see that it is going to work. There is a new principal at CSC this year who is doing an absolutely fantastic job. The government committed just over $5m in new capital works. The budget is going to increase next school year and how the college applies the budget and applies the resources is fundamentally an issue for the principal. I support any decisions that the principal takes.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. Fundamentally, funding to schools is based on formulae that have been in place for some time based on how many students attend a particular school and the cohort or type of those students. What schools do, particularly a large school or college like Casuarina Senior College with over 1000 students involved, is to make decisions and base those decisions on their priorities of how to structure the campus. These priorities are determined by the principal. They are not determined by me, the minister. There has been no reduction in funding to Casuarina Senior College. As I am advised, there is actually an increase in funding to Casuarina Senior College for the next school year.
In respect of expenditure at Casuarina Senior College to accommodate Year 10s for this year, the government spent $3.4m on six separate buildings for five classrooms, upgrades of toilets, construction of a new bike shed, internal refurbishment and the construction of a new $1.8m multipurpose sports pavilion that I had the pleasure of opening, again, with the member for Johnston.
Mr Mills: What about the cyclone shelter?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Blain probably has not been out to Casuarina Senior College. He has probably taking a phone call from some disgruntled teachers there at Casuarina Senior College who do not support …
Mr Mills interjecting..
Ms Carney: You idiot.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I withdraw idiot.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: You should get a bar of soap for her, Madam Speaker.
It is no secret that Casuarina Senior College waged a very public campaign about the government’s middle year reforms and the introduction of the Year 10 students to the college that occurred this year. That was a very public campaign. We live in a democracy and support the fact that people can have a different view.
There is also no misapprehension at all that there are still a small number of teachers at Casuarina Senior College who have not agreed with the path that the government has taken. It is unfortunate that they continue to air concerns, but that is their right and I do not disagree with that right.
The vast majority of teachers at Casuarina Senior College, a lot of whom I know personally, are really pleased with the reforms. They can see that it is going to work. There is a new principal at CSC this year who is doing an absolutely fantastic job. The government committed just over $5m in new capital works. The budget is going to increase next school year and how the college applies the budget and applies the resources is fundamentally an issue for the principal. I support any decisions that the principal takes.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016