❓ A parliamentary question addresses the potential relocation of Meekatharra School of the Air to Geraldton, inquiring about the reasons, costs, and impact on teacher-student contact. The Minister confirms a feasibility study is underway at the request of the school community, citing staffing challenges as a key driver.
AnsweredQoN 322Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MEEKATHARRA SCHOOL OF THE AIR
(1) Will the minister confirm or deny that it is the intention of the Department of Education and Training to relocate Meekatharra School of the Air to Geraldton? (2) If yes to (1), what are the reasons for this relocation? (3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD
(1) Will the minister confirm or deny that it is the intention of the Department of Education and Training to relocate Meekatharra School of the Air to Geraldton? (2) If yes to (1), what are the reasons for this relocation? (3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), what are the reasons for this relocation? (3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(5)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), what are the reasons for this relocation? (3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (1), what is the anticipated cost of relocation? (4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(4) If yes to (1), will teacher-student contact - that is, home visits - continue? (5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(5) If no to (4), will teacher-student contact visits be replaced by the employment of itinerant teachers? (6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(6) If teacher-student contact visits are to be discontinued and the employment of itinerant teachers does not take place, in what way will the school compensate for the reduction in teacher-student contact time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Education and Training has supplied the following answer - (1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(1) Yes, the feasibility of the relocation of the Meekatharra SOTA is being investigated at the request of the Meekatharra School of the Air, school council and parents and citizens association. The preferred option for the location of the Meekatharra SOTA school council and P&C is Geraldton. (2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) Reasons for consideration of relocation are: first, although the school has had some periods of staffing stability, it has generally been a difficult to staff school; second, prior to the appointment of the current principal, there had been seven principals in three years; and third, each year, the principals of the SOTAs run a combined merit selection process for vacancies across the five SOTAs. In 2005, there were no applications for merit selection to Meekatharra SOTA. (3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) A feasibility study is in its early stages. Costings for a relocation have not been established. (4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(4) It is not envisaged that relocation would involve any changes in the service level that is currently part of the School of the Air program. This includes contact home visits. (5)-(6) Not applicable.
(5)-(6) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.