❓ Question regarding conflict between Duncraig Senior High School and Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre over resource allocation. Minister responds with actions taken and future plans, including relocation consideration.
AnsweredQoN 1016Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DUNCRAIG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL–DUNCRAIG
SECONDARY EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
1016. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
I refer to the conflict over the
past four years between Duncraig Senior High School and Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre over equitable allocation and use of public school
facilities and resources located on the grounds shared by the two schools.
What steps has the minister taken to
address each of the following outstanding issues from the board of DSESC during
the transition period to a new site —
(a) immediate
short-term access priorities, including an accessible therapy room that is
suitable for use for daily management procedures for all students on the
Duncraig site, whether from the education support centre or the senior high
school;
(b) the
guidelines for negotiating agreed access to Duncraig facilities in the medium
term;
(c) an
independent review of Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre facilities in
the context of current and future demand to determine medium and long term
infrastructure needs; and
(d) clear
directions from the department as to what investment it plans to make in the
Duncraig SESC over the next one to two years to address short to medium-term
infrastructure needs, and a long-term plan to ensure that we are prepared for
future demand?
SECONDARY EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
1016. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
I refer to the conflict over the
past four years between Duncraig Senior High School and Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre over equitable allocation and use of public school
facilities and resources located on the grounds shared by the two schools.
What steps has the minister taken to
address each of the following outstanding issues from the board of DSESC during
the transition period to a new site —
(a) immediate
short-term access priorities, including an accessible therapy room that is
suitable for use for daily management procedures for all students on the
Duncraig site, whether from the education support centre or the senior high
school;
(b) the
guidelines for negotiating agreed access to Duncraig facilities in the medium
term;
(c) an
independent review of Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre facilities in
the context of current and future demand to determine medium and long term
infrastructure needs; and
(d) clear
directions from the department as to what investment it plans to make in the
Duncraig SESC over the next one to two years to address short to medium-term
infrastructure needs, and a long-term plan to ensure that we are prepared for
future demand?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I think she should be at home, quite frankly.
Hon Sue Ellery : I would like to be.
Hon PETER COLLIER : The member does not sound good at
all. I think she should go home.
Several members interjected.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I was being sincere; I really do
not think she should be here.
Hon Sue Ellery : I appreciate it; thank you.
Hon PETER COLLIER : In response to the question —
(a) I am aware of
the issues at Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior
High School that I understand are the result of increased enrolments at both
schools. As this is an operational matter, the Department of Education has been
addressing the issues. Planning to resolve these matters has been underway for
some time and I understand the principals at both schools have been in regular
communication with officers from the department. On 19 September 2016, the
director general wrote to all staff and parents at Duncraig Senior High School
and Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre providing information about the
department's responses to immediate concerns, plans for 2017 and its
preferred strategy for the longer term. I emphasise that, at this time,
relocation to a new site remains the preferred strategy. Further consultation
will occur with principals and their communities at these schools.
On 16 September 2016, an accessible
therapy room was made available for all students on the Duncraig site. The
principals have approved this room as suitable for use with students requiring
specific procedures related to their particular needs. All students at both
schools have access to the oval and hard surfaces during recess and lunch time.
The students from Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre have access to
Duncraig Senior High School's specialist facilities, including the gym,
performing arts, rehearsal room and visual arts and home economics rooms of the
senior high school.
(b) On 20 March
2014, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior High School to provide access to
facilities on the high school site for all students. This memorandum of
understanding was based on the understanding of the rights of all students to a
quality education.
(c) The
department routinely monitors enrolment growth and infrastructure needs for all
public schools. It has been working with both principals to ensure that all
students at Duncraig Senior High School and Duncraig Secondary Education
Support Centre have access to quality educational programs in both the short
and longer terms. It is not departmental practice to conduct independent
reviews into routine operational matters regarding enrolment growth and
infrastructure planning.
(d) To address
enrolment pressures in 2017, three additional transportable classrooms will be
provided to Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior
High School. They will comprise one home economics classroom and two general
purpose classrooms. Consultation is underway between the two principals and
officers from the department regarding how these additional resources can be
best used to complement existing facilities to resolve the matters associated
with enrolment growth. The department's preferred position for the
long-term resolution of this matter is the relocation of Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre to the Warwick Senior High School site. This strategy
remains under a process of consultation between departmental officers, school
principals and members of their communities.
some notice of the question. I think she should be at home, quite frankly.
Hon Sue Ellery : I would like to be.
Hon PETER COLLIER : The member does not sound good at
all. I think she should go home.
Several members interjected.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I was being sincere; I really do
not think she should be here.
Hon Sue Ellery : I appreciate it; thank you.
Hon PETER COLLIER : In response to the question —
(a) I am aware of
the issues at Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior
High School that I understand are the result of increased enrolments at both
schools. As this is an operational matter, the Department of Education has been
addressing the issues. Planning to resolve these matters has been underway for
some time and I understand the principals at both schools have been in regular
communication with officers from the department. On 19 September 2016, the
director general wrote to all staff and parents at Duncraig Senior High School
and Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre providing information about the
department's responses to immediate concerns, plans for 2017 and its
preferred strategy for the longer term. I emphasise that, at this time,
relocation to a new site remains the preferred strategy. Further consultation
will occur with principals and their communities at these schools.
On 16 September 2016, an accessible
therapy room was made available for all students on the Duncraig site. The
principals have approved this room as suitable for use with students requiring
specific procedures related to their particular needs. All students at both
schools have access to the oval and hard surfaces during recess and lunch time.
The students from Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre have access to
Duncraig Senior High School's specialist facilities, including the gym,
performing arts, rehearsal room and visual arts and home economics rooms of the
senior high school.
(b) On 20 March
2014, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior High School to provide access to
facilities on the high school site for all students. This memorandum of
understanding was based on the understanding of the rights of all students to a
quality education.
(c) The
department routinely monitors enrolment growth and infrastructure needs for all
public schools. It has been working with both principals to ensure that all
students at Duncraig Senior High School and Duncraig Secondary Education
Support Centre have access to quality educational programs in both the short
and longer terms. It is not departmental practice to conduct independent
reviews into routine operational matters regarding enrolment growth and
infrastructure planning.
(d) To address
enrolment pressures in 2017, three additional transportable classrooms will be
provided to Duncraig Secondary Education Support Centre and Duncraig Senior
High School. They will comprise one home economics classroom and two general
purpose classrooms. Consultation is underway between the two principals and
officers from the department regarding how these additional resources can be
best used to complement existing facilities to resolve the matters associated
with enrolment growth. The department's preferred position for the
long-term resolution of this matter is the relocation of Duncraig Secondary
Education Support Centre to the Warwick Senior High School site. This strategy
remains under a process of consultation between departmental officers, school
principals and members of their communities.
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