Doreen Primary School has secured $5.39 million in funding in the 2022/23 state budget announcement on Tuesday, May 3.
It’s the first time in almost 60 years that the school received funding for refurbishments.
Principal Glenn Simondson said upgrades to the school had been accomplished through support from the local community.
“We built our own basketball court, a roof over the top of the basketball court and lighting, we’ve put down synthetic turf, and we’ve built playgrounds all by funding ourselves. We even built an art room by funding it ourselves.
So we’ve done a whole lot of things ourselves, and we haven’t had any capital works here since 1963,” Principal Glenn Simondson said.
The money will go towards a new administration block, classrooms and student toilets for the 155-year-old school.
“Now we’ll be able to renew everything and get everything up to modern day standards,” he said.
Mr Simondson said the funding meant the school was able to spend on the students.
“Instead of constantly having to fund things ourselves, we’re now getting our facilities upgraded, modernised out of government offers, so we can actually spend our money on educating kids further.”
Yan Yean MP Danielle Green was joined by Yan Yean Labor candidate Lauren Kathage at Doreen Primary School on Tuesday, May 3, the day of the budget announcement to deliver the exciting news.
“I think this is a school that punches above its weight and I think it does that under the leadership of an excellent team,” Ms Kathage said.
