MILL Park Heights Primary School wants a special present to celebrate its 20th birthday – new portable classrooms.
Many of its relocatable classrooms are more than twice the age of the school and are falling apart, according to principal Deborah Patterson.
The school, which has more than 1000 students, making it the state’s largest on a single site, has 21 relocatable classrooms and 16 brick classrooms.
Ms Patterson said she had invited Education Minister Martin Dixon to inspect the rundown facilities, including some portable classrooms more than 40 years old.
“These portables came from other schools and need maintenance beyond our means,” she said.
“There’s painting, recarpeting, as well as roofing and guttering that needs attention.
“The best present for the school’s birthday on September 16 would be the promise of new relocatables.”
Ms Patterson said the school could not apply for additional permanent buildings because it already had the maximum allowed.
A few years ago the school community bought its own portable, costing more than $200,000, but parents were under financial stress and could not fund more, she said.
Mill Park MLA Lily D’Ambrosio told State Parliament last week the classrooms were old and unsafe. “For a school with a large student population, having sufficient classroom space and a safe environment is very important to ensuring the students are getting a fair go,” she said.
