EASTERN Victoria MLC Harriet Shing has made a return visit to Sale Specialist School to learn first hand of the educational disadvantage for children with disabilities in Wellington Shire.
The anger and frustration of all the school parent representatives and staff who attended, caused by the school’s sub-standard facilities, was obvious.
New School Parent Action Group representative Jane Nash said after years of negotiations and lobbying, the morale of all involved was at breaking point.
“Successive politicians and education department representatives have passed through the school’s doors and all have verbally agreed that the situation is desperate and certainly not conducive to any child’s best education or welfare,” she said.
“It would seem that because of our distance from Melbourne, we are out of sight, out of mind.”
Ms Shing said she would advocate to Education Minister James Merlino on behalf of the school.
Ms Nash said Mr Merlino could not be unaware of Sale Specialist School following the many letters, emails and media coverage that has been presented by the NSPAG and the community, including a recent 5350 signatures petition.
“Sale Specialist School is desperate to be allocated a one-off parcel of funding to complete the new school in its entirety,” Ms Nash said.
“The land should not be allowed to remain unattended any longer and a piecemeal funding gesture would just aggravate the already stupid situation with students, staff and administration being spread over four, not three campuses.”
The state government budget is due in May.
