REGION - Three local schools have benefited from the latest round of education revolution stimulus package funds courtesy of the Rudd Government.
Announced on Tuesday, Victor Harbor High School, Investigator College Goolwa Campus and Murraylands Christian College Strathalbyn Campus will each receive a funding boost to build or upgrade science laboratories.
They share in $78 million worth of funding which has been divided amongst 61 SA schools.
Victor Harbor High School will receive $1.96million for a new science centre, which will incorporate a language room and is separate to the $6.3 million senior school renovation project currently underway.
Murraylands Christian College in Strathalbyn will receive $673,000 for its science centre and Investigator College Goolwa Campus $455,000 for its Currency Creek Environmental facility.
Principal at Victor Harbor High School Peter Crawford says this latest round of funding from the Rudd government is “fantastic”.
“Within the next year this school will have facilities that will rival any school in the area,” Mr Crawford said.
“It is just so long overdue.”
The new science centre comprises four laboratories and a storage area for chemicals, as well as a language room that will have multi-media and conference facilities.
“Our students and staff are used to putting up with facilities that are poor, and that is about to change, which is something to celebrate,” Mr Crawford said.
It is expected building of the new science and language centre will begin by the end of the year, with the project to be completed by July 2010.
This ties in with the high school’s current development, which is due to be completed on July 9 next year.
“It makes for a very exciting second semester in 2010 and our school will change forever.”
Mr Crawford said the grant applications were written with a lot of “passion”.
“We needed to win this.”
The school is waiting to hear about a final round of funding in October for a further $1.8 million, to upgrade the home economics kitchens and allied health area.
Murraylands Christian College is also pleased with the funding announcement, as the school currently has only one science classroom, yet offers Biology, Chemistry and Physics at SACE level in year 11 and 12.
Principal Ken Allen says the funds will allow them to make additions to the science area; so all science-based subjects can be done in proper science classrooms.
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The school has also secured funding for a gymnasium and upgrading of ita hard courts through the stimulus funding.
When contacted by The Times Mr Allen had only just informed his staff, and the wider school community was yet to hear the good news, “but I would think they would be very happy,” he said.
The work on the additional science classrooms at the Strathalbyn school will commence before the end of the month.
Acting principal and director of teaching and learning at Investigator College, Andrew Panozzo, said the school were “delighted” to receive this funding for their new Currency Creek Environmental Facility.
“This project has been part of the college’s master plan for some time,” Mr Panozzo explained.
“We are appreciative to the federal government for putting money into what is a very important learning area, and that is science.
“This will compliment the college’s multi-campus strategic direction,” he said.
The Currency Creek Environmental Facility aims to create a unique facility for the school that has been arrived at after extensive consultation both within the College and with outside scientific, environmental and community groups.
“The project seeks to address pressing local environmental issues and allows persons and groups a purpose-built facility to conduct research, implement programs and enrich educational experiences for students of Science,” Mr Panozzo said.
“The plans represent a facility tailored to meet the specific environmental and site needs in an environmentally sensitive design.”
Mr Panozzo said a number of groups have already expressed an interest in entering into a partnership with the College with regards to environmental and sustainability projects at the Currency Creek facility.
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