Kempsey’s Melville High will be one of the schools targeted in a funding blitz aimed at addressing the biggest school infrastructure backlogs in the state.
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Melville High could receive up to to $1,350,000 in the blitz, the fourth most in NSW.
Fellow Mid North Coast school, Great Lakes College Forster Campus, stands to receive the most funding, with $1,950,000 estimated.
...Gonski 2.0 means a lot of the schools in the area will be considered behind
- Melville High principal Jeff Hollingsworth
Earlier this month NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes announced an extra $60 million as a special allocation to target schools with the longest job lists, bringing to $390 million the amount being spent to reduce the school maintenance backlog.
Melville High principal Jeff Hollingsworth said it was “wonderful to see the Government make the process happen”.
"The aim of the program is to catch up on all outstanding infrastructure items,” he said.
“When we get it all updated the school will be in wonderful shape.”
Mr Hollingsworth said he was unsure of the exact amount the school would receive from the estimated $1,350,000, with the Department of Education currently assessing the school to determine the precise funding.
Under the program, roofing, floor coverings and painting, and other items will be fixed by December 2018.
Aside from the infrastructure funding announcement, Mr Hollingsworth voiced his concern that “Gonski 2.0”, announced by the federal government earlier this month, could potentially see Macleay schools worse off.
“The original Gonski was a needs-based model,” Mr Hollingsworth said.
“What has been proposed with Gonski 2.0 means a lot of the schools in the area will be considered behind.”
Mr Hollingsworth said Gonski 2.0 would see the funding model move away from a genuine needs-based assessment.
Federal Labor has indicated they will oppose the revised model.