Some of you may be wondering by now; Claudia, why are you still harping on about this now? We got the funding, itβs over, we did it! Believe me, I thought so too. Now let me tell you a story.
On Monday October 8th, the Andrews government published a media release that stated they would be investing a further $12.75mil into Sunshine College building works. James Merlino visited the school to deliver the good news. We learned that a re-elected Labour government would mean the additional funds would be granted to cover the costs of stage 1 of the building project which includes a βPerforming arts centre, Gymnasium, Year 7-8 Learning Building, Carparks, further demolition works and other upgradesβ.
I have barely gotten past the introduction and there are already some MAJOR things wrong with what Iβve just said. I will get to that in just a second.
As I sit here typing, I am still trying to wrap my head around all of the points I need to get across and honestly, I have never been so frustrated, and mind boggled in my life.
A previously scheduled Students, Parents and Friends of Sunshine College meeting was cancelled following the media release. We all thought it was over. But after careful consideration of the statements, and a few calculations, we noticed that it was in fact not over. The meeting was back on and people are not happy.
First of all, the reoccurring phrase of Labourβs announcement was βa re-elected Labour governmentβ. You see what Labour has so cleverly done is led us to believe that this funding of $12.75mil was already ours when really, itβs just an ELECTION PROMISE.
Thatβs right folks, this was nothing more than a bribe, delivered in such a way that was designed to shut us up and get them re-elected this November. We all know election promises are not to be trusted. Just look at the track record of any political party and the promises they made before an election. Very few are carried out to the extent that was specified (if at all).
Now of course, the rebuttal for this argument is that usually parties donβt want to go back on education promises because, well, there would be hell to pay. As current Labour MP for the western suburbs Marsha Thomson told me a few weeks ago, βeducation is one of the top priorities of the Labour governmentβ. Sure, I can accept that.
What I take issue with is there is no concrete plan in place. We do not have a date for when this so-called funding is to be given to us. We donβt even know where this money is coming from. In a meeting with Victorian Schools Building Authority officials, college principal Tim Blunt could not get a single person to answer that very question.
So, even if Labour is re-elected, whoβs to say how long this will drag out. Its already been 12 years since it was first identified that Sunshine College needed re-development.
Labour knows very well this is a safe Labour seat. The chances of them being re-elected are very high. On top of the fact that we have no plan for when we get the funding, Labour also has no incentive to change things here in the western suburbs. Itβs been this way for years.
My next most pressing question of all is: Why doesnβt Labour lock in the funding now?
The government cannot lock in any legislation or funding when it is in caretaker mode β a phase that occurs before an election. However, the government is NOT in caretaker mode. They could quite easily give us the funding NOW, no questions asked. What is the difference between giving it to us pre or post-election?
Well, besides the fact that this funding can be used to get Labour elected for another four years. Thatβs the sick truth isnβt it? Politicians think itβs okay to use funding for decent education facilities as a means for achieving political gain.
But the problem doesnβt stop there. You just have to do the maths.
The government is promising $12.75mil. That is on top of the $21mil already spent. That is roughly $34mil. The budget for the stage 1 was supposed to be $28.5mil. The asbestos at west campus cost $6mil to remove. We are essentially down to just $34mil.
This βadditional fundingβ is just pathetic. Barely getting anything, we are simply back to where we started. Iβm sorry but thatβs just not good enough.
And by the way, after students and parents quizzed principal Tim Blunt, he disclosed that some of the additional funding was going towards demolishing one of the other campus that is to be vacated (Ardeer or Senior). But of course, the VSBA canβt specify just how much this is supposed to soak up. All they can say is that they will be able to give us the scope after the election.
β¦β¦Exactly, WHAT?
During the second Students, Parents and Friends meeting held last Wednesday the 24thΒ of October, attendees motioned to form an official committee and we intend to pursue this issue to the end. As information unfolded, it was clear we have a lot of work to do. Committee members have come up with a plan of action for the next 4 weeks until elections. Itβs not long, but itβs enough.
Some of the most disturbing photos I have seen since this campaign began were the ones given to me by a year 10 student from the Ardeer campus who also happens to be my own sister. This is a picture of Ardeer students doing band practice.
As you can see a band of five students and their instruments are crammed into a small closet sized room but singers in the band have to stand outside the room in the hallway because there isnβt enough space. Wires are difficult to manage, guitars are always bumping into each other, the drums and keyboard are pushed up against the wall and there is no manoeuvre space. The school band doesnβt have a decent music room to practice in. These are the kids of our spectacular school production; SHINE, and even they donβt get decent facilities? What kind of sick joke is this?
βit takes away from the enjoyment. It takes away from the learning experienceβ – Rosie-Star Forsberg, Year 10, Ardeer campus
To make matters worse we hear about schools like Footscray city college who are being granted $75mil to build new schools when they didnβt even ask for nor did they need new facilities to begin with. Meanwhile, we have to fight for a measly $12.75mil.
Whatβs clear now is that this is not over. Itβs not over until we reach the ballot box and even then, we will not stop fighting. Sunshine College deserves decent facilities, nothing less.
Hi Claudia
Fantastic Article you have written. The photos of the Band practising visualises what the current Students at Sunshine College have to put up, thanks for including these.
See you at 6pm, Wednesday 31 October 2018 at the next Students Parents & Friends of Sunshine College committee meeting.
Kind regards
Carol Maddern
Chairperson
Students Parents & Friends of Sunshine College committee
Hello readers
it was recently brought to my attention that Footscray city college has been part of a program (SKY high) to try and build a new school in the Seddon, Kingston and Yarraville area. I would like to retract my statement about Footscray not asking for funding. My apologies. However, this does not negate the fact Sunshine College has been campaigning for years and we need change because our facilities are not acceptable.
Excellent article Claudstar????β€οΈ
Hi Claudia,
2 years later and we are hearing you. Greater Shepparton school community has been forced into a merger by the VSBA and DET. Four secondary colleges merged into the largest school in Victoria, up to 3000 students on one site in an isolated district where demographics demands otherwise. We have been frustrated and thwarted on all counts by a political, business, group and civic leader push to bring this to Shepparton, simply for the infrastructure and monetary promises made by Daniel Andrews, without the ‘so-called’ consultation, which strangely excluded the families of secondary students. Our local independent MP has refused to speak with us for 6 months, but will find that the promises made by this deceitful government will come to nought or very little. Already the long-awaited by-pass has been put off again and only a portion of the money promised for the hospital was received. Lies, lies and more lies. We have had plenty too. We too have received $21 million to start the project which will only pay for the design and level the site. After researching dozens of mergers across the state, very few of these schools have been finished within 10 years, many unfinished were promised funding if Labour were returned to power in 2018. False promises, lies, deceit and the destruction of schools that were actually performing as well as or better than most merged schools. Education across the state is failing against the national average. Our students will now be transitioned unnecessarily for up to five years before we see any more funding, if then, some to be at four sites in as many years, who will never see the new school. The community did not ask for this as the Minister states, 3000 signatures on a petition and over 2000 members on a facebook page are against it. People do not come into the equation. This is not about education or improved academic outcome and never has been. Daniel Andrews has now over-reached and the state is in massive debt again – so how will they ever complete the largest school in the state.
This is hard to hear Cherril. Our current education funding systems are riddled with flaws. But don’t lose hope. It will take many tries and a whole lot of the students, teachers, and parents voices in our communities to be heard.