Open letter to the Honourable Peter Collier MLC, Minister for Education, from Collie Senior High School.
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Dear Minister,
Regarding Impacts of the New Funding Model on Collie Senior High School (CSHS).
The Board of Collie Senior High School concludes that the new funding model impacts on our school dramatically.
The reduction in funding to both the primary and secondary schools in the town of Collie appears to be in the vicinity of $1.4 million.
If this is the case then this appears to be severe and may lead to a loss of population and growth in our region caused by;
* Reduction in ongoing funding requiring so a reduction in teaching numbers and ancillary staffing numbers,
* Incapacity to offer a comprehensive face to face model for students seeking to attain ATAR and University entrance, thus limiting options for students,
* An increase in class sizes.
In 2013 Collie Senior High School achieved an 83 per cent National Attainment rate for students who chose to study in a university of Certificate11 pathway with the remaining 17 per cent of students completing partial qualification in a pathway to employment.
All of our students entered into either their first or second university course preference.
As a result Collie Senior High School's achievement placed it in the top group of regional schools in Western Australia.
The student Centred Funding Model requires an increase in class sizes creating the efficiencies that the Minister considers to be essential as dictated by the new funding model.
We feel that given our current limited classroom size capacity, we will be in breach of our Occupational Safety and Health obligations.
If the new model forces the school communities to realign its pathway offering then parents may be forced to seek employment opportunities away from Collie to prevent children from travelling.
In 2015 CSHS will have to house more than 100 Year 7 students and more than 100 Year 8 students while only transitioning the smaller half cohort for a net gain of more than 150 students with no more longer term base resourcing.
In 2012 the Coalition Government recognised that CSHS needed additional facilities and through Royalties for Regions provided a new PAC building and student services building.
At the same time you promised $7.5 million to build facilities to house the Year 7 intake and commissioned an architect to design 10 new classrooms as a result of a feasibility study that was conducted.
The community of Collie was optimistic and enthusiastic about the buildings and the promised increase in facilities was a great boost to the standing of the school in the community.
This money has now been withdrawn from the budget and the building has been cancelled.
The CSHS Board requests that you meet with us to create a partnership towards maintaining high academic expectations, aspirations and standards for our youth.
We request the restoration of the $7.5 million funding to build the classrooms necessary to cope with the increase in numbers.
Our students are the future of our region's sustainability.
We understand the need for budget cuts however not when those cuts directly impact on our student's capacity to achieve an adequate education in quality facilities.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Blurton
Chairman
Collie Senior High School Board
