Our school. Community meeting
19 March 2009
Greens Parliamentary Convenor Meredith Hunter addressed the public meeting on March 5th and responded to comments and questions about the future of the school. The ACT Greens have initiated an Assembly inquiry into 'school closures and reform of the ACT education system'.
Speakers at the well attended meeting expressed with varying degrees of passion their dissatisfaction with the decision to close Hall Primary School, and supported the proposal that the Progress Association should make a submission to the Inquiry. The terms of reference invite comments on the impacts - social, economic and environmental - of school closures.
A representative from Blue Gum Community School advised the meeting that Blue Gum is looking for a new campus, having filled its existing site in Hackett.
While the Labor Government does not support the inquiry, and is most unlikely to change its position on school closures, it can of course be out-numbered by the Greens and LIberal voting together.
The meeting also considered the Association's draft proposals for provision of 'community facilities'. David Collett from the Department of Housing and Community Services (DHCS) was present to explain the purposes of the project, and respond to questions. The proposals put forward - involving refurbishment of the Cottage, the garage next door to it, the sports court and the School Museum - were unanimously supported.
The Association has also asked that rather than invest in a new 'neighbourhood hall' on the school site, that consideration be given to extending the pavilion so as to create additional, smaller rooms along the tennis court side. This would greatly increase the usefulness of the pavilion as a meeting venue.
The Association will be canvassing ideas about how to respond to the inquiry, and warmly invites comments or questions.
Many thanks to the Hall Primary P & C for providing the after meeting refreshments - and for hanging in there!