Hunt on for new school

By Callan Date
FEARS of overcrowded classrooms have forced two schools to consider merging.
Plans being considered by Cranbourne Primary School and Cranbourne Secondary College would create a new school at Hunt Club Estate.
The need for a new school in Cranbourne has been brought about by the continued rise in enrolments at both the primary and secondary schools and the growing residential development in the South East.
The principal of Cranbourne Primary School, Garry Rolfe, said the community is coming together to ensure the best possible outcome for the students of Cranbourne.
“We have formed a committee which involves both the primary and secondary schools and also has parent representatives from each school,” said Mr Rolfe.
Cranbourne Primary School has 485 students enrolled and that number is set to increase, putting pressure on the existing facilities to properly cater for the children.
“I anticipate the numbers are going to continue to rise over the next few years due to Cranbourne being located in a major growth corridor,” said Mr Rolfe.
The sub committee has also contacted world-renowned educational technology expert Prakash Nair who specialises in the design of education buildings.
“While we are still in the planning process, this project is something we really want to research well and get it right so that the new facility will be still be up to standard in 20 to 30 years’ time,” said Mr Rolfe.
Cranbourne Secondary College assistant principal Neil Williams said a number of options are being looked at for the future school, including grade structure and possible links between local kindergartens and TAFE colleges in the area.
“Our brief is to investigate the different options that are out there and while we are some three to four years away from any actual construction of buildings, we want to have looked at every angle before we proceed,” Mr Williams said.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford held preliminary discussion with staff at Cranbourne Secondary College yesterday to talk about the various issues surrounding the establishment of a new school.
He said there was some speculation that a new school would be built in the Hunt Club Estate and Cranbourne Primary School would relocate to this site.
“There is a possibility that Cranbourne Primary School may move to the Hunt Club site and that Cranbourne Secondary College will expand to the existing primary school site,” Cr Bradford.
“But nothing has been confirmed as yet and it is all a bit up in the air at the moment,” said Cr Bradford.
Cr Bradford said nearby residents and parents had expressed concern over the lack of parking at Cranbourne Primary School.
He said the council was endeavouring to create additional car spaces and he was well aware that both Cranbourne and Cranbourne West Primary School were experiencing some over crowding as the suburb’s young population continues to grow.