School upgrade approved

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE West Primary School has been given the go ahead to start planning an overhaul of its facilities.
As part of an educational rationale and feasibility study under the State Government’s new Building Futures program, the school will now be able to start planning new building work.
Principal Andrew Bergmeier said the school had been very fortunate to be selected for the program.
He said as part of the selection process, they had to prove that the school’s teaching practices were good enough to warrant the new facilities.
The school will now meet with architects to discuss the master plan for their vision.
Mr Bergmeier said possible new facilities included seven permanent classrooms, an administration area, including office, conference room and staff room, a full sized combined hall and gymnasium, a performing arts centre, visual arts centre and a new canteen.
They will also look at having the carpark redone.
“Obviously we are very excited by the project and looking forward to the process and to providing an exemplary learning environment for our students,” Mr Bergmeier said.
The work would take between three and five years to complete in different stages.
Mr Bergmeier said the current government was committed to the project and he hoped future governments would continue that commitment.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said funding for the project would be considered for inclusion in upcoming budgets.
“This is a great opportunity for the school to plan for new facilities to enhance its learning styles and programs.”
He encouraged the entire school community to get involved in the planning process and have a say in the design and structure of the new facilities.
Last week the News reported that another local school, Cranbourne Secondary College, was put on the State Government’s Building Futures program and will undergo stage two of its master plan next year.
The work includes a new junior school, music centre, home economics, administration area, library and a new canteen. The first stage, a new senior school building, was unofficially opened on Tuesday last week.