School faces lifted

By Bridget Brady
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike visited Cranbourne on Friday to officially commence the two projects.
Cranbourne Secondary College will receive a $7.2 million facelift as part of the State Government’s Victorian Schools Plan and the Cranbourne East school is due to be opened for the 2011 school year and cater for about 1600 students.
Ms Pike said significant education projects were required in the growing area of Cranbourne.
“This whole area will be transformed into an education precinct for young people that are going to fill up these houses,” she said.
The new school will be one of the 11 new schools built in growth areas as part of the public-private partnership program.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said the new school would complement the children’s centre to be built at the Hunt Club estate and also the recreation facilities in Cranbourne East such as Casey Fields and Casey RACE.
“These facilities are really necessary. It’s going to be booming,” Mr Perera said.
The first stages of the biggest building project at Cranbourne Secondary College since it opened will see work on a new administration building and music facility.
Principal Yvonne Watts said it was important upgrades took place at the school to ensure it remained an attractive option for parents to send their children as a new school with new facilities went up in the area.
“It is very well deserved for this community. The school was built in the ’70s and teaching has changed a lot since then,” Ms Watts said.
A new library will be built as part of the redevelopments, and the current library site will be transformed into home economics teaching spaces that will include a commercial kitchen.
A new staff room, canteen and a wing of the school will also be built.
“It’s huge. It enables our teachers to deliver their lessons and for students to learn in a modern environment.”
Ms Watts said all of the upgrades could be ready for the 2011 school year.