Page 2552 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 23 August 2006
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School directors and other senior personnel continue to meet with staff and parent groups to work through their questions and issues around the proposal. Schools will also continue to assist parents and carers with specific questions, including advice and assistance on matters such as school enrolment in 2007.
The needs of students with disabilities and other special learning needs are receiving high priority. Parents of students with special learning needs enrolled in schools proposed for closure or amalgamation have been invited to meet individually with departmental special education personnel to discuss the particular needs of their child and to develop a transition plan, should the proposal succeed. Principals are meeting on an individual basis with parents of students in schools proposed for closure at the end of 2006 to discuss student preferences and determine what kind of support may be required if their school closes.
The government has also called for interested members of the community to provide written submissions. These submissions close on Friday, 3 November and will be carefully considered against the criteria that is required by section 20 (5) of the Education Act, which states:
Before closing or amalgamating a government school, the Minister must—
(a) have regard to the educational, financial and social impact on students at the school, the students; families and the general school community; and
(b) ensure that school communities affected by the closure or amalgamation have been adequately consulted during a period of at least six months.
The next step in the process is a series of educational seminars. The first of these, on the new curriculum framework, was held last Thursday and was very well attended—so well attended, in fact, that we have been asked to run the seminar again, and the department is arranging for this to happen. A series of other seminars will be held over the next six weeks, and that information is available on the departmental web site.
Mr Stanhope: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Supplementary answers to questions without notice
Environment—Mulligans Flat nature reserve
MR HARGREAVES: Dr Foskey asked me earlier this afternoon how much it cost to remediate the illegal bike tracks and jumps at Mulligans Flat. The total cost was around $700. This included staff time, the use of a backhoe and operator, and reseeding of the area.
Planning—EpiCentre
Planning—sections 84 and 89, Civic
MR CORBELL: In question time yesterday Mr Seselja asked me a question related to a file note made by the chief planning executive on 17 November last year, following a meeting with Austexx representatives on that day. The note, which includes the names of those attending, is headed “DFO—Fyshwick” and reads as follows:
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