Page 251 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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Members might recall that late last year I announced that the government is investing approximately $4 million to deliver the new gym, which is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. It will also include full-size courts with line markings for roller derby and other sports such as basketball, futsal or indoor soccer, netball, volleyball and badminton plus seating and additional space for community storage.
The school’s layout also assists access by the community. The government has been working to make sure that community bookings for school facilities are more convenient, with an online booking system consistent with funding allocated earlier this term. The new Molonglo school will be a significant community and sporting facility which will allow spectators to watch indoor sports and events throughout the year.
Schools—suspension policy
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Section 2.7 of the ACT Education Directorate’s policy 44 titled, “Suspension, transfer or exclusion of a student in ACT public schools policy,” which was published on 19 December last year, states:
Suspension is the process of temporarily withdrawing a student from school activities and school grounds, placing them in the care of their parent/ carer.
Minister, why have students who have been suspended under this policy for bullying and attacking other students been allowed to attend school functions with the full knowledge of the school despite your directorate’s policy, which specifically states that a suspended student should be temporarily withdrawn from school activities and school grounds?
MS BERRY: The school policy is clear, as Ms Lee has referred to and read from today in her question. However, there would be circumstances which might need to be considered. On each individual circumstance there might be a different process that is completed by the school with regards to managing behaviour within the school community. For a particular circumstance that Ms Lee might be referring to I would need to understand that better to provide advice on exactly what happened and to know whether it was appropriate on that occasion. But the policy is clear, and it is the policy that is followed by our school communities.
MS LEE: Minister, in what circumstances would that policy not be strictly adhered to, and what is the training that our teachers have received in relation to the implementation of that policy?
MS BERRY: That is a bit of a hypothetical question which I cannot really refer to; I would be guessing.
Ms Lee: You raised it; you said that there were circumstances that wouldn’t apply.
MS BERRY: I was referring to a circumstance that Ms Lee might be actually implying had occurred.
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