By XAVIER SMERDON
TARNEIT’S only secondary school resembles a construction site more than a place of learning, with the principal being forced to choose between a basketball court or science rooms and teachers being forced to hold sports classes in the car park.
After Tarneit Senior Secondary College, a school for about 75 local students, missed out on its second stage of funding in this year’s State Budget, principal Michael Fawcett has been forced to make compromises under a strict budget.
“When I was the principal of a new school in Caroline Springs we had no issues with funding but here it has been completely different,” Mr Fawcett told Star.
“I think I’ve been said no to probably 50 times in the last six months. Compromise would be a good word for us.”
Because the school has a capped budget they have lost money through unexpected things like having to spend $550,000 on rock removal from the site before the building even began.
A building that will eventually become a weights training room was handed over to school management last week without any plaster boards covering the walls.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Education James Merlino visited the school last week.
“This is nothing but a disgrace to have a half-finished building being handed over to a school,” Mr Merlino told Star.
“To have students where their only recreation space is a car park is disgusting.
“This is an educational embarrassment and needs to be condemned publicly.”
A spokesperson for Education Minister Martin Dixon said he had planned a visit to the school.
“Minister Dixon was scheduled to visit the school yesterday (Tuesday 26 June),” the spokesperson said.
“That would have been a good opportunity for the principal to discuss his issues with the Minister. The school cancelled the visit.”
