By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON City Council has vowed to advocate for the development of an educational facility for students with special needs in Burnside.
The council unanimously agreed to a notice of motion moved by mayor Kathy Majdlik at last week’s meeting to write to the State Government and the Minster for Education that the potential educational site in Burnside should be in the form of a Pre-school to Year 12 special development school.
Cr Majdlik, whose daughter Amy has cerebral palsy, told Star the council was keen to see the new site, located at the end of Rockbank Middle Rd, developed into a Pre-school to Year 12 SDS particularly as the municipality continues to grow at a rapid rate and many families who have children with special needs are moving into the area.
She said parents were being forced to travel over 45 minutes to take their children to special needs school located across Melbourne.
“I just think it’s sad that kids with special needs don’t have the luxury of choice (when it comes to schooling),” Cr Majdlik said.
“It just feels like we’re always being discriminated against … and told where our children have to go to school.
“I think we’re just sick and tired of fighting for everything our children need.”
Cr Majdlik said it was imperative the council began their battle for an SDS immediately before the government announced the site would be used for a mainstream primary or secondary school.
