Greens MP John Kaye has accused the NSW Government of “sabotaging a community school” following the release of documents relating to Wollombi Public School.
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A motion by Dr. Kaye and Christian Democrat Party MP Paul Green that was passed by the NSW Upper House on October 15 forced the Department of Education and Communities to table the documents within 14 calendar days.
Dr. Kaye said the documents showed that saving money is the government’s driving motivation and that the community consultation process was deceitful.
“The government is avoiding their obligation to pay for public education,” he said.
“Public education is a fundamental right, and people from rural and regional communities have an equal right to access it.
“It’s sabotage of a community school and it has to be reversed.”
Talk about savings in maintenance and staffing costs that would be made if the schools were closed and a ‘hit list’ maintained by the departments were among the revelations.
“Any pretence of a process without a predetermined outcome has now been thoroughly exposed,” Dr. Kaye said.
“The reality is that the driving motivation is and always has been money.
“This was no idle curiosity but a telling sign of the real mentality that is running the agenda.
“The only explanation for department officials behaving so appallingly towards parents at small schools is that they had instructions from higher up to close them and save money, regardless of the outcomes for the children, their parents and the community.
“What is missing from the documents is any sign of genuine concern for the outcomes for students and the wishes of parents. Instead, the Department was focused media spin and distracting parents with a sham process.”
More documents are due to be tabled by November 11.
Dr. Kaye said he will continue to put pressure on the government regarding these small schools as long as parliament is sitting and through the election campaign.
The Department of Education began a consultation process with parents at the school in November last year, when it was feared that the five-student school could have been closed by the end of that term.
The Wollombi community rallied in support at the time and the review process has continued. A consultative group was formed and a survey was conducted.
But Mr. Piccoli is yet to meet with members of the community to address their concerns.
A mock auction staged in front of the school on November 1 drew attention to the school’s plight.
Hosted by Bob Philippe and Alan Glover of Valley Artists, some interesting ideas were suggested for the heritage-listed property’s future use, including a fish and chip shop, recycling facility and a massage parlour.
But it was a young girl’s bid of “Please sir, can it be a school?” that drew the most applause and brought the auction to a close.
“It’s been a torturous year for the school family and the community,” Wollombi P and C president Lindy Williams said.
“We know they (the DEC) definitely want to close it, we just wonder what they might use it for.”
See Claude Aliotti's video of the mock auction here.
