Thursday, 24 March 2022

Constituency questions

Evelyn electorate

Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:42): (6286) My question is to the Minister for Education on behalf of schools in the Evelyn electorate that have again been knocked back by him for important minor capital works grants. Students, their families and the staff at Rolling Hills Primary School in Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park Primary School and Coldstream Primary School want to know why their grant applications for important projects have again been denied. Can the minister provide meaningful and detailed feedback to these schools to enable them to submit successful applications for the next minor capital works grants round? Feedback received from the Victorian School Building Authority has been underwhelming, specifying that ‘it has not been possible to support all eligible applications’. It makes no sense that these schools had applications that met all eligibility criteria only to get knocked back. One parent said that they are at a loss as to what they need to do to ensure the safety of the children from the extremes of the weather. Minister, shade sails are not outdoor court covers. These schools are after outdoor court covers or air-conditioning projects that will assist them with ventilation.