Thursday, 2 November 2023

Tootgarook Primary School

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (09:43): Tootgarook Primary is a much-loved local public school in my electorate. The school currently has about 170 students but is suffering from declining enrolment – it is projected to be about 150 next year. I recently met with acting principal Leigh McQuillen. Leigh is incredibly proactive and enthusiastic about building Tootgarook Primary’s reputation within the community and with that the student numbers. The staff are vibrant and engaging, and the academic results the school has achieved are at or above the network schools.

I thank Leigh for his time and for giving me the opportunity to tour the school, which is in serious need of some upgrades. While schools in the area have had upgrades recently, Tootgarook Primary has been left without that much-needed investment. Some of the things that the school and Leigh have proposed that need to be done are a new undercover synthetic basketball court, giving the school much-needed shade and an outdoor learning and community space; new fencing around the school for security; a new playground for the students, which can be shared with a kinder that attaches and also the local community; the school needs to be repainted; they would love a running track around the oval – I know we are getting into the weeds now, but they would love one of those; and the school needs new carpet throughout as well as extra storage throughout the entirety of the school.

Tootgarook Primary has so much going for it. Leigh is fantastic, he is active. He is trying to do what he can to raise the profile of the school within the community, but with the declining numbers they need these facilities and these upgrades. They will be a major boost for the Tootgarook Primary School community.