[Greens-Media] Greens Support Empowering School Communities

[Franks, Office]

October 14, 2011



The Greens' Education Spokesperson Tammy Franks has called for the State Government to empower school communities, ensuring that any decision by the Minister for Education, currently Premier-in-Waiting Jay Weatherill, to close or amalgamate a school would be held truly accountable in the SA Parliament.



"The Greens currently have a Bill before the Upper House that would do just that, putting an additional safeguard into the review process. This would require any decision of the Minister to over-ride a decision of a school community to face parliamentary scrutiny. The Parliament would then have the power to veto the Minister's decision in favour of a school.


"Across South Australia 42 school communities are spending thousands of hours holding meetings, making submissions and sacrificing volunteer effort that could be going into fundraising and educational activities, without a guarantee that any final decision of the Minister will face the scrutiny of Parliament. Those school communities deserve a real voice,
not a whitewash.
"The Save Our Schools Alliance has been formed from school communities from across the state, joining forces to actively resist these amalgamations. The SOS Alliance will be rallying today in Elder Park at noon, with representatives from schools across the state, including Para Hills, Largs Bay, Victor Harbor, Belair, Settlers Farm, Salisbury Heights, West Lakes Shore, Madison Park, Flaxmill, Mitcham, Happy Valley, Braeview, Stradbroke, Athelstone, Dernancourt, The Pines and Whyalla all attending," Ms Franks explained.
"Parents, school staff, teachers, students, families and friends are united in their demand that the government listen to, and respect their views. Forcing the amalgamation of schools just to save a few dollars is no long-term solution," Ms Franks said.
Proposed amalgamations of approximately 42 co-located schools was part of the Government's 2011 budget saving measures intended to save $6 million. At present there is a process where school communities can oppose an amalgamation through an expensive review process and a report to the Minister which is tabled in Parliament by the Education Minister. The Greens' Bill would enable either House of Parliament to uphold a school's opposition to closure or amalgamation if Parliament was not convinced the decision was in fact in the best interests of the community and the school. As it currently stands, school amalgamations can be forced through against the wishes of a school community, despite express provisions in the Act to safeguard against this.

To arrange comment contact Jamnes Danenberg on 0457 549 938 or 8237 9410


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