School head says $925k well spent

MARCH 19 - Federal MP Justine Elliot and Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett at St Joseph's Primary School yesterday. Ms Elliot helped open a new building which was built with Federal Government stimulus money.

Blainey Woodham

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ONE Tweed school is more than delighted with its new federally-funded building, which was officially opened yesterday at the same time the Rudd Government faces increasing political criticism of its spending on school infrastructure.

Federal Labor MP for Richmond and Ageing Minister Justine Elliot turned out with the Catholic Bishop of Lismore, the Most Rev Geoffrey Jarrett, to officially open two new classrooms and a renovated multi-purpose centre costing $925,000 at St Joseph’s Primary School in South Murwillumbah.

The official opening followed criticism earlier this month that some building projects in State Government schools on the Tweed had been bungled, with parents shocked by the high cost of relocatable classrooms.

St Joseph’s principal Paul McDermott, however, said the school couldn’t be happier with its finished project.

“The new facility provides amazing new educational opportunities for our students,” Mr McDermott said.

“The new classrooms reflect a 21st century approach to teaching and learning.”

He said Catholic schools worked closely with their parishes and independent architects to design buildings “that reflect the individual needs of the school and its community”.

“We have been extremely happy with the work,” he said.

Mrs Elliot said St Joseph’s received $850,000 under the Rudd Government’s Building the Education Revolution economic stimulus program for the construction of new classrooms and the refurbishment of the multi-purpose hall.

She said the work had employed about 38 apprentices and trades people.

Ms Elliot said the government’s $14.1 billion building program had delivered funding to 7900 primary schools.