OUCH - That's gotta hurt!

[master*and*commander]

Communities angry as six Queensland schools close

5:18pm September 17, 2013

More than 500 students and almost 100 staff will be affected by the schools' closures at the end of the year, after the state government deemed them unviable.

Some parents didn't even realise the school was closing until media approached them for interviews.

Queensland Teachers' Union deputy secretary Kate Ruttiman says the lack of communication isn't good enough, particularly given the union, like many others, has had to hear about the announcement in the media.

"Those principals only found out an hour before the rest of their communities did that their schools would be closing," she said.

"You would think out of respect for those communities they'd have a little bit more notice."

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin slammed the closures as a cash grab, saying the government is more concerned about clearing prime real-estate areas than the school communities.

Mr Mulherin suggested the decision, initially expected in July, was delayed until after the federal election so it wouldn't negatively impact Liberal National Party candidates.

Mr Langbroek rejected the claims and said any money gained from the school closures would go back into the education system.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/09/17/14/47/qld-govt-to-close-six-public-schools

[catsnknots]

If you seriously didn't know your school was under consideration then you need to have a look at your relationship with the school and your childs education. 

Also the principal of any school that did not take measures to inform parents of the situation maybe are part of the reasons the schools were not worth the money. 

Parents will be given cash to help buy new uniforms and books and things...  change happens and it sometimes sucks.. but I hope that parents work with their kids in finding a new school rather than making a hgue drama out of it and making kids scared of the new changes. 

[catsnknots]

Also.. does anyone know how many schools the Labor Government closed??? 

[just_me_karen]

Crikey!

[catsnknots]

Labor closed 139 schools over 20 years.

Where was the uproar about those schools? 

[azureline**]

I have  compassion for some of the special needs children who are currently  students in those schools, it will be a huge issue for them and not one easily resolved. (not to mention the teachers and their lack of a job now)

[debra9275]

the same thing happened in Victoria under the Kennett govt. only it was a lot more than 6 schools. The result of that was that most kids needed to be driven to school and overcrowding in classrooms.

The school sites were sold off with Ted Baliieu being the real estate company that sold off the land. and the sites are now unit/house developments. Both my kids spent all their primary school years entirely in temporary classrooms without air conditioning. The Mothers Club were always trying to raise money for air conditioners.

after my kids left primary school, there was a change in state govt. here and the schools were given funding for badly needed, long overdue upgrades. Their old school is now big enough for the number of students it has enrolled there

[izabsmiling]

It looks as though  Queenslanders,Principals and Staff,parents and of course the children are in tears about this.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/six-queensland-schools-will-close-at-the-end-of-year-w...

some of them don't seem to make sense ..schools in areas where 1300 apartments are under construction and another 10,000 on the horizon and a school capacity growing at 30% yearly.

made worse by the short notice no doubt

[twinkles**stars]

500 students and 100 teachers? something doesn't add up. 

are these all very small enrolment schools?

[master*and*commander]

"almost 100 staff", not specifically teachers. Average of about 16 staff per school.

average about 83 students per school