David Bartlett, MP Premier Friday, 24 April 2009

Exciting new future for Burnie school

Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, David Bartlett, today paid tribute to the work of school communities in the Burnie and Somerset areas for securing the optimum in learning facilities for North-West students.

Officially accepting signed agreements from Burnie and Somerset school communities indicating their formal support of amalgamation, Mr Bartlett said that it was a very important day for the future of education on the North-West Coast.

"The amalgamation of Acton, Upper Burnie and Brooklyn primary schools to enable the construction of one brand new primary school on the grounds of Parklands High School is a fantastic initiative for this community and is a great response to the demographic challenges facing the Burnie community," Mr Bartlett said.

"The new school, Burnie, Montello, Havenview and Cooee primary schools will make up the group of five strong viable government primary schools in the Burnie city area.

"I commend all the school communities for seizing the opportunity to achieve what will be an outstanding educational outcome for the Burnie area."

Mr Bartlett also acknowledged the hard work of the Somerset and West Somerset school communities, which began 18 months ago.

"In many ways the Somerset and West Somerset school communities are trail blazers. Community and school leaders realized the impact of the changing demographics in their community, and both school associations had the foresight to work collaboratively with their school communities," he said.

"The result of that hard work will result in a $6 million investment to refurbish and modernize the West Somerset site using both our $5.7 million School Futures Fund and the Australian Government's $370 million Building the Education Revolution package for Tasmanian schools."

Mr Bartlett was impressed with the way these school communities have really engaged with the process.  

"They have a real depth of understanding of the complexity of the issues and a determination to provide the best possible education for their children," Mr Bartlett said.

"These two education projects are about every child in the Burnie area having a better start and access to better schools that offer better curriculum choices. "

Mr Bartlett said that the steering committee members had a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

"I have full confidence that they will provide the leadership and commitment to deliver the best possible outcomes for the students, staff and wider school communities in the Burnie and Somerset areas," he said.

"Like many other school communities across the state, the Burnie and Somerset school communities have handled this important decision magnificently,"

Steering Group Members:

Burnie:

• Carolyn Williams - Acton School Association
• Andrew Gates - Brooklyn School Association
• Michelle Young - Upper Burnie School Association
• Rhonda Dineen - Principal Acton Primary
• Jan Dicker - Principal Brooklyn Primary
• Marcelle Norton - Principal Upper Burnie Primary
• Royce Fairbrother - Chair, NW School Improvement Board
• Catherine Fernon - Deputy Chair, NW School Improvement Board
• Malcolm Wells - General Manager Learning Services (North-West)
  

Somerset:

• Mark Foster - Somerset School Association
• Jody Dennison - Somerset School Association
• Alison Dallas - West Somerset School Association
• Greg Lovell - West Somerset School Association
• Tracey Bradley - Waratah-Wynyard Council
• Denise Finlay - Principal Somerset Primary
• Andrew Starick - Principal West Somerset Primary
• Peter Heathcote - Project Officer DoE
• Bruce Cameron - Learning Services North-West
  

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Further information:
Tasmanian Government Communications Unit
Phone: (03) 6233 6573