A STATE government grant announced last week means St Xavier Frances School can replace ageing portables and add six new classrooms.<\/p>\n
The $2 million grant is a reflection of the Ballarat East Catholic primary school\u2019s growth in student numbers and means St Xavier Frances\u2019 administrators can tick off all of part two in their five-stage master plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means were going to be able to build a significant building, and part of master plan, to house the children that we wouldn\u2019t necessarily be able to get through other funding sources,\u201d said principal Paul Bissinella.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur school\u2019s been recognised for the fact that we\u2019ve been able to grow, but we also have facilities that need upgrading.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Catholic school is booming with student numbers going from 350 three years ago to 430 at the start of next year and a prediction of 510 pupils in the future.<\/p>\n
However, funding streams for improvements to accommodate the increasing students and build new classrooms is limited Mr Bissinella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a Catholic School it\u2019s quite difficult,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been putting in applications to Capital Catholic Grants every year, and we haven\u2019t been successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing identified as a growth area through the Victorian government grants is significant for us and that\u2019s why we\u2019ve been successful this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The $2 million is being allocated from the State government\u2019s four-year, $402 million Non-Government Schools Capital Fund.<\/p>\n
Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, also recognised the increase in student numbers and the right kind of facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school\u2019s just been growing and growing, and this will allow them to grow even further,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were talking\u2026 about how important is it to have indoor play spaces for children in Ballarat, so [the new building] will contain an indoor space for the children to congregate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bissinella said final plans on the six new classrooms should be ready mid next year, with construction work starting in late 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A STATE government grant announced last week means St Xavier Frances School can replace ageing portables and add six new classrooms. The $2 million grant is a reflection of the Ballarat East Catholic primary school\u2019s growth in student numbers and means St Xavier Frances\u2019 administrators can tick off all of part two in their five-stage […]<\/p>\n