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MONASH PRIMARY SCHOOL

Recently the Monash Ratepayers Association was invited to a public meeting discussing the prospects and possible closure of the Monash Primary School. We understand that this meeting arose only because the Member for Waverly Province raised the matter in Parliament and that prior to this action there has been a steadfast refusal to discuss the matter with the community.

 This school is located just east of Blackburn Road and Monash University and south of Ferntree Gully Road. Historically it has had a lot of pupils as children of Monash University academics and students, as well as local residents. It is a school with very good facilities but has dwindling numbers of students, down to around 50 pupils this year.

 The following is a summary prepared by a concerned attendee of the public meeting: 

“On 16th May approximately 70 Notting Hill residents (attending a public meeting at the Monash Primary School) voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the school open at a public meeting held on the school grounds. Further, they voted to provide all the support they could to the school, in terms of time and fundraising.  

However, the ultimate decision to close the school is with its Council. Although the community is willing to provide support without a clear action plan, injection of funds and trajectory for the future of the school it is likely that the Council will vote in favour of closing.  

We are grateful that a public meeting was held, however, many residents were concerned that the public meeting was simply a placatory gesture and the future of the school had been decided. This is borne out by the failure for the school to advertise for education week or even hold an open evening for prospective students. 

Because of this we request a MORATORIUM be placed on the school closing. This moratorium should hold until an investigation is complete on why the school got to this point and what can be done to save it. We request that the Education Department facilitate such an investigation with full consultation with the community.  

The bottom line is the community have offered all their help but without access to information and some consultation in the process our hands are tied.  

An investigation is important not only for the future of this school, but many other schools that, when dropping below a certain level of enrolments are not able to compete with better resourced, larger schools. Many primary and secondary schools in the City of Monash are in this position. Some have closed already (Brandon Park Secondary College).  

This raises the issue as to whether we want well resourced super schools or local schools available to everyone.”

A School Council meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday and we urge the Council not to be pressured directly or indirectly to recommend closure of the school until all avenues have been exhausted. 

From the meeting it was apparent that no serious attempt was being made to recruit new pupils. 50 students is below the threshold which the Education Department would normally keep a school open. The decline in pupils in our opinion is reversible and should be strongly supported given the location of the school in an important special activity centre. The school offers the opportunity to compliment and strengthen the role of the activity centre.

 Under the Melbourne 2030 Planning Policy the area around and including Monash University is defined as a Special Activity Centre for Education and Health. As well as the University itself, there are health research facilities, high tech engineering and scientific facilities as well as a growing hi-tech industrial centre within the Activity Centre.  We believe that there is enormous potential for the Monash Primary School to service these activities with schooling for students of parents who work in these facilities, as well as the residential area surrounding the school. There has been no apparent attempt to recruit pupils from these sources.  

It appears to us that the whole approach taken by the Education Department on this school (and by association the Education Minister) has been in isolation of the Department of Sustainability and Environment, (and by inference the Planning Minister) – responsible for the implementation of Melbourne 2030.

 Do they talk to one another at all?

Or is the process totally dysfunctional?  

 It is of grave concern that statements were made at the public meeting indicating that teachers from other primary schools in the area have openly stated that the Monash Primary School is closing, and discouraging parents from enrolling their children in it. Furthermore, statements made by school staff at the public meeting inferred that the process of closing the school would continue regardless of the wishes of the meeting and the community. A counselling session for the remaining teachers on relocation prospects was planned for the day after the public meeting.   

Local Members of Parliament have been contacted regarding this matter. The Member for Waverley Province, Andrew Brideson will present a petition in Parliament aimed at putting in place a moratorium on the closure of the school so that a proper investigation of options can be carried out. The aim is to keep the school open. We have been advised that the Member for Clayton, Hong Lim has been asked to lobby the Minister for Education and others within the Government, of which he is a member, to keep the school open. Allegedly he has said words to the effect that the closure of the school is a “fait accompli”!  We do not agree, and urge (through this article) the Member for Clayton to more proactively fight within the Government to keep the school open. The MRA will also write to the Member for Clayton similarly requesting that he takes action and seek to keep the school open. 

A copy of the petition that the Member for Waverley Province will present to Parliament follows this article. We urge all concerned Monash Ratepayers and Residents to sign this petition. Monash Primary School is one of several schools in Monash that have either been closed or are in the process of being closed. If this shortsighted and strategically dumb closure is successful it will not be the last.   

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOL REMAIN OPEN PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AT THE WESTERFIELD MILKBAR. GET YOUR AUNTS & UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS, MATES & FOLKS TO SIGN AS WELL. (A copy of the petition follows this article.)

TO THE HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the

Legislative Council

On 16th May 2005 after considerably lobbying, Notting Hill residents (~ 1/3 suburb) attended a community information evening on the future of Monash Primary School. Residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the school open and offered all they could in terms of time and commitment.  

However the decision on the school future ultimately lies with the council. On current forecasts we have been advised that is likely the school will close because of low enrolments. However the residents are concerned that not enough is being done to save the school. No information has been provided on what has been done in the past, what is needed and how this can be translated into an action plan for the schools future.

 Given the large turnout and keen support by the residents of Notting Hill for the school, we are concerned that a unique opportunity for the school to capitalise on its local community is being missed. We are here, we have shown our support, use it!!!!!!!!!

Your Petitioners therefore pray/request that

A moratorium be placed on the school closing until a full investigation can be made on what has been done in the past to save the school, what is needed, and if this can be achieved utilising existing and community resources. We ask the investigation be completed by the Education Department with full community consultation.

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