The Malmsbury community has vowed to fight on to save a portable classroom, which is about to be relocated to metropolitan Melbourne.
Close to 1000 people signed an online petition urging the Education Department to abandon plans to move the room, used for French and music classes at Malmsbury Primary School, before the start of the next school year.
School council president Kirsty Doyle said there had been a groundswell of support since the school, which has about 70 pupils, was told of the department’s intentions late last month.
Musicians Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan and Mental as Anything are among those calling for the portable to stay at the school.
‘‘It pretty much came out of the blue, and they’re not offering any alternative,’’ Ms Doyle said.
‘‘They’re expecting us to use an existing space to run the programs.’’
She said while the classes would still go ahead outdoors or in another space, the loss of the room would have an effect on how classes are delivered.
‘‘The fear is it’s going to have a major impact,’’ Ms Doyle said. ‘‘A lot of people come to our school because of our music programs. They’re a huge part of our curriculum.’’
Ms Doyle said the school had been buoyed by wider public support, with many people signing the petition and joining a letter-writing campaign.
‘‘There’s been a lot of people who have no children, no connection with the school, but they’re fighting with us. That’s pretty awesome.’’
Upper house Liberal MP Wendy Lovell slammed the government for putting the needs of city pupils ahead of those in country areas. ‘‘The Malmsbury community is under- standably upset that this will place their students at a disadvantage,’’ she said.
‘‘There is no real alternative space to deliver these programs.’’
Urging Education Minister James Merlino to intervene, Macedon Labor MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the previous Liberal government had left the department with few choices.
‘‘The minister is in an unenviable situation as a consequence of the previous government’s disgraceful neglect,’’ Ms Thomas said.
