Sunbury’s Kismet Park Primary School will be given the facilities needed to ensure its pupils get the best possible start in life, Premier Daniel Andrews said after meeting with students and staff last Wednesday.
Mr Andrews met many of the school’s 450 pupils during last week’s lengthy visit, which followed the announcement of a $700,000 upgrade in last month’s state budget. The tour included demonstrations of the school’s innovative reading and money skills programs.
‘‘This is a fantastic school with a great culture,’’ Mr Andrews said. ‘‘We want to make sure they’ve got the buildings to match.’’
Mr Andrews warned the current federal government’s decision not to fulfill Gonski education funding would leave the state to do more heavy lifting.
‘‘This school will lose $300,000 each and every year until Malcolm Turnbull delivers on the Gonski obligation or until Australia gets a Labor government,’’ he said.
Kismet Park principal Glenn McConnell said the school would spend the next five weeks working on plans to improve learning areas and address maintenance issues identified in a 2012 audit.
Facilities catering for performing arts and the spread of literacy programs will be a focus.
‘‘We’re very excited,’’ Mr McConnell said.
