Pasadena High in talks to close and merge with Unley High School’s Netherby campus

JUST five months after Pasadena High School’s principal said there were no plans to close the campus, it has been announced the school could merge with Unley High and move into its Netherby grounds.

Pasadena High School

PASADENA High could close and merge with Unley High’s Netherby campus in a move to improve student services.

Education Minister Susan Close said parts of Pasadena’s Daws Rd campus could be sold for tens of millions of dollars and the funds used to upgrade Unley High’s Kitchener St grounds.

The Mitcham & Hills Messenger revealed in August Pasadena was looking at amalgamation options in light of poor enrolments.

However, at the time, Pasadena principal Wendy House said there were no plans to close the school, which has 150 full-time students.

The schools both expressed interest in a merger in November, as part of the State Government’s voluntary amalgamations program.

Ms Close said both schools would now conduct a study into a possible merger.

“The expectation, given the relative sizes of the schools, is that Pasadena is looking to move off its site and move onto the Unley site, but I want to stress its very early days,” she said.

“When you want a good range of subject choices, particularly in the metro area, you will see kids wanting to go to schools with enough (students) to create opportunities.

“Pasadena parents are starting to think that way.”

Ms Close said it would be up to the governing councils and parent bodies of each school to vote on whether a merger was the best option.

“With Pasadena, there will have to be some careful decisions made, because there is a really good theatre and lovely gym,” she said.

“Whether they need to ultimately stay in the hands of the public rather than sold is a decision that needs to be made.”

Ms Close did not rule out a split campus, similar to Norwood Morialta High School’s campuses in Rostrevor and Magill.

In a letter sent to parents late last year, Unley High council member Marcel de Ruyter and principal Brenda Harris said a merger would help secure funding for infrastructure upgrades.

They said Unley had been missing out on funding for “a number of years” and it needed money to “upgrade and build 21st century learning environment”.

Ms Harris and Ms House did not return the Mitcham & Hills Messenger’scalls.