Rockhampton Special School to benefit from millions in budget funding

Rockhampton schools have secured millions in funding in this year’s state budget with new facilities and upgrades planned. See what’s on the cards for local classrooms.

Students at the Rockhampton Special School will have better access to the curriculum with a new two-storey learning facility to be built on site.

Nearly $12 million was secured for upgrades and new classrooms for the special school as part of this year’s $16.5 billion education budget.

Of the education budget, $75.6 million was secured for schools across Central Queensland.

Rockhampton State Special School principal Erin King said the new facilities would allow the school to give students even better access to the curriculum.

With the funding, a classroom already on the school grounds will be moved to another part of the school to make way for a new, two-storey learning facility.

“Up the top of that two-storey facility will be six classrooms, with a collab space,” she said.

“With that collab space there will be the opportunity for students to be able to come out and work together as classes and then go back to individual classes when they wish.

“Downstairs there will be a Home Ec room with a full kitchen and on the other side will be allocation for future proofing for three classrooms down the track.”

An Industrial Technology and Design facility will also be built for the school’s manual arts program.

Ms King said the refurbishments of the classrooms would also reduce distractions.

“Where the refurbishment is happening, we have six classrooms but we also have some pokey, small rooms,” she said.

“We don’t have two exits in those classrooms so when you walk in you actually have to walk through a classroom to get out of the building, for example, so that’s a lot of disruption to learning time that shouldn’t be happening.

“With this refurbishment the classrooms are going to be able to be established so that there will be better access physically to get out of the classrooms but also create more space for our staff so we can cut down on the amount of small store rooms and pokey areas we have.”

Education Minister Grace Grace visited the school on Wednesday with Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke.

Rockhampton Special School students Isabella Budarick, Kymberley Raatz and Matt Aitkin.

Mr O’Rourke said funding had also been secured for projects at a number of other schools around the region, with works already getting underway for upgrades at the North Rockhampton Special School.

“It is wonderful and great to have good learning infrastructure for our children to give them the best chance at getting ahead,” he said.

“It’s not just big-ticket projects that will make a difference. For example, we’re investing $165,000 at Glenmore State High School and $110,000 at Waraburra State School for access and amenities for people with disability, which is going to have a big impact.”

Ms Grace said funding would also go towards upgrades and design works for new facilities at other schools in the region.

“Mount Morgan SHS will get $200,000 to start planning and design work for new administration spaces, while Bouldercombe State School will get $300,000 to resurface two multipurpose courts,” she said.

“Further west, there’s nearly $10 million for new classrooms at Emerald State High School, $1.7 million for new classrooms and upgrades at Springsure State School, $600,00 for new shade structures at Emerald North State School, and $440,000 for new covered multipurpose courts at Denison State School.

“We are also continuing to fund projects that have already been announced, including $10.5 million for new classrooms at Yeppoon State High School and $6.6 million for administration upgrades at Parkhurst State School, as well as a new hall at The Hall State School, training facilities at Rockhampton State High School, and upgrades at Capella and Emerald State Schools.”