Airconditioning issues at St Thomas More Catholic School, Sunshine Beach

Claims of schoolchildren not eating and suffering heatstroke have emerged as a parent begs a Noosa Catholic private school to keep its promise and deliver airconditioning in classrooms.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, in Sunshine Beach, has been slammed after reports of young children suffering heatstroke and passing out in classes due to a lack of air-conditioning during one of the state’s hottest summers.

A Noosa parent is begging a Catholic private school to keep its promise and deliver airconditioning in classrooms.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, in Sunshine Beach, has been slammed after reports of children suffering heatstroke and passing out in classes due to a lack of airconditioning during one of the state’s hottest summers.

Courtney Dial, a mother who sends her six-year-old son to the school, said it was not good enough.

“In every public school it’s compulsory to have airconditioning so why don’t we have it,” she said.

“We paid for it with the school fees and were told we’d have airconditioning in classrooms by March 2023.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Sunshine Beach, has installed airconditioning but not turned it on. Picture: Google Maps.

“It was installed last year but has not been turned on once.

“The school just keeps blaming Energex and council.”

Noosa Council’s development and regulation director Richard MacGillivray said the school contacted the council last year regarding a location for a pad-mount required for new airconditioning systems.

“In November last year council advised the school they’d need to submit an application for a minor change to their existing approval,” he said.

“This is because the proposed location requires the removal of vegetation along the Ben Lexcen Drive frontage, including a street tree, plus the loss of two disability parking spaces.

“Council has not yet received any application from the school seeking the minor change approval, however staff are more than happy to work closely with the school to facilitate the necessary approvals.”

The Noosa Council says it has not received an application from the school seeking a minor change approval so airconditioning can be switched on to classrooms. Picture: Burak Sr/generic

An Energex spokesman said it was also still waiting on the school to do its side of completed works before it could connect the airconditioning.

“It’s been postponed by a couple of months but we’re aiming to have it by April 30,” he said.

He also noted technical issues regarding boring under a road and crews being diverted to disaster clean-up work.

Ms Dial said her and other parents believed the school was not telling them the entire truth.

“There’s children passing out in classes,” she said.

“They’re sweating all day everyday.

Claims of schoolchildren passing out, sweating and not eating have been made by a parent of a child who attends the school. Picture: Generic

“They have heat stroke and many have to be picked up early because of it.

Ms Dial said children were not eating because of the heat and were feeling unwell.

“All we get is an email from them saying they’re looking into it,” she said.

“No communication as to why the aircon we paid for isn’t being used.

“We’ve had enough of this.”

The library, school offices, and reception are reportedly the only rooms in the school with airconditioning.

Ms Dial said she understood it was not the teachers’ fault, and they were also doing the best they could.

“Teachers make do and have spray bottles in the classroom filled with water to help the kids stay cool,” she said.

“It’s just not okay and I refuse to pay my school fees until it's sorted out.

“We were told when we did our walk through end of 2022 that there would be aircon the next year.

“It’s unfair on teachers and children having to sit through 30-plus degree days with no aircon.”

Acting principal Ann-Maree Pitot said, in an email to parents, she was aware of the situation.

“We have had a number of our community enquire as to the status of the airconditioning installation in our classrooms,” she said.

“All of our units are installed and waiting for power to be connected.

“Due to delays in the installation of the electrical infrastructure required, which is out of the control of both the school and Brisbane Catholic Education, we are unfortunately still not at this point able to power up the systems.

“Students have been encouraged to drink plenty of water, to take time in the library space and to access cool outdoor spaces throughout the day.”

The school has been contacted for further comment.