School upgrade will rid demountables but add only 65 pupils

A Multimillion-dollar upgrade to Waitara Public School will see 16 demountables replaced by a four-storey learning centre. While it will house 37 teaching spaces — it will only accommodate an extra 65 students.

Nick Berman, wife, Christine and kids Kate and John at Waitara Public School. Mr Berman has praised the proposed school upgrade. Picture: John Feder

A Multimillion-dollar upgrade to Waitara Public School will see 16 demountables replaced by a four-storey learning centre.

The centre would house 37 teaching spaces — but only accommodate an extra 65 students.

The Education Department submitted a $30 million application for the upgrade that will also include additional library spaces, a multipurpose hall, administration space and a canteen for the school’s 1000 students.

However, the school already has 935 students.

The State Significant Development application proposed the inclusion of more than 230 solar panels on the roof of the learning centre.

An artist’s impression of the proposed new centre at Waitara Public School.

Opposition education spokesman Jihad Dib said there was an overcrowding crisis in school classrooms.

“The Hornsby community has every right to think that this upgrade to their local public school is too little, too late,” he said.

“The billions it is spending on Sydney stadiums should go to schools and hospitals.”

While Ku-ring-gai state Liberal MP Alister Henskens said prior to the 2015 election, he was contacted by parents of students at Waitara Public School to ask for new classrooms to be built.

‘The Government has responded by providing contemporary classrooms that are conducive to excellent learning outcomes in support of this outstanding school,” Mr Henskens said.

Waitara Public School P & C president Nick Berman also praised the project.

He said a population boom since the closure of Hornsby Public School created a greater demand for the Waitara school.

“Waitara Public School provides high quality education, so demand for the school is very high and incredibly popular,” Mr Berman told the Advocate.

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“There is massive changes required at the school, which means there will be disruption, but the parent body is excited for the end result, which is earmarked to be a state-of-the-art facility.”

Mr Berman said the school would become a lot more flexible with learning spaces and consolidate classrooms to provide extra playing fields and green space.

The Education spokesman failed to outline the exact cost of the upgrade to the Edgeworth David Ave school.