Teenagers charged over Sandringham Primary School fire
Two 13-year-old boys have been charged over the devastating fire that ripped through Sandringham Primary, closing the school until at least 2022.
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Two 13-year-old boys have been charged over the devastating fire that razed Sandringham Primary School.
The teens have been charged on summons with criminal damage by fire.
Four other teenagers, a boy and three girls, have been cautioned in relation to the incident, Victoria Police confirmed this morning.
Devastated Sandringham Primary School families were told the school will not reopen until at least 2022.
The school’s principal Louise Neave told families on Friday students at the primary school would start at a new temporary primary school at the Sandringham College junior campus from second term.
It is a blow for the historic school, founded in 1855, with some families fearing students will leave the school and not return once it is rebuilt.
Ms Neave said the school was working closely with the Victorian School Building Authority.
The damage was so extensive the Bamfield St school is being treated as a new school project.
It was decided it would not be workable to rebuild the school with students on site because of safety issues and the disruption to their learning environment.
“I would like to assure you that we have given this option serious consideration over the past few weeks,” she said.
“After careful consideration of this and other options, we are now planning to establish a temporary school for Sandringham Primary at the junior campus of Sandringham Secondary College (Bluff Rd).
“The aim is for students to attend the temporary school from the beginning of term 2, 2020, and throughout the 2020 and 2021 school years.
“We will be working through this with the Sandringham Secondary College community in the weeks ahead.”
Ms Neave told families to shift the school back to a construction site would leave students without outdoor play space as temporary classrooms and facilities would take up all the play area and courts at the school.
It also would delay the rebuilding time frame.
“We believe Bluff Rd is the best location for the temporary school because it allows all Sandringham Primary School students to be located together on one site,” she said.
Ms Neave said the options for school drop-offs and pick-ups also were better.
“Sandringham Primary School will have its own dedicated space on the northern grassed area of the campus and we will have access to facilities to enable specialist programs to continue,” she said.
“I understand that not being able to return to our school is disappointing and that moving again will be disappointing for some.”
One parent, who did not want to be named, said it was devastating news for the tight-knit community, which had been torn apart in the wake of the fire in the early hours of February 1.
“We won’t be back into our school premises until earliest 2022,” he said.
“This will further shake the community. I fear for the future of the school, as parents will take their kids out earlier than normal due to the disruption.
“All of this because of six foolish children who will most likely face no consequences.”
Six teens from the bayside area were the subject of a police investigation into the fire.
Three of the teens were at a sleepover when they allegedly snuck out to meet three other teens.
The fire came after a blistering total fire ban day and just days into the first term for students at the school.
Ms Neave is a new principal this year but for many years Margaret Hird, the mother of Essendon player James Hird, was a high-profile principal at the school.
Students at the school have been accommodated at Sandringham East Primary and the Sandringham College.
“We’re grateful to (them) … for so generously sharing their school with us on a temporary basis,” Ms Neave wrote.
“While everyone involved have been very supportive, this is not considered a suitable solution in the medium term, given the impacts on all three schools and the separation of our students over two sites.”
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