Yarra Ranges Special Development School kept in portable classrooms after kids left out of state budget

CHILDREN with disabilities, being educated at a Mt Evelyn school made entirely of portable classrooms, have been left out of the state budget.

Yarra Ranges Special Development School are stuck in portable classrooms. Picture: Stuart Milligan

CHILDREN with disabilities, being educated at a Mt Evelyn school made entirely of portable classrooms, have been left out of the State Budget.

Yarra Ranges Special Development School missed out on a portion of the $55.6 million promised by the State Government to 12 schools for the 2018-19 financial year.

The school, opened in 1975, has 20 relocatable classrooms that are more than 30 years old, while another two were replaced last year because of asbestos.

Mother-of-three Emma Withers, said there are 124 vulnerable children in portable classrooms, which cost a fortune to heat and cool.

Mrs Withers children Tyler, 11, Hayden, eight, and Sarah, six, all have a genetic condition that means they cannot speak and wear nappies.

The school council sent an urgent letter on April 30 “beseeching” Premier Daniel Andrews to reconsider the community’s application for capital works cash.

“It was with great dismay we read the lengthy list of special … schools that are earmarked for substantial government funding,” it said.

“Some of the schools mentioned are fortunate to already have relatively new buildings, or recent upgrades.”

The school council said it had regularly contacted Education Minister James Merlino pleading for capital works funding to address the “appalling” state of the school buildings.

And while the school was promised a “paltry” $500,000 last year — an upgrade to the administration building was all the amount could buy.

“Our students and their families already endure the indignity of poor financial health, poor personal health and, in the majority of cases, divorce and split families,” the letter said.

It said despite the school’s best efforts the State Government seemed determined not to provide money to create new school buildings the students need and deserve.

“We feel we are long overdue and no explanation has ever been provided as to why our continuous requests fall on deaf ears,” it said.

“Surely the future of all Victorian children, especially those with disabilities, are above political allegiances.”

Mr Merlino said the State Government had spent $500,000 last year to help the school “modernise”.

“The proposed works include building new general purpose classrooms, administration and learning spaces and a cafe, as well as removing two portables,” Mr Merlino said.

“We will continue to work Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School on their infrastructure needs and will consider future funding as part of the usual Budget processes.”