Rochedale State School parents told to spend hundreds for books, uniforms after asbestos clean-out

Parents of students at asbestos-plagued Rochedale State School will have to fork out hundreds of dollars to replace all school items discarded during a contamination clean-out.

Parents of students at asbestos-plagued Rochedale State School will have to replace all school items discarded by staff during a contamination clean-out, it can be revealed.

Outraged parents received an email on Monday from the Department of Education informing them they would only be reimbursed $150 a child, despite having to replace hundreds of dollars of school gear, including a $250 stationery pack, books and uniform items.

It comes after this publication revealed a mass asbestos outbreak in the school’s ceiling tiles in March, affecting several year 1, 2 and 3 classrooms containing hundreds of students.

The email seen by The Courier-Mail says the department claims management team would “consider reimbursement for loss of student-owned items including stationery up to the value of $150,” but some items including lunch boxes would be excluded.

Asbestos was found in unsealed ceiling tiles. Perforations were still in the ceilings.

Rochedale P&C donated $1000 to be used towards uncovered items and out-of-pocket expenses for staff and parents.

Parents will be required to make time to source all discarded items, add them to a claims form and have that form signed by a Justice of the Peace on their own time in order to be reimbursed the maximum $150.

“They’re making this our problem,” one frustrated parent told The Courier-Mail.

“Why didn’t they do a bulk order for things like stationery and then reach out for parents to submit claims for specialised items like musical instruments.”

Parents protest outside Rochedale State School following the asbestos scandal.

The parent said they had two children at the school “and this will cost me $500”.

“There’s no way we should be out of pocket for this and on our own personal time,” they said.

Parents were told this month teachers would be compiling a list of thrown-away items for each child.

But when parents followed up on this promise, they were told by individual classroom teachers that they had not received such an instruction.

The email has resulted in parents frantically contacting teachers to request item lists, only to be told teachers were unaware the department email was being sent out.

Students were moved back into the affected classrooms at the beginning of the term, despite calls from parents to have them temporarily relocated to demountable rooms until asbestos removal works could be undertaken.

Removal works are scheduled for the Christmas holiday break in December, with parents in doubt over the effectiveness of the temporary sealant placed over the ceiling tiles.

Sealant around a fan. Parents claim the work to isolate the asbestos was not done according to standard protocol, which the Department of Education denies.

Queensland Work Health and Safety regulations require asbestos testing every five years, with Rochedale last conducting testing in January 2020.

It is unknown whether parents and guardians of students who were housed in the affected rooms in previous years have been notified by the school.
A Department of Education said the school was “actively assisting” families that had reported lost specialised equipment with financial support offered to families facing hardship.

“In some instances, the school has fully covered the cost of a replacement,” she said.

“Parents are encouraged to discuss their situation and possible resolution with the school principal, especially if existing avenues like the $150 personal items claim leaves a shortfall.”

The spokeswoman said the generous P&C donation would also “bolster” resources on behalf of the government department.

Originally published as Rochedale State School parents told to spend hundreds for books, uniforms after asbestos clean-out