Glendore Public School Has Fast-tracked Fence

BY MEGHAN RICHARDSON

Construction on a much needed security fence for Glendore Public School has been fast tracked after an announcement in Parliament yesterday.

The Maryland school has suffered numerous break ins over the years due to the lack of a fence.

Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell announced the fence would be constructed during the 2019/2020 financial year.

Ms Mitchell said the government planned to fast-track construction due to 'ongoing' issues caused by break-ins.

The break-ins had caused significant damage to the school with a quarter of a million dollars worth of property damage.

After years of lobbying for a security fence, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says the new fence will mean peace of mind and security for parents and students.

"The Glendore community was fed up with the number of break ins that had occured," Ms Hornery said. "The fence for Glendore public means a lot more safety and security and some piece of mind for the teachers, students, and Glendore community."

She did, however, criticise the government for their delay in building the fence.

"When you're talking about up to $250 000 worth of damage that occurred, its natural that the parents will wonder why the government hadn't been quicker."

Ms Hornery said her colleague Anthony D'Adam had the opportunity to put the question to Minister Sarah Mitchell in the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Ms Hornery met with Sarah Mitchell after question time to confirm the details for construction.

Image Source: Newcastle Herald 

Wallsend MP Addresses Parliament about Fence at Glendore Public School

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery will address parliament today and request that the long-awaited security fence for Glendore Public School is built as soon as possible as it "isn't secure" for the staff or the students.

The school which has been broken into three times since November last year has experienced $100 000 dollars worth of damage and can no longer afford to fix the property that is continuously damaged or to clean-up the vandalism that occurs. Glendore is the only school in the area yet to receive a security fence.

"This is the only school in the area that doesn't have a security perimeter fence and it's the only school being broken into and vandalized," says Ms. Hornery, "the community and school are sick and tired of having to replace items on a regular basis with anyone free to roam through the school grounds."

Five-hundred concerned parents have signed a petition calling on the Minister for Education to prioritize building the school a fence so that the students of Glendore Public can feel safe and secure when trying to learn.

"I am hopeful that now we have a new Minister, that the government might be willing to listen to the community concerns," claimed Ms. Hornery, "the school isn't secure and a perimeter fence around the school would really help that."

Photo belonging to the Newcastle Herald