School Playgrounds Open for the Summer Holidays.

BY DANIELLE RIES

Schools in the Hunter region will participate in a new trial program which sees their playgrounds, ovals and sports courts be open to the public during the summer holidays.

More than 40 schools across NSW will also take part as it encourages people to use the facilities to exercise and have a fun time during the holidays.

Schools participating from the HUNTER include:

• Kurri Kurri Public School
• Maitland Public School
• Redhead Public School
• Lambton Public School
• Muswellbrook Public School
• Wangi Wangi Public School
• Belmont High School
• Hunter School of Performing Arts

The participating schools will receive a bonus grant of $15,000 to help upgrade and improve their facilities for the communities, and the schools, use. 

These schools will be open between the hours of 8am and 6pm from the 23rd December and will finish late January when school goes back for 2018.

Maitland Primary School Playground
Credit- The Land.

$94 Million Funding Boost for Hunter Schools

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Public schools across the Hunter are set to receive a whopping $94.5 million in needs-based funding for 2018.

It's part of a record $1.9 billion in Government funding delivered to schools across the state which is an increase of 8% on last year's funds.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald the region has down quite well for itself.

"Cessnock is getting nearly $18 million, Charlestown schools $9.8 million, Lake Macquarie nearly $10 million, Maitland nearly $16 million, Newcastle schools $6.8 million, Port Stephens schools $11.8 million, Swansea schools nearly $11 million, [and] Wallsend also $11 million so I'm particularly pleased that Hunter schools seem to be doing well out of [the funding]."

With the funds, local schools will be able to address the needs of their students and implement new initiatives for their educational benefit.

Scot MacDonald says each school will nominate where they want the funds to be spent.

"But traditionally, they'll go towards things like literacy and numeracy support, teacher training, speech pathologist those sorts of things. The local schools are best at identifying how that funding should be spent."

Belmont High School [Image: BHS]

The Government also announced a $25 million upgrade to Belmont High School earlier this week, with work expected to begin next year.

Though it's currently in the design phase, the project is looking at upgrading the school's administration block, building a new performing centre, technology learning centre, flexible learning spaces, toilets and a canteen.

Hunter School Maintenance Backlog

BY RACHEL STORER

Hunter Schools will take decades to fix on current funding scheme. Picture: theherald.com.au

Labor is calling on the state government to direct some of the massive profits from the property boom to address the serious school maintenance backlog in the Hunter.

The state opposition has obtained figures under Freedom of Information laws which show the cost of repairs and maintenance now exceeds $1 million at 11 Hunter schools.

Hunter Sports High tops the lists with $2 million worth of work needed.

Based on the current funding allocations in the state, most Hunter schools repairs will take two or three decades to complete.

Shadow Minister for the Hunter, Kate Washington says the massive backlog won't be addressed until there's an overhaul in the system.

"There are some real systemic issues. At the end of the day we've got kids and teachers in schools that have got leaking roofs, gutters that are broken, toilets that are broken.

"These aren't just cosmetic issues. They are basic everyday items."

Ms Washington says that the government has the money to address these crucial repairs.

"They're raking in stamp duty and there is great opportunity to do the right thing and focus on what's important, and that is education.

"That is what will strengthen our communities for the future, but the priorities are just completely wrong."

Opposition Leader, Luke Foley agrees with Ms Washington and says new Premier Gladys Berejiklian needs to make schools a top priority.