During an adjournment debate Ms Sheed said the school should have the resources it needed to address the escalating bullying and violence.
Ms Sheed said the transition period while the school's $120 million single campus was built required additional support, but she stopped short of blaming the campus model for the ongoing conflict.
“The falling enrolment numbers, poor attendance rates, low aspiration and educational outcomes were widely known across all regional areas, and the investment in the Shepparton Education Plan has been very welcome in the hope that these long-term issues will be addressed,” she said.
“There is fear, racial tensions and escalating violence among a small group of students at the school. During last year at the Mooroopna campus those tensions were starting out, they were increasing, and last week they erupted at the Wanganui campus, culminating in really terrible incidents on Friday the 26th.”
Ms Sheed said the violence clearly demonstrated the underlying and unresolved issues that had been festering not only in the secondary colleges but in the broader community for several years.
“Parents have contacted my office and are reporting that they are very concerned about the level of violence. Some students are too frightened to attend school. As hard as they may try, teachers are under-resourced to deal with these matters. It is time to tackle this head-on; it is time to draw a line in the sand,” she said.
“Greater Shepparton Secondary College needs the additional resources you have recently provided on campus to continue throughout the whole year to tackle this issue. The police must do their job and receive full cooperation from all of those involved to gather the evidence they need and to bring to justice those students who have broken the law.”
As a proud, multicultural society, Ms Sheed said Shepparton needed to also face up to the challenges a diverse community involved.
“We need to make our community one that can work together on issues like this,” she said.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell called on the Andrews Government to provide an alternative school.
“Parents are desperate to get their children out of this school but there is no other option and (Education Minister) James Merlino needs to intervene immediately and ensure Greater Shepparton Secondary College is a safe environment for all students,” she said.
“It is time the Andrews Labor Government actually listened to the Greater Shepparton community and provided another secondary school option for our children.”
This week the school has had a "calm atmosphere" compared to the previous week when multiple fights sparked lockdowns.
Acting Executive Principal Barbara O’Brien told the school community the resources remained in place and that extra security had ensured no unauthorised entry to the Wanganui campus.
“We’ve been able to visit classrooms across all campuses to check in with our students, reassure them of the support and care available to them, and reinforce our school values and expectations,” she said.
Ms O’Brien said the school would remain vigilant and was heartened by the high level of support from the Education Department, agencies and community leaders.
