Mooroopna North Primary School principal Rebecca Brown believes recently announced Victorian Government funding emphasises a commitment to the maintenance of all schools, regardless of size and location.
The government announced it would be investing over $14 million to provide upgrades to 50 public schools in need through the Planned Maintenance Program.
After completing its annual rolling evaluation, the government identified Mooroopna North as a priority school.
The school of 27 students has since been allocated $1.2 million in funding that will provide essential upgrades to the shelter-in-place building.
“We need some maintenance and some changes done,” Ms Brown said.
“We already do bushfire preparedness each year, but this will add another level of safety.”
It is considered a bushfire high-risk school, and its bell rating has risen since last year.
With the shelter-in-place building being the designated gathering area in the event of a fire, significant maintenance works will provide a safer space for students and staff to shelter.
“It will help secure future safety, continuing to maintain the buildings and keep them up to the appropriate safety standards,” Ms Brown said.
The school will also make routine repairs to the roof, switchboards and some of the grounds where trees are too close to the buildings.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said the investment was made to ensure every child, no matter their postcode, had a safe space to learn, close to home.
“These projects are about supporting growing communities and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality learning environment,” Mr Carroll said.
The works are expected to begin at the end of this year and take six to 12 months.
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