LABOR has promised $4 million to replace ageing demountable classrooms at Hurstville Public School with permanent buildings.
The party’s education spokesman Ryan Park, and Labor candidate for Kogarah Chris Minns, made the announcement just three days out from the election.
They said growing pupil numbers were placing increasing pressure on what was already the biggest primary school in the state.
Mr Minns said the school’s P&C had made a strong case for the need to invest in new permanent classrooms.
“Ryan Park and I met with the P&C and we agree that it’s time for the ageing demountables to be replaced with permanent classrooms,’’ he said.
Mr Park said a Labor government would invest more money in schools without the need to privatise the electricity network.
In May last year, Premier Mike Baird and Education Minister Adrian Piccoli officially opened a $7.1 million upgrade at the school, which followed a promise made at the 2011 election.
The project included a new two-storey, 11-classroom block, refurbishment of seven classrooms, creation of two new practical activities areas, extension and upgrade of the the administration block and construction of two new undercover play areas.
Other improvements included a new lift for disabled access and a new staff car park.
Win was thanks to parent power
Parent power is behind the school’s recently completed and promised improvements. In 2010, parents revolted against a plan by the then Labor government for year 5 and year 6 pupils to be moved to Hurstville Boys High School due to overcrowding. The government caved in, and the major parties engaged in a bidding war before the 2011 election to upgrade the school.
