Bell to sound in 2008

By Callan Date
THE first bell at Pakenham South’s longawaited primary school is set to ring in February 2008.
Education officials announced the date at a special meeting last week attended by local parents, community members and the interim school council.
The council has been appointed to oversee the 19month planning and building operation that will make sure the school is operational for the first day of term in 2008.
The school will be built on land previously set aside in the Heritage Springs estate.
Several different stateoftheart school designs were presented and explained to the council, with members also planning to tour new schools to get ideas.
Construction will start in November with all buildings scheduled for completion 12 months later. Project officer Russell Collier said the school council will meet once a week and oversee several key decisions.
“The council will initially discuss issues such as the selection of a principal, the name of the school and student uniforms,” Mr Collier said.
He said the design of the new school was flexible and entirely up to members of the council.
“The role of the new principal will be to appoint teachers and office staff and focus on student enrolments and other issues such as equipment purchases.”
The State Government allocated $6.3 million for the new school in last month’s budget after residents campaigned for a new education facility in the area.