Two classrooms are planned to move into the current library space before the 2021 school year, to cater for ever-increasing student numbers.Enrolments have risen from 392 in 2017 to 480 in 2020, a 22 per cent increase.More than 1000 people have signed a petition to Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff created by school parent Nadia Booker in an effort to save the library. Mrs Booker sends children Echo, 7, and Rosie, 5, to the school, and said losing the library was an unacceptable solution to space issues.“They are saddened. They love their library,’’ she said of her children.“I think a library is a key part of literacy development.“It’s a place where kids can have quiet time in the midst of the day and it’s how you develop a love of books.”
Mrs Booker has suggested an interim solution like reallocating part of the school’s car park to make space for two demountable classrooms in time for 2021, or using part of the school oval to house temporary facilities.In addition, she wants the state government to fund a master plan for investment in infrastructure to allow for continued enrolment growth.Mrs Booker said the petition was an individual one and not on behalf of the school’s association, but said the amount of signatures was reflective of the concerns.“No one wants to lose the library … but the school has been forced into the position of where to put the kids,’’ she said.It is understood the school association was due to have a meeting with an Education Department representative on Tuesday night.An Education Department spokeswoman said the decision to convert the library into two classrooms was made in consultation with the principal and other stakeholders in response to increasing enrolment numbers.“Students at the school will continue to have access to library resources from Term 1 onwards, with a mobile library unit to be installed in 2021,’’ the spokeswoman said.“The library collection will still be available for use by students, with the school planning to conduct mobile library sessions in classrooms, along with ‘satellite’ library displays in varying locations.”The spokeswoman said the department continued to work with the school’s principal to plan for future growth, including a master planning exercise in 2021.The school got a $3.6 million upgrade in 2017, which included new classrooms and improved room layout.A capital works submission for future works has been received.
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