Queensland Senator Russell Trood said he was appalled by the treatment of the parents and supporters of the Blackstone State Primary School at the hands of the State Government.

 

During a visit to Ipswich this week, the Senator heard that supporters of the 122-year-old school, which is facing closure at the end of this year, have been met with scant regard from the State Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller and the State Education Minister, Geoff Wilson.

 

Blackstone Action Group chairperson Jenny Hinks said the parents and friends of the school feel deeply let down by the complete lack of support and representation from their local State Member.

 

“Ms Miller publicly said she would defend our school when the announcement to close the school was made, but she has not delivered on any of her promises.

 

“Far from working to help our cause, and making even the smallest of attempts to advocate our case to the Education Minister, she has been openly dismissive of us.

 

“Ms Miller has repeatedly declined invitations to attend  our weekly meetings, and when we sought help from the people who would come to support us – local council members and Federal and State LNP members, she openly accused us of being ‘tucked up in a wild and passionate affair with the LNP’.”

Over sixteen hundred people have signed a petition opposing the school’s closure.

 

Senator Trood said he was troubled to hear that that the school community is not being adequately represented by their local member.

 

“Ms. Miller has a responsibility to represent and offer support to her constituents and she has plainly failed to do so in Blackstone.

 

“Perhaps she feels she need not try since Blackstone is in the middle of such a safe State Labor seat, but I find this to be contemptuous behaviour on her part.”

 

Ms Hinks said the State Education Minister took 80 days to arrange a meeting with the Blackstone Action Group to discuss the fate of the school, which ranks as one of the best performers for literacy and numeracy in Queensland.

 

“It took 69 days for the Minister’s office to even respond to us. When we finally did get a meeting, we were met by one of Mr. Wilson’s staff, and the Minister himself only turned up for the last ten minutes of the meeting to announce that the decision has been made and that there was no point discussing it any further.”

 

The school is a winner of a number of awards, including the prestigious Education Queensland Showcase Award for Excellence in Education. The relatively small size of the school has been cited as the main grounds for its closure, but the Blackstone Action Group Department for Education is yet to provide a convincing reason for its decision.

 

Supporters say it is no accident the school is small. Blackstone prides itself on its diligent attention to students’ needs and small classroom sizes. Far from dwindling, enrolments are full and there is even a waiting list for next year despite the fact that the school is due to close its doors in November.

 

Senator Trood has urged the labour Government to reconsider its decision and keep the Blackstone State School open.

 

“The closure of this fantastic school would be a great loss to the local community of which it is such an integral part. The Labour Government should encourage and nurture such deserving and successful communities, not tear them apart.”

 

He said that the Blackstone State School should be held up as a benchmark by the Bligh Government to improve Queensland’s education system.

 

“In 2009, Queensland students had the lowest performance in Australia except for the Northern Territory in national mathematics, science and literary tests. Premier Bligh was so embarrassed about the results that she appointed Professor Geoff Masters to review education standards. Blackstone State School has all the qualities of an outstanding school as characterised in Professor Masters’ report.

 

“And yet, the State Government is determined that the school will close. Not only that, but the valiant attempts of the community to save their beloved school are disregarded and met with derision.

 

“One questions whether or not the Bligh Government is serious about education reform,” Senator Trood concluded.

 

Media Contact: Anastasia Glushko           Mob: 0406 156 730