Upgrade a relief for students

By Shaun Inguanzo
STUDENTS and staff at Eumemmerring Primary School are flush with excitement over a $160,000 grant to upgrade the school’s toilet facilities.
The 30-year-old primary school is part of the Dandenong Electorate, and MP John Pandazopoulos said the funds, announced this week, would help it renew its ageing facilities.
“These projects make a big difference to the schools in the Dandenong Electorate,” he said.
“The Bracks Government is undertaking a capital works program in schools of unprecedented scope, but ongoing maintenance to ensure the quality of existing facilities is equally important.
Eumemmerring joins another 12 schools in the electorate all sharing in a total of $268,000.
The money is coming from the 2007/08 budget in which $10 million has been allocated for general maintenance, and $6 million for toilet block upgrades.
Eumemmerring Primary School principal Wayne Macdonald said the school hoped to start the works after the coming mid-year holiday period.
Mr Macdonald said $160,000 was a significant contribution for a school that had only 160 students – but a vital one at that.
“It will make a huge difference for our community,” he said.
“We are slowly upgrading the school for the benefit of the students.”