Parents support collegiate concept

A recent meeting of local school parents' and citizens' associations has unanimously supported the collegiate restructuring of Woy Woy and Umina High Schools to form one school with two campuses.
"Parents believe that this restructuring will bring about the best educational opportunities possible to students, and furthermore, will make these opportunities available to all students on the Peninsula," said Ettalong representative Ms Liz McMinn.
The meeting also unanimously supported the appointment of Mr Pat Lewis to oversee the restructuring process of the Peninsula schools.
"The decision of parents to support the restructuring means it is incumbent upon the Department of Education to provide the necessary funding for both capital works and staff retraining," said Ms McMinn.
Present at the meeting were representatives from Woy Woy High School, Umina High School, Empire Bay, Pretty Beach, Ettalong, Umina, Woy Woy South and Woy Woy Primary Schools.
"It has long been acknowledged by educators that the present system of education is outdated and no longer fully meets the needs of students."
Following a 30-month consultation period, the community was invited to make submissions for a new approach to education based on a "collegiate" system.
Of the 11 submissions entered by the Peninsula community, eight of them favoured a middle-school approach: a separation of the junior high school years from the senior years by way of separate campuses.
Mr Pat Lewis relinquished his position as principal of Umina High School to become project officer to oversee the final three-month period of consultation.
"At the invitation of the P&C Associations, Mr Lewis has attended parent meetings to provide information and to listen to the concerns of parents," said Ms McMinn.
"After parents voted on their preferred model, representatives from each P&C were elected to meet as a combined group in order to present the recommendations and concerns of parents from each school.
"Mr Lewis has also met with principals and teachers as well as parents, in order to present a well-balanced recommendation that will represent the best educational interests of all students.
"The final consultation period has come to an end and Mr Lewis will now forward the recommendations from principals, teachers and parents to District Superintendent of Education Mr Bill Low and Education Minister Mr Aquilina for their decision."
The Minister was expected to make his decision within the next four weeks, said Ms McMinn.
"It will then be full steam ahead to get ready in time for the 2002 school year."