Exciting times ahead for secondary public education in Moree with the announcement earlier this week that the two campuses of Moree Secondary College would be consolidated onto one site under the new name, Moree Aboriginal Education Consultative Group President Jason Brown, left, Moree Secondary College P&C Association President Kelly James, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Moree Secondary College Executive Principal Jennifer Bird and Moree Plains Shire Mayor Mark Johnson.
Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Huge win for community after a long campaign
MOREE Secondary College students will soon be learning from one campus, with approval given to consolidate the two campuses after strong representations from the local community, Member for Northern Tablelands announced earlier this week.
The college has been split between two campuses since the school was created 20 years ago, with the Year 10 to 12 students attending the Albert Street campus and Year 7 to 9 students at the Carol Avenue campus.
Making the announcement at the school on Monday, surrounded by Mayor Mark Johnson, staff, parent and school community representatives, Mr Marshall commended the persistence of the community over many years to achieve the outcome.
“The community has consistently advocated for all students to be together on one site and I am delighted we’ve able to deliver this for current and future students,” Mr Marshall said.
“This outcome comes in large part from the ongoing efforts of the P&C Association and the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), who have pushed for the consolidation since 2017.
“The time of students and staff moving from one side of the town to the other every school day, as well as wasteful duplication, is almost at an end – and not before time!
“I am thrilled with this outcome and while it was a while coming, people power has once again prevailed.”
In a double win for Moree, Mr Marshall said the Minister had agreed with his request that the school community decide which of the two campuses would host the new high school, rather than the Department of Education.
“It’s so important the community has ownership of the new high school we will create, not just its name or the uniform, but importantly, on which of the two existing campuses it will be situated,” he said.
“Over the next week, the school community will have an opportunity to respond to a survey to choose the preferred campus for the new school.
“This is a critical aspect of the school consolidation and I urge the school community to have their say.
“Once the site has been chosen by the community, further announcements will be made, including the timeframe for the consolidation and new infrastructure to be constructed for the new school.”
Moree Secondary College P&C Association President Kelly James has spearheaded a grass-roots campaign to merge both campuses into one.
The confirmation that the P and C Association’s goal of a merger had been finally achieved, was an exciting outcome for Mrs James.
“An overhaul to Secondary Education in Moree is long overdue, and this is a massive and welcome step in the right direction,” Mrs James said.
“It is an important outcome to ensure the future growth of our school, our town and our shire”
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said it is important to adapt and change to best suit the school community.
“The NSW Government is focused on ensuring students across the state have the best school experience and this is an important decision for the future of education in Moree,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I look forward to working with the local community to ensure the right decision is made and the school has the resources they need to relocate to one site.”