Up and away for superschool

By Shaun Inguanzo
DOVETON Secondary College’s principal has retired amid progress on a $35 million superschool project that will merge Doveton with neighbouring high schools in Greater Dandenong.
Construction works won’t begin until at least 2009, but Dandenong High School, Cleeland Secondary College and Doveton Secondary College will unite in spirit next year.
The schools will keep their respective names, take part in their usual, separate school sport events, and wear their own uniforms.
The major change to 2007 will be Dandenong High School principal Martin Culkin assuming the role as head principal of the three colleges.
President of the Dandenong High School council Alan Collier said some early curriculum changes would also appear next year.
Mr Collier said a larger school council consisting of three representatives from each school, focusing on building the new campuses, would also be formed.
He said all involved would now play a waiting game to see if the next State Budget would contain the $35 million needed for works.
Meanwhile, Doveton Secondary College principal Nigel Hutchison has retired.
Mr Hutchison did not comment on his retirement.
But John Haines, the Department of Education’s southern metropolitan regional director said that the outgoing principal would be disappointed not to be part of the $35 million project.
“He has just reached the age where he wants to move on to bigger and better things,” he said.