Special school push

By Kelly Yates
CASEY Council is showing its support for a specialist school to be built in the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor.
Narre Warren North resident Cathy Smith is heading a campaign to see the development of a specialist school in Officer, saying the children in Casey deserved access to a local school that meets their additional learning needs.
Ms Smith has 10-year-old son, Mitchell, who has severe dyspraxia, which means he understands everything but has trouble interpreting and responding to information. He attends Emerson School in Dandenong.
“Emerson School is a great place, but we need something local,” she said.
“His bus route starts at Nar Nar Goon and travels through Cardinia and Casey to Dandenong. There is another bus that travels a similar route to Marnebek. Both Emerson and Marnebek are over-crowded and under-resourced for the number of children they have.”
Ms Smith said Starling Road in Officer had been identified as a location for a specialist school.
“The plan by Vic Urban and the Cardinia Shire is due to be signed off in February or March next year,” she said.
“We want to push the issue in the lead up to the November election and get election pledges from both major parties.”
Casey councillors voted to support the idea at Tuesday night’s council meeting after Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon raised the issue as an urgent business item.
Ms Smith is delighted to get the support from Casey Council.
Cr Stapeldon said two current specialist schools in the area were bursting at the seams.
“Children are sitting three to a two person seat and are travelling between three and four hours per day just to access a school more suited to their needs,” she said.
Casey Council is set to work with the Cardinia Shire to bring about the “best outcome” for parents and children in the City of Casey.
The council will write to Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and Opposition Education Minister Martin Dixon offering support for an additional specialist school as a matter of “urgent consideration”.
Ms Smith has a meeting with Mr Dixon in Pakenham today (Thursday) and will attend a general forum in Gembrook on 13 September to discuss the needs of children with disabilities.
Ms Smith is also hoping to hold a public meeting in the weeks prior to the State election.
To join the campaign for a specialist school in the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor email specialistschool4caseycardinia@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page “Support for a Specialist School for Casey-Cardinia”.