Official opening of new Cloverdale Primary School

7/5/99
A new primary school, which illustrates the success of school communities planning together for the future of education and for the benefit of students, was officially opened in Cloverdale today.
The new $4.7 million Cloverdale Primary School was built to replace the former Cloverdale and Whiteside primary schools, and today Education Minister Colin Barnett unveiled a plaque to commemorate the school's establishment.
Mr Barnett said the new school was an excellent example of the benefits to the education of Western Australian children that could come from more effective use of school assets.
"The two former schools were limited in what they could offer students because of their age and design structure," he said.
"The new school incorporates a computer laboratory which, together with other technology areas in the school, gives all children access to the latest in computers and information from around the world, while teaching areas are grouped to allow for classes to be brought together, and special parent meetings rooms have been built.
"By the two schools pooling their resources, the 500 students and 50 staff at the school are the real winners."
Mr Barnett said parents of both schools voted in late 1995 to close their schools on the condition that a new school was built at Miles Park. However, after extensive consultation, Belmont City Council decided against the proposal in the belief that there was no broad support for the Miles Park site.
The Whiteside school site was well within the Guildford Airport noise envelope and was clearly affected by both noise and air pollution. The Cloverdale site was more central and closer to other amenities in the City of Belmont.
Facilities at the new school include 12 classrooms, two pre-primary rooms, four classrooms for the Education Support Centre, a library resource centre, covered assembly area, dental therapy centre and music room.
The school was funded jointly by the State and Federal Governments, with nearly $3.7 million from the WA Government and $1 million from the Commonwealth.
Mr Barnett said he was delighted that the school design allowed students at the Education Support Centre to integrate with primary school students, sharing facilities, programs and school events.
He thanked the staff of both schools for their commitment to the new Cloverdale Primary School and acknowledged the efforts of parents who had actively participated in the consultation for the new school and its development.
The Minister said he was pleased the school community had tried to maintain links with its heritage, with the new school's rose garden planted with the original roses from the former school sites.
Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699