Grant for renovations at Banksia Park school

Banksia Park Primary School in Willetton has received a $1,500 school improvement grant through an innovative new State Government grants program.

Education Minister Kay Hallahan today said the program aimed to encourage parent participation in school improvement projects.

More than 800 parents' groups statewide were expected to apply for funding.

Mrs Hallahan said the $1.2 million scheme - a small part of the Government's $75 million school improvement program announced in the State Budget - gave parents access to one-off grants of up to $1,500.

"The grants will assist parent groups who want to improve their local school in some way," she said.

"This is an important step in the State Government's efforts to give parents greater involvement in school activities and projects and to build a stronger community spirit."

Parents at Banksia Park PS applied for a grant of $1,500 to redesign and rebuild the school's reception area so there was more space for clerical staff and visitors.

The $7,500 project is expected to be completed in May and was being supervised by a parent who was a former Building Management Authority employee.

Mrs Hallahan said a variety of projects could be undertaken using the grants - such as landscaping, improving play equipment, erecting flagpoles, painting wall murals or brick paving.

"Often, parents are willing to donate their labour and skills for a special project but need a small amount of funding to cover the cost of materials or to top up fund-raising," she said.

"The funding is not designed to be used for routine school maintenance - that will be undertaken through the Government's $75 million accelerated maintenance program."