DEC asked to leave Bondi Public School

Bondi Public School and the NSW Government are in talks about the removal of Department of Education offices from the school’s premises.

The NSW Department of Education and Communities’ (DEC) eastern office has been located in an old building on the Bondi Public School site for over 25 years.

A rapid rise in student intake has seen the issue come to a head, with the department’s initial proposal to divide the old school hall into two classrooms met with opposition from the school’s P&C Committee.

“They should leave so the school has more space; historically this building has always been part of Bondi Public School,” said a concerned parent.

“We met with the DEC [last week] and are formalising a letter to go to them demanding their retreat from the district office in favour of ad hoc butchering of the school.”

400 students are currently enrolled at the school, with the number set to rise to 465 next year. Enrolments are expected to rise the following year as well amidst Waverley’s baby boom.

State Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton has helped facilitate a solution and was confident the issue would be resolved over coming weeks.

“My viewpoint is we want to have as many students in classrooms as possible,” said Ms Upton. “… I think residents would want to know what is going to happen if there are any changes.”

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said large-scale rises in student intakes were an issue throughout the municipality.

“We certainly have a baby boom [in Waverley] and I know that all our schools are absolutely chock-a-block,” she said. “The problem some of the schools have [is] they can’t turn the children away. They are not able to say ‘I’m sorry, we’re full’. So they just have to take the children.

“I’m more than happy to take this on board. I’m happy to talk to the Minister for Education and see if he can help us.”

There is angst within the school community the DEC did not include their district office in the assessment of space at Bondi Public School for 2013.

A spokesperson for the DEC said concerns were in the process of being addressed.

“The Department of Education recognises the increased student numbers at Bondi Public School,” they said.

“The Regional Director is working with the P&C to ensure the school is appropriately catered for. To that end, a proposed redevelopment of a school building has been put on hold while other options are explored.”

The construction of a centralised ‘super department’ of DEC offices on Oxford St has been touted as a possible alternative.

“I haven’t heard anything about that,” said Ms Upton. “Centralising [DEC] offices is one possible solution that may be looked at.”

Bondi Public’s P&C executive declined to comment, citing a meeting with the DEC scheduled next week.