Spotswood Primary School has received $1.4 million for the first stage of a $4 million upgrade in the state budget.
The school, built in 1910, has 235 students.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said Melbourne’s west had some of the oldest state schools and some of Spotswood’s facilities were more than 100 years old.
“Having visited the school recently, I know how valuable this funding will be for Spotswood Primary School,” he said.
“The school’s facilites are in need of an upgrade and this budget contribution will help get this work started.”
Principal Jackie Green said the school had not received budget funding for many years.
She said the money would kickstart a plan to refurbish the classrooms, demolish and replace one of the old timber buildings and build a new gymnasium space.
“It was just wonderful news for our school community,” Miss Green said.
“Our school community has been growing a bit over the past few years and, with the school council, we’ve been working on a plan to upgrade our facilities.
“The funding’s going to give us the opportunity to upgrade those older buildings into a more modern learning environment.
“The staff and students work very hard so it will really reflect the work that they do.
“It’s a really big deal for us – we haven’t had any capital funding like this for many many years.
“The school had gone through a period of declining enrolments and we’ve turned that around and we’re now going through a period of increasing enrolments, so it’s really great to have this kick of funding.”
Work is expected to start by the year’s end.
