Parents at a Catholic primary school in Thornbury,
Victoria, plan to boycott a new $105 annual building levy introduced by
the local parish priest to help fund a major government development
project at the school, reports the Northcote Leader.
The parents of students at
St Mary's Primary School in Thornbury, said they do not want to pay
until the priest, Father Gerald Medici, justified the need for the levy
and guaranteed satisfactory resolution of the past year's issues.
The $2 million Federal Government Building the Education Revolution
project comprises a library, technology centre and learning areas.
"St Mary's has already received $2 million in (federal) funds and
Father Medici applied for a $400,000 grant to fix up the school
grounds," said one parent, Con Sarazen.
"Why should parents have to pay an extra levy? We are asking other parents not to pay it out of protest."
In a statement sent via the Catholic Education Office, Father Medici
said the building levy would help service a loan to refurbish the school
buildings and it was no higher than similar levies at other Catholic
schools in the area.
Fr Medici said the levy was "totally separate" from the federal
project and that an existing community development levy of $50 had been
discontinued.
In a separate clash, teachers have raised concerns with the Victorian
Independent Education Union about health and safety issues arising from
building works.
Union spokesman David Brear said concerns included builders' ladders
left erected in school toilets, contractors failing to sign in, teachers
forced to vacate classrooms at short notice, cuts in programs and lack
of consultation.