Cooler local classrooms
Students and teachers at Southern Riverina public schools will be able to enjoy comfortable learning in the hot summers with the NSW Government announcing funds for air conditioning upgrades.
Berrigan, Blighty, Mayrung, Jerilderie, Finley, Conargo and Tocumwal public schools and Finley High School are among 60 schools in the region to receive additional air conditioning.
‘‘We’re excited and thrilled to be one of the schools nominated under the Cooler Classrooms program,’’ Finely High School principal Jeff Ward said.
‘‘It will make a massive difference in our classroom and improve the learning and teaching environment.
‘‘Our summers are extremely hot and students can struggle to perform at their best in that type of heat.’’
NSW Member for Murray Austin Evans said he was thrilled that so many schools across our electorate will benefit from the program.
‘‘We live in a very hot part of the state and it’s extremely important that our children and teachers can engage together in a comfortable classroom environment,” Mr Evans said.
‘‘I’ve spoken to many people across our vast electorate who have stressed the importance of air conditioning in our classrooms, so I’m thrilled that our electorate is a big winner in the program.
‘‘The Cooler Classrooms Fund is part of the NSW Government’s continued commitment to providing environments where our students and teachers can best succeed.”
Schools in areas like the Murray electorate — that have an average maximum January temperature of 30 degrees or more — will now automatically receive air conditioning in their classrooms and libraries, while all other schools can apply for funding under the Cooler Classrooms Fund on a needs basis.
Previously only schools with an average maximum January temperature of 33 degrees or more were air conditioned.