FIRST LOOK AT $64M SCHOOL
Amor first principal
CONSTRUCTION will begin today on the Gold Coast’s newest high school, located in one of the city’s fastest growing suburbs.
The state-of-the-art $64 million school in Coomera, which will include coding and robotics laboratories, will open from term one next year to 250 Year 7 students.
It is one of 16 Gold Coast schools included in a $240 million education infrastructure overhaul by the Government, intended to accommodate the city’s rapidly growing population.
Education Minister Grace Grace will be in the region today to turn the sod at the site, which is set to become unrecognisable in the coming months.
An artist’s impression of the Coomera school features modern multi-storey buildings surrounded by shaded areas and plenty of vegetation.
The Bulletin can reveal teaching professional of 22 years Kym Amor has been appointed to lead the Coomera school from scratch as its foundation principal.
She spent the past three years leading Brisbane’s Mansfield State School.
“The first Year 7 students will walk through the gates of this brand-new school on day one of the 2020 year, with stage one to include junior classrooms, a covered lunch area, sports centre and an oval,” Ms Grace said.
“I’d like to congratulate Ms Amor on her appointment and I have no doubt she will do a great job.”
While in the region today, Ms Grace will also officially open a performing arts centre at Pimpama State Secondary College, which has grown from a roll call of 295 students to 1750 in seven years.
Ms Grace will also pop in to Pacific Pines States School to see how two projects are tracking – a $740,000 upgrade to a special education block and a $990,000 upgrade to the library.
“We need to provide the infrastructure in schools to keep pace with the rapidly growing population on the Gold Coast and that is exactly what this Government is doing,” Ms Grace said.
“Construction of the high school at Coomera will support up to 168 full-time jobs, with FK Gardner & Sons awarded the contract.”
She said the $240 million infrastructure upgrade created 600 full-time positions.
Still to be completed on the infrastructure blitz to-dolist are learning centres at six schools.