Katanning SHS upgrades open

Minister for Education Peter Collier officially opened the $2 million Katanning Senior High School upgrades last Tuesday, welcoming a “new era” of specialised services.

The Royalties for Regions funding was spent on administration offices, conference, interview and store rooms, a car park, a pathway leading to the public foyer, and a reception area with a separate student foyer.

Mr Collier said the upgrades had turned student services into a “one-stop shop”, and would provide a single access point to the school nurse, counselling services, sick rooms and disabled toilets.

“Students’ needs will be met more quickly and comprehensively, giving staff extra time to assess their individual learning needs,” he said.

Mr Collier said Katanning Senior High School catered for students from 17 different ethnic groups and 20 per cent Aboriginal students, and the upgrades would complement programs like Follow the Dream and Clontarf.

Principal Nicki Polding said the upgrades had been “desperately needed”.

“(The school is) now significantly enhanced to meet the needs of a multicultural school,” she said.

“It’s also a refuge for staff from the rigors of school.”

Ms Polding said the building process had experienced some challenges because the school’s business manager had changed three times.

She said Katanning was still an operating school during construction and, at one point, her office was turned into an “unexpected water feature”.

The minister opened the new building by unveiling a plaque at a school assembly led by head girl Emily Bessell.

It was attended by a long list of dignitaries, including Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson, Member for Wagin Terry Waldron, Katanning Shire president Alan McFarland, Wheatbelt Education Region executive director Kim Guelfi and Great Southern Development Commission chief executive Peter Rundle.