‘Getting value for their money’

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
22 February 2004

A melting pot of faith

Jobs plan may hurt disabled

Theology of Body

First PNG Michaelites

Census data

‘Quiet revolution in our school buildings’

‘Outstanding’ approach to teaching

Cardinal will launch Project Compassion

Pregnant pause: First all-night ‘wake up’ call of baby acrobatics

Human rights

Alternative to IVF

Young take steps on interfaith road

Questions to shape choice of next Pope

Editorial: Value for money

Letters: Confession

Conversation: Fr Con Keogh, honoured for helping people rehabilitate themselves - ‘Insane’ priest who draws others to God

Easter – a renewal of life

Pancakes for peace

Catholic schools build for the future

St Joseph’s – a happy partnership where ‘everyone is bubbling over’

‘Getting value for their money’

Shot fanned flames of fear

Knocked out by Marists

Obituary: Capuchin Fr Ted gave up farming and shearing for a ‘late’ vocation

Obituary: Fr Colin, Renaissance man

... mud, sweat and gears? Crazy!

Riverview’s ‘Big Bird’

‘Getting value for their money’

MODEL PROGRAM: Terry Keogh (director of financial services, Catholic Education Office), principal Debbie Heckenberg and parish priest Fr Tom McDonough on site at St Brigid’s, Marrickville

ST Brigid’s Primary School in the inner western suburb of Marrickville has been tucked away behind the church and bowling club for more than 100 years. As one of Sydney’s oldest Catholic schools, it has had various additions and renovations over the years to accommodate a student population in the low 400s until recent years when it has dropped to the mid-300s.

The school, which is undergoing an extensive $2.65 million building and renovation program, serves as an excellent model of community involvement in the upgrading process. Stage 1 was completed at the end of 2003.

Parish priest Fr Tom McDonough says the school has been applying for Federal Government capital grants for years and were always knocked back.

“Finally, the Catholic Education Office said: ‘You are not going to get the grant, so we’re going to have to work together to make it happen’.

“It’s taken three years to get the project up and going, and it will now be complete during 2004.

“Debbie Heckenberg, the principal, has been the main driving force behind the project. When Debbie came here, she found that the Passionist monks were selling some of their land.

“That’s when she came to me and said: ‘Why doesn’t the parish investigate buying the land to expand the school?’

“When complete, the school will now have a public face for the first time, with an entrance off Marrickville Rd. It won’t be hidden away behind the bowling club and houses any more.

“Alan Sewell, from the Education Office school facilities unit, has been overseeing the project and his attention to detail has made sure it comes in under budget and on time.”

Fr Tom spoke of the importance of the parish/school connection and the community building process.

“Our parish without the schools would definitely be a poorer place. It’s true that our two schools (Casimir College as well) are one of the main ministries of the parish,” he said. “There’s a very strong community feeling.

“The work on the school has generated a much broader pastoral plan for the whole parish, especially making the school a much more integral part of our parish life – it’s one of the main parish ministries.

“We also had a lot of parish consultation right from the start – showing the plans and discussing the possibilities.

“They were published in the parish bulletins and put up on the noticeboards. We invited feedback from the whole parish.”

To pay for it, the parish has taken out a $2 million loan for the purchase of property and the building of the new classrooms. There has been some assistance from the Catholic Education Office, plus the normal government interest subsidies.

“There’s been no resistance to this big commitment,” says Fr Tom. “Parents contribute to the program through the building levy. We sent out a letter recently to parents saying the building levy would need to be increased by $36 a year to help repay the loan.

“Even though it might hurt financially for some families, people aren’t complaining because they can see what they are getting for their money,” Fr Tom says.