May 13, 2014
Kingaroy State High School’s new $6.3 million Junior Secondary building is rapidly taking shape.
The second major concrete pour began on site this morning, a major milestone in the project.
The building will accommodate Year 7 students who from next year will be taught at Kingaroy State High School instead of Kingaroy State School.
The Year 7 change – which has led to a spate of new buildings and renovations at Queensland high schools – is part of the State Government’s “Flying Start” reforms which has also seen the introduction of Prep across Queensland.
The two-storey u-shaped building will contain 11 classrooms, two flexible learning areas, a collaborative learning area and a staff room fitted out for 16 teachers.
There will also be storage areas on both levels.
Tiered seating for students is located in the u-shaped area.
Acting Kingaroy State High School principal Helen Maudsley said the building was air-conditioned and would include a lift.
“It’s on track to be completed by late October, pending no rain delays,” she said.
A two-storey covered walkway will link the building to “E” and “L” blocks in the Kingaroy State High School complex.
The old sheds that were on the site were removed last year but actual construction of the new building began in January.
Hutchinson Builders are completing the project.
Mrs Maudsley said Hutchinson were using as many local contractors as possible, including Hy-Tec who are supplying the more than 230 cu metres of concrete required in the project.
“The plumbing is all local, too. Quite a few local businesses have benefited,” she said.
The new building will house 200 Year 7 students from Kingaroy, Taabinga and Coolabunia State Schools and about 100 Year 8s.
“Year 9s will also access it to some degree,” Mrs Maudsley said.
“We will be bringing a small number of local primary school teachers across to teach in Junior Secondary but we will also be training a number of current KSHS staff to cater more specifically for junior secondary students.
She said the building had also been designed to cater for possible flooding in the area.
“There is a space underneath and the floor level is actually the same as the Sports auditorium. It is effectively flood-proof,” she said.
[UPDATED with correction]
