Minister concedes Alice Springs school upgrade funding inadequate

NT Education Minister Jo Hersey has conceded $500,000 allocated for upgrades at Centralian Middle School is inadequate and has promised additional funding to prepare the campus for its transition to Alice Springs College. Construction is now expected to begin about November 24, with the minister guaranteeing the campus would be ready for the new school year. What's next? The minister has promised school councils an updated plan within two weeks. An aging school needing a major makeover. And a merger just months away. The Northern Territory education minister has conceded the $500,000 allocated to upgrade Alice Springs's only public high school is inadequate after touring its aging facilities. Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College will begin merging into Alice Springs College next year, with years 11 and 12 relocating to the Gillen campus in 2028. Education Minister Jo Hersey met with both school councils yesterday, and acknowledged the funding was insufficient to prepare the campus. "Obviously we know the 500 is not going to cut it even just for what we need to do now," she told ABC Alice Springs. "I have a commitment from the department that the money will be there to make the changes that need to happen for the start of the year." Ms Hersey said classroom modifications, lighting upgrades and replacement carpets should be completed before the 2027 school year. Asked whether the campus was currently fit for purpose and equitable, she replied: "Not as I saw it yesterday, no." Parents call for greater investment Centralian Senior College School Council secretary Elliat Rich described the initial $500,000 allocation as a "band-aid", saying the merger was an opportunity to invest properly in public education. She said the proposed works represented the bare minimum needed to accommodate students, rather than the broader upgrades required to deliver a quality school environment. Ms Rich also criticised the merger process, describing it as "very opaque" and calling for clearer timelines, funding commitments and greater involvement from the school community. She warned continued underinvestment in public education "will have far-reaching implications". Long-term funding uncertain Ms Hersey said she had expected upgrade works to have started already, after a decision to delay the merger by a year. Construction is now expected to begin about November 24, with the minister guaranteeing the campus would be ready for the new school year. She said a broader master plan was needed but could not confirm how far planning had progressed. Asked what a comprehensive upgrade might cost, Ms Hersey suggested about $30 million, but acknowledged funding of that magnitude was unlikely in the next two territory budgets. She has promised to provide both school councils with an updated plan within two weeks.