THE plan to establish a new school in the area is now closer.
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The Milton Ulladulla Small School has entered an exciting phase in its formation, when the Development Application was recently submitted.
Peter Anderson, a foundation member of the committee along with his wife Dr Wan Yi Ng, are part of a community-driven team working to start the school.
The school committee has leased two acres of land for a site off Little Forest Road and there is a possibility of leasing more land in the future if needed.
However, Peter said the DA's submission was a major step in the process.
"For the school to be registered with NESA [NSW Education Standard Authority] you have got to have your curriculum, policies and procedures - all the educational side of things and the other big half of the project is the site," he explained.
"That site had to tick the boxes in terms of having appropriate facilities.
"Most of the requirements to register the school have been completed and the reason this is a big step [getting the land] is because for ages we did not have anywhere for the school.
"That has been the challenge - finding the location."
The committee has been searching for the right location for the school for around two years.
"Being in an area where we have got open space in more of a rural setting makes the site ideal and it fits in with our ethos," he said.
Peter explained the connection with the environment and having sustainable practices is parts of the school's ethos.
"The building of the school is going to be based around those principles," he said.
"What we are planning on at the moment is a very sustainable classroom using sustainable materials."
They have a minimum of a five-year lease with further options to continue the lease arrangement.
People are keen to send their children to the school and they have had more than 70 expressions of interest.
Their initial building phase will be to accommodate 28 students. To start with they are looking at lower primary - Kindergarten to Year Two or Three.
Their approach will be different to mainstream education.
"We are looking at having multi-age learning," Peter said.
"Think of the real old country schools where you would have kids from over multiple year levels in the same space learning together,
"So that allows kids to have greater movement to either advance more quickly through material or to be able to ground something before moving on.
"Some of the classes could be something where you have a teacher and potential of a support and then have kids over three-year levels."
Peter said the aim was to create freedom of learning.
"Also kids will get to fulfil different roles at different stages," he said.
Funding is another area the school is looking for support to enhance.
"To get a school off the ground you don't really get any capital funding. Once the school is open you get State and Commonwealth funding," Peter explained.
"I guess another important phase right now is our fundraising."
The committee has held some fundraising events and is planning more and they have a "crowdfunding program".
Head here to see more about funding and find further information on the school.
The committee is made up of local residents, including teachers.
"It's a mix of parents who are interested in a more holistic educational approach," Peter said.
The idea is the school will look at more character development, values and other principles. Peter said the response for the school has been strong.
"We have good schools here but the thing is they are at capacity," he said.
He believes that some children will flourish in a small school environment. They want to open the school in 2023 and are looking to get all the required documentation into NESA by March 31, 2022
Peter is confident they will be able to meet the above-mentioned time frame.
The DA is through State Planning - not Shoalhaven City Council, which is a costly procedure.
As Peter mentioned, the next critical stage is fundraising.
They are looking for assistance from the community for help in the following areas:
- Project management
- Fundraising, event planning and management
- Grant application
- Crowdfunding
- Community donations - engaging businesses and connecting with our locals
- Community engagement - social media, PR, monthly newsletter/editorials
- Financial management and bookkeeping with accounting background or experience to support financial modelling and taxation obligations
- Database management and maintenance
- Education, creating/planning of curriculum and programs
- Anyone with local/city-based contacts to support philanthropic causes and
- Anyone with experience lobbying local and federal governments.
You can get in touch with the committee via email: miltonulladulla.smallschool@gmail.com or leave a message on the group's Facebook page.
The group has a 12 person working committee but in this new and exciting phase they have put a call out for more help.
The committee is also planning more fundraisers - watch this space.