IT WILL cost about $425,000 to repair the structural damage caused to a manual arts building following an alleged arson attack at Katherine High School on July 5.
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The staggering figure was revealed during a tour of the building by Education Minister Peter Chandler and Department of Education chief executive Ken Davies on Friday.
At the time of the blaze – for which a 13-year-old and 14-year-old have been charged with arson – police estimated the damage to be “well in excess of $100,000” but the final bill is likely to be six or seven times that once replacement equipment is added to the tally.
Business manager Bianca Harris said that, while staff and students were still reeling following the fire, it was now being viewed as an opportunity to improve the school’s educational facilities.
The rebuild will not affect any students completing their studies in 2015.
LED lighting and a solar hot water system will be installed as part of the rebuild, and the new building will be fitted out to a standard that will enable the school to offer students vocational education and training courses.
“It was absolute shock horror and a bit of anger, to be honest,” Mrs Harris said.
“For the staff, it’s pretty disheartening.
“We won’t be back in here for another four months, and we’ve had to rearrange timetables so students who would usually be doing woodwork now do metalwork.
“It’s not going to impact the Year 12 students. It’s a negative but it’s definitely been turned into a positive.”
Mr Davies told the Katherine Times that the Department of Infrastructure rebuild estimate was $425,000 and praised the school for turning the situation into one that would improve outcomes for students.
“It’s an opportunity to modernise and contemporise the facility,” he explained.
He added that the school community would not be out of pocket outfitting the finished building with new equipment.
“We will support the school to ensure it’s properly fitted out,” he said.