Labor Candidate for Beaudesert, Brett Raguse, today welcomed the Beattie Government’s initiative to provide funds to state schools for local projects through the new School Community Development Fund.

26 state schools in the Beaudesert electorate will share in a total of $690,500 as part of a $50 million commitment by the Beattie Government to improve facilities for students.

“This is great news for our principals, teachers and especially parents and children,” Mr Raguse said.

“This is an opportunity for parents to get involved with their school and influence their children’s learning environment.

“There’s a great degree of scope – it depends on what the school P & C considers most important.”

Under the initiative, each of Queensland’s 1276 state schools will receive funds for local projects through a $50 million School Community Development Fund.

It will be up to the school community how the money is spent in partnership with the principal and within some very flexible guidelines.

It can involve installing water tanks, upgrading the library, refitting the science lab or putting in playground equipment.

The amount of the grant is determined by a combination of factors, including the size of the school, the enrolments and the locality.

The grants do not replace existing capital works or maintenance programs – they are part of the Beattie Government’s long-term commitment to modernise state schools.

Under the ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ program, the Government has committed $1 billion over the next five years to upgrade state schools.