(1) The Minister may close a government school, but only in accordance with
this section.
(2) The Minister is to announce by 15 June in each year, the
schools that the Minister proposes to close. Any such schools are not to be
closed until the end of the following year.
(3) Within 21 days of any such
announcement, the Minister is to establish a School Closures Review Committee
and notify in writing the Principal and President of the legally constituted
parents organisation of each school concerned of that decision.
(4) The
School Closures Review Committee is to review and make recommendations to the
Minister concerning the closure of a school if the majority of the parents of
the children attending the school have, within 21 days of an announcement
under subsection (2), submitted a request in writing to the Minister that a
review of its closure be undertaken.
(5) The School Closures Review Committee
is to comprise--
(a) an independent person appointed by the Minister, who is
to chair the Committee,
(c) a
nominee of the Local Government Association of New South Wales,
(d) a nominee
of the Federation of Parents' and Citizens Associations,
(e) a nominee of the
Secretary who is, in the opinion of the Secretary, a senior member of staff of
the Department,
(f) a nominee of the New South Wales Teachers Federation, and
(g) a nominee of the Minister.
(6) In conducting a review, the Committee--
(a) is to call for submissions and seek expert demographic and educational
advice for both the present and future use of the school, and
(b) is to seek
out and have regard to the views of teachers, local communities and parents of
the children attending the schools whose proposed closure is being reviewed,
and
(c) is required to meet with representatives of those teachers, local
communities and parents.
(7) In making any recommendations concerning the
closure of a school, the Committee is to have regard primarily to the
educational needs of the local community concerned and of the State.
(8) The
Committee is to report to the Minister by 30 September of the year in which it
is established.
(9) If the Minister does not accept any recommendation of the
Committee, the Minister is to make public within 21 days the reasons for the
decision.
(10) The procedure outlined in this section for the closure of a
school does not apply--