THE principal of Red Hill Consolidated School was confidant late last week that the school would reopen on time on Monday.
In a letter to parents Leanne Marshall said the Department of Health and Human Services was still investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis that affected more than 100 pupils and six staff and caused the school to close a day earlier for the holidays.
“However, we want to reassure all members of the school community that we have followed closely the guidelines in regards to management and control of gastroenteritis outbreaks in children’s services, as supplied by [the] DHHS communicable disease prevention and control unit,” Ms Marshall stated in her Wednesday 6 April letter.
“Over the coming weeks we will provide detail on the findings of the investigation conducted by DHHS.”
School council president Nick Arnott said reports that the school had run out of water were incorrect.
“The school run did not run out of water at any time,” Mr Arnott told The News. “Water was shut off for 10-20 minutes only at the start of the school day on Friday 18 March to repair a blockage in a water pump.”
Ms Marshall said work was being completed at the school over the holidays “to ensure it is fully functional before the start of term 2”.
“Please be assured the school has met all compliance obligations and is working with DHHS and DET [Department of Education and Training] so we can have a successful start to term 2 on Monday 11 April.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 April 2016
