Special Education in Stawell commenced with the opening of the Pleasant Creek Special School on the grounds of the Pleasant Creek training Centre on March 20th 1937. The Special School transferred to the present location in Skene Street in 1994 with 7 students. Mr Frank Stokes Principal from 1990 to July 2000 had the foresight to plan for the future of Special Education in Stawell. He saw that by moving into the Old Support Centre in Skene Street, Stawell would be able to provide Specialist Education for students in the Stawell and Ararat districts. From this time in 1994 we now have this wonderful school complex. As the student population increased portable classrooms were added to the house at 13 Skene Street. In 2007 there were 3 Mod 5 buildings and 1 Mod 7 accommodating 37 students. In 2001 Mr John Read was appointed Principal. Student numbers were rising and it was evident that to house this increase and keep improving the school and what it could offer to the Stawell and Ararat districts, the school would need a redevelopment. At this stage Stawell Technical School was vacant and in bad disrepair. The site of the Trade Wings would make an ideal site for the construction of a purpose built Specialist School. John along with the School Council President Mr Graeme Anyon began the negotiations for a new school. In 2006 the school was chosen to be part of the Building Futures Program. After many meetings and trips to Ballarat and Melbourne the planning resulted in gaining State Government funding through the Building Futures program. The staff and School Council assisted John in the planning of a purpose built school. In the beginning of 2007 it was announced that a new school would be built. In July of that year John Read retired and Robyn Anyon was appointed Principal. At the commencement of the 2008 school year, the portable buildings were moved onto the school oval. During the next 3 years the trade wings of the former Technical School were demolished and the new purpose built school was built. Students and staff moved into the new school in January 2011. |
