Queensland schools devastated by floods reopen for school term

Six schools destroyed by Queensland’s February flood crisis have reopened to students with new renovations, as thousands of children return to classrooms.

In the state’s south east, 2000 students returned today to newly refurbished facilities at Milpera, Aviation High School, Milton, One Mile, St Helens and Rocklea State School after the schools were devastated by floods.

At Rocklea State School, two buildings were so damaged they had to be demolished.

“Rocklea, they are rocking they have new buildings and infrastructure,” education minister Grace Grace said.

Principal Paul Zernike from Milton State School said the floods had destroyed four of their buildings.

“All of this area was flooded we had to replace all the artificial glass,” he said.

“The pool was underwater we had many classrooms, tuckshop, uniform shop, outside hours care facility.”

Repairs for these schools cost the state $5 million.

The government has also successfully installed air-conditioning in each classroom of all 649 schools around the state, a goal which has taken seven years and cost $477 million.

“More than 10,000 classrooms, libraries and staff rooms,” deputy premier Steven Miles said.

“Many schools required electrical upgrades.”

Wavell State High School principal Liz Foster said the new installments would make a huge difference in classrooms.

“Enormous difference, I think that we know most classrooms, you put 20, 25, 28 bodies, the temperature increases dramatically,” she said.

An extra 80,000 solar panels will also be installed to reduce emissions from the additional air conditioning units.

The panels will all be installed by June.

“They’re used when the sun is shining, and when it’s not, schools out,” Ms Grace said.