A high school in the NSW far west will be demolished after it was closed in January because of a severe mould outbreak. Students have been attending classes at other locations.
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00:00 It's not how Williama High was expecting to mark its 50th anniversary.
00:07 A decision was made and has been accepted by the Deputy Premier, Minister for Education
00:13 that the school will be demolished and rebuilt.
00:16 A severe mould infestation was discovered at the school two months ago.
00:21 A hygienist has concluded the building would have to be stripped completely to be safe
00:25 again.
00:26 Even with all of the remediation that had been recommended, unless we were to resolve
00:31 everything entirely, the recurrence of mould growth is likely.
00:36 I mean it's definitely a less than ideal situation that we're in because of a breakout
00:40 of mould that no one expected to happen.
00:43 Disease causing pathogens, asbestos and lead paint were also found.
00:49 Williama students and teachers have been spread across three different schools since the start
00:53 of the year.
00:54 Soon, all of them will be based in temporary classrooms at Broken Hill High.
00:59 The education outcomes for the Broken Hill side is also greatly affected by having an
01:04 additional 600 odd students at that school.
01:08 It's going to be so much more frustrating getting around the new school where we could
01:16 have just went there in the first place.
01:18 It's not yet clear how long they'll be here.
01:20 By the time it gets rebuilt, I'll be old and mouldy just like the school.
01:25 There were initial concerns that Williama would be merged with Broken Hill High, but
01:30 the state government has assured staff and students that there will continue to be two
01:34 separate high schools.
01:36 And I really hope that today's announcement can put that to bed, can allay some of those
01:41 fears and that anxiety.
01:43 Consultation with staff and students will begin in coming weeks.
01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]