A further 17 state schools in northern Queensland, including the Townsville campus of the Queensland Pathways State College, will re-open tomorrow , Communities Minister Coralee O'Rourke and Education Minister Grace Grace announced today.
This takes the total number of schools that have re-opened since the flooding emergency to 40.
The 17 schools re-opening tomorrow are: Aitkenvale State School; Belgian Gardens State School; Bohlevale State School; Cranbrook State School; Giru State School; Homestead State School; Kalamia State School; Kelso State School; Magnetic Island State School; Mount Fox State School; Pimlico State High School; Prairie State School; Queensland Pathways State College; Rasmussen State School; Weir State School; Woodstock State School; and Wulguru State School.
Ms O'Rourke said this number could change depending on the progress of the clean-up and the completion of ongoing safety assessments.
She said the Education Department had set up a dedicated webpage for parents to check when their children's school was expected to re-open.
This website also contains useful information about the funding assistance program that is available for students, parents and teachers. The website can be found at https://qed.qld.gov.au/schoolfloodassistance
"The Education Department is continuing to work with individual schools and other Government agencies to ensure as many schools as possible are able to re-open this week," Ms O'Rourke said.
"We only want schools to open if it is safe to do so and that will depend on the results of a comprehensive safety and operational assessment.
"Parents should keep checking the website to see the schedule of projected opening dates."
Ms Grace said she wanted to thank all those involved in the clean up as well as regional staff who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes.
"It has been an amazing effort by all of our hard working staff in North Queensland," Ms Grace said.
"Many of our staff have been personally impacted by this flood event and yet they turn up to work day after day to help schools get back up on their feet."
"I can't thank them enough."
She said she also wanted to thank the Australian Defence Force which deployed up to 90 soldiers to assist in the clean up at six state schools - Bohlevale, Mundingburra, Rasmussen, The Willows and Wulguru state schools, and Heatley Secondary College.
"There is still more work to be done on the ground but we are doing everything that we can to get schools back to the business of teaching and learning," she said.
