Derby District High School students and staff wave goodbye to old facilities as $20.9m rebuild begins

Derby District High School is about to undertake a massive redevelopment of its school grounds and facilities, costing $20.9 million. The redevelopment will include two new teaching blocks with STEM room spaces, a student services building, a new canteen, new toilets, showers and change rooms. Clontarf Academy, Girls Academy and the Shooting Stars program teaching areas will also be refurbished, with construction expected to be completed by January 2024. Derby District high School principal Eliot Money said the school was now moving into a period of intense building and redevelopment which was both exciting and a little daunting. “These buildings were built in 1964 and are tired and old, they’ve been repainted a thousand times and the base layer of paint was lead based, so you can imagine how they are starting to look,” he said. “The engineer went through the buildings and found evidence of concrete cancer, the roof was sloping and the staircases were starting to deteriorate to the point where concrete was cracking and splitting. “The new classrooms will be built using quality material, not asbestos, and things like air conditioning will be more reliable.” Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said the redevelopment project was one of her key election promises that she was now delivering on. “It is so important that local students in Derby can have access to world-class education close to home,” she said. “I am passionate about making sure our young people have the best facilities to learn in to help them succeed in their journey through school.” Mr Money said the new classrooms would be fantastic for Derby District High School students. “Our current classrooms are a half the normal size of a standard classroom so with these classrooms being quite a bit bigger, it gives the kids more room which is good for learning,” he said. “The kids are excited about the new building and what the classrooms will provide them but they’re most excited about the fact they’re getting brand spanking new toilets and change rooms. “The staff are also really excited about the classrooms themselves.” Norbuilt Pty Ltd will undertake the construction and refurbishment of the Derby District High School buildings and facilities.