Earlier this year Macksville Public School received a $3 million grant through the Federal Government’s Better Education Revolution Round II.

The school also plans to replace a demountable classroom with a more permanent structure.

Principal Glenn Thorncroft is delighted and looking forward to the project.

He said work had to be completed by 2011.

“So work should commence in coming months and progress through 2010,” Mr Thorncroft said.

He said the design for the new hall would accommodate the school’s entire student population, which numbers 410.

The canteen would be attached to the hall, and also would include a covered outdoor learning area.

The school had been using the undersized and old Macksville hospital building as a hall.

This ‘historic’ building would be retained by the school and used for other purposes.

Construction at Nambucca Heads Public School, funded under the same program, was already well underway, with students expected to begin to use the new facilities at the start of 2010.

The first bricks of the project were laid towards the end of last month on an assembly hall and performance area at the school.

Principal Les McMahon said the area would open up opportunities for drama nights at the school, full assemblies, gym activities and the community would be able to hire it out for public functions.

“It is going to be superb and open up a whole new sphere for music and performance,” he said.

“The one thing the school didn’t have was a hall.”

Under the stimulus funding package, worth about $2.1 million to the school, the school’s walkways would also be extended to join up with the new amenity.

The changes would also include parking facilities for staff, creating 18 new carparks.

Mr McMahon said it would take more cars off the street and create a safer area outside the school for parents to drop-off and pick-up students.

As a result of the changes, the netball court would have to be relocated to a spot near the existing sports shed.

Mr McMahon said the students were all very excited to see the new facilities take shape.