Yeshiva cooperating with government

YESHIVA College this week said it was hoping to reach an agreement with the Government over new proposals for how it should spend an $850,000 federal grant.

As reported in The AJN last week, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has launched an investigation into the school’s use of almost half those funds. The money had been awarded under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program, on condition it was spent within a specified time frame.

The school’s failure to do so prompted the DEEWR probe.

Insisting Yeshiva College was cooperating with the investigation, spokesperson Rebbetzin Pnina Feldman this week clarified an earlier statement in which she said much of the money had been spent and that she was reluctant to return it.

In total, the school was awarded $925,00 by the Federal Government.

“The first building project, for which a $75,000 government grant was given, has been successfully completed,” she said, adding that $183,000, including donations from the community, were used to build a library, computer room and resource room.

With regard to the second grant of $850,000, Rebbetzin Feldman said the school has so far received $425,000.

However, she explained that the original building proposal had to be postponed because a new energy substation is slated to be built close to the property and there are health concerns for students.

According to Rebbetzin Feldman, by the time their plans were suspended, costs had been incurred. “Significant monies have already been spent on excavation and foundation works for a new wing of classrooms,” she said.

She is now hoping an agreement can be reached with the Federal Government to extend the timeframe in which the funds can be used – in the event the substation is not built – or to use them for revised expansion plans.

“We are confident that goodwill will prevail and that as a result of the ongoing negotiations between the college, the Government departments responsible for the funding and EnergyAustralia, a solution can be found that will not disadvantage the students who desperately need new classroom space due to the college’s rapid expansion,” she said.

“The completion of that project has been delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. In the unlikely event that a solution is not found, Yeshiva will refund any monies that the Government requires.”

JOSHUA LEVI