Millions to be taken from schools
Millions of pounds is to be cut from schools' budgets in Walsall over the next two years to fund the rebuilding and refurbishment of run-down buildings.
Up to £4 million could be taken from nursery, primary and secondary schools in order to fund the Building Schools for the Future and Primary Capital Programmes. It had been proposed that £2 million per year be deducted for 2009/10 and 2010/11 to help cover the start of the programmes, but it is hoped this will be reduced to around £1.6 million.
It is also hoped that other sources of funding will be found to cover the cost.
Just five secondary schools will benefit from the initial Building Schools for the Future initiative. They are Alumwell Business and Enterprise College, Joseph Leckie Community Technology College and Pool Hayes Arts and Community school in Willenhall.
The other two schools which have met the criteria and will be wanting a transformation are Shire Oak Science College and The Streetly Specialist Sports College.
Despite the initial outlay it is hoped up to £700 million investment could be available to the council to be spent on education in the future.
The proposals are still at an early stage and the exact work and the amount of money to spent on the first wave of schools is still to be decided.
There are concerns some schools will suffer due to losing money form their budget. Walsall South MP Bruce George said: "The council have written to the school heads and informed them their budgets have been cut by a certain amount to top it up. Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul.
"It will mean some schools having their budgets cut which they just can't afford.
"It's an incredible amount of money for schools in our area and I welcome that but it seems grossly unfair for other schools to have their budgets cut."
A new primary school building is planned for Barcroft Primary in Willenhall.
