Baird’s two children were moved from the Bentleigh Secondary College zone into South Oakleigh’s when boundaries were shifted in 2022 for one of Melbourne’s most sought-after state secondary schools, McKinnon Secondary College. McKinnon is still geographically their closest school; South Oakleigh is their third.
McKinnon does not accept out-of-zone enrolments but she was ultimately given a place at Bentleigh Secondary, a 12-minute bike ride away. While Baird is relieved, she’s angry at the department’s response.“I don’t find them fit for purpose,” she said. “The standard response for two-and-a-half years is we know you’re disappointed. That’s not a disappointment. It’s about my children’s education and how they are going to get safely from school every day without exhausting their energy by 9am.
“Traffic and the transport system are crucial considerations for many when it comes to the liveability of where we reside and work,” he said.