School fire damage $7.5m

The State Government has estimated rebuilding costs at Newman Senior High School to reach $7.5 million after a fire tore through the building last October.

The figures, released in State Parliament earlier this month in response to questions by Labor Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Stephen Dawson, also showed the fire had damaged 13 rooms as well as staff and student toilets.

The damaged rooms included five general teaching classrooms, three science laboratories, one science and one mathematics staff office, a medical centre and two cleaning equipment storerooms.

Education Minister Peter Collier said plans for replacement buildings were being designed.

Construction was expected to begin at the end of 2015 and be completed in 2016.

Mr Collier also said the Education Department was considering improving the school's facilities as part of the rebuild.

"I understand the school has requested some improvements and that the department is looking at some options to see whether the improvements can be included in the rebuild program," he said.

News of the rebuild comes as welcome news to Newman staff, students and residents who were shocked last year when the blaze broke out just after lunchtime on a school day.

The blaze forced Years 8 to 11 students to move to substitute classrooms off the school grounds to continue their 2014 studies.