Franklin Early Childhood School (FECS) opened in 2013 as an early childhood schooling option for Gungahlin children. Early Childhood Schools in Canberra are not intended to have priority enrolment areas, however due to enrolment pressure on surrounding schools, FECS is now operating almost exclusively for Franklin residents only. This means that residents of other Gungahlin suburbs no longer have an early childhood schooling option and residents of Franklin have a primary school that continues only to year two. This does not meet either the needs of the Gungahlin region or the needs of Franklin residents. The Public Housing Renewal Taskforce has plans to develop 29 two-bedroom apartments on one of two sites - either directly behind the school, or inbetween the school and the new Franklin Recreation Park. There has been minimal consultation with the community.  The implications of using the land surrounding FECS for anything other than educational purposes will have a direct effect on the residents of Franklin, the surrounding suburbs and their schooling choices. It has an effect on both private and public education systems. This land had previously been zoned for community use. We have been lobbying to keep the same early childhood model, but to use the surrounding land to cater for years 3-6.  This provides a solution to Franklin residents, the Gungahlin region and also takes enrolment pressure of neighbouring schools, providing more schooling options for our children. Sign the petition to stop housing development on land surrounding FECS and in support of quality public education and the need to reduce enrolment pressure on all schools in the Gungahlin region.