Around 40 schools in the Wheatbelt will share in $7.1 million to address high priority maintenance works including Merredin College where asbestos-containing materials were found in surface soils across the primary and senior campus.
The funding, announced by the state government last week, will go towards maintenance items listed in Building Condition Assessments reports or identified minor works.
The biggest Wheatbelt winners were Merredin College, allocated more than $1 million and Northam Senior High School with more than $880,000.
Premier Mark McGowan said the statewide schools package would create 1260 jobs in regional WA including work for electricians, painters, plumbers, builders and carpenters.
"WA kids deserve to be learning in the best possible school facilities," he said.
"Sometimes it is the simple things that can make such a big difference in our schools.
"The major maintenance blitz means every public school will benefit across our state.
"It is a major investment that will create thousands of jobs for Western Australians."
Local agriculture region MP Laurie Graham welcomed the works within his jurisdiction.
"It's great to be part of a government investing in education and regional schools.
"This funding package will deliver much need maintenance, new facilities and amenity to schools, while at the same
time create local jobs for local tradespeople and businesses.
"Better schools and local jobs is a great outcome for regional students and local economies."
The funding announcement follows a report released by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in November last year identifying asbestos contamination on the surface of the school bus pick-up and drop-off zone.
DWER said remediation was required to reduce 'unacceptable risks to human health, the environment or environmental values' to acceptable levels.
An education department spokesperson said permanent fencing and signage had been installed around the affected areas, in consultation with the Department of Health .
"We will be undertaking any other requirements as advised by DWER," a spokesperson said.
"We will continue to take advice from experts on how best to manage these sites in the interests of staff and students."
Other local schools to receive funding include Avonvale education Support Centre, Avonvale Primary School, Bakers Hill Primary School, Meckering Primary School, Northam Primary School, West Northam Primary School and Wundowie Primary School.
