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school mins sept 08NORTH KESSOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
Helen Barton (chair) Apologies
These were confirmed as a true record of the previous meeting. Matters Arising Ventilation/Heat Issues Helen Barton advised she had not yet had the opportunity to contact the Highland Council with regard to the possibility of fire doors being opened to encourage movement of air. As the warm weather has now passed it was agreed this issue would be re-visited again next year. Bellfield Housing Development Helen Barton is to contact Highland Council to ascertain if any proposed start date for construction and timescales for building have been confirmed and up-date the Parent Council in due course. Energy Costs At the previous meeting held in June, Ian Mackenzie advised he would look into solar power energy as an alternative heating option for the school. Miss Henderson advised she would find out the school’s heating and advise him in due course. This matter will be looked into further at a future meeting. Head Teacher’s Report Miss Henderson advised that at the end of the summer term, 98 pupils was the current school role for 2008. However when this was reviewed in mid-September, the role had dropped to 94. This has resulted in Highland Council advising that the school will require to reduce its’ teaching staff from 5 to 4, as 97 pupils is the minimum number required to have 5 teachers. Miss Henderson has been liaising with Mr John Ritchie, the Area Education Manager, who has confirmed that the reduction of teaching staff will take place prior to the start of the next school term following the October break. The implications of this ruling are as follows: - The probationer teacher will be retained as she is on a fixed term contract. A volunteer will be requested from the remaining 3 full-time teaching staff to re-locate to another school. If no volunteer is forthcoming length of service will be taken into account with the member with the shortest length of service being re-located.
-2- There are currently 5 classes in the school: - P1/2 20 pupils Total 94 pupils The implementation of the staff reduction will result in the following classes being formed: - P1/2 24 pupils Total 94 pupils The proposed changes were met with concern due to the introduction of multi-composite classes; subsequent disruption of all classes during the school year and the uncertainty and distress likely to be caused to teaching staff. Helen Barton advised she would contact John Ritchie to ask him to meet with the Parent Council and Forum as a matter of urgency to discuss these proposals. Local councillors and the ward manager are to be contacted to ascertain their opinions and Brora Primary School should be contacted to ascertain how the dealt with a similar situation enforced on them last year due to a falling school role.
Culbokie Primary School had written to a number of Parent Councils re the impending loss of the Highland Council library service. At the previous Parent Council meeting held on 2nd June, it was agreed that North Kessock Parent Council would provide lobbying support to Culbokie. Helen advised she is still to contact Culbokie in this respect to ascertain who they have been in touch with and what steps they are going to take.
The fund raising account has a current balance of £841.65. The Parent Council account has a current balance of £70.00. £150 is to be gifted to the Pupil Council from Knockbain Community Council and £100 should still be available from the Highland Council Discretionary fund once a project has been agreed on. Anne Graves has now handed over all the paperwork to Graeme Lyon and Graeme will take on the role of treasurer with immediate effect. Three new cheque signatories have to be authorised and these will be Helen Barton, Graeme Lyon and Lesley Mac Lachlan. Graeme will deal with the paperwork in this respect.
It was agreed that Parent Council would fund the Historic Scotland educational trips transport costs during the school year, which would allow the pupils to visit Urquhart Castle, Fort George and Culloden Battlefield. Parents will be asked to pay for the Historic Scotland element of the trips, which works out at £2 per child.
Scottish Parent Teacher Council Insurance is due for renewal. Lesley MacLachlan will compare the existing Parent Councils Scheme insurance cover arranged via the Highland Council policy to ensure sufficient cover is in place and confirm SPTC insurance will not be required.
Graeme Lyon advised that the mail order bulb scheme for schools had been reasonably successful. The final profit made by the school was £110.53 and the school received 160 free bulbs for planting. Graeme advised that he and Susannah Leslie had been talking about other fund raising opportunities. One suggestion was the sale of tea towels, which have self-portraits of the nursery and school children. A total cost of £250.00 is estimated to cover production, layout and carriage costs including VAT. If tea towels were sold for between £3 - £4 and 100 were sold, a profit of £100 - £150 is anticipated. Ian Mackenzie advised he would source a sponsor for the production costs of manufacturing the tea towels to maximise any profit earned from this initiative. It is proposed to hold a Cookery Demonstration evening on 25th November 2008, as this event was well supported last year. Home baking will be for sale and a raffle will also take place on this evening. Future fund-raising activities being considered are a race night and fashion show.
This being all the business to be discussed the meeting closed. Helen Barton will liaise with John Ritchie to request his attendance at the next meeting and a date will be agreed after the October holidays. (11th NOVEMBER)
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