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school mins
NORTH KESSOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER 2007 Present Helen Barton (chair & minutes) Hazel Henderson (head teacher) Ann Graves Graeme Lyon Susanna Leslie Apologies Lesley MacLachlan Julia Sinclair Alan McDiarmid Cllr. Isobel MacCallum Minutes of Meeting on 4 September 2007 The minutes of the meeting held 4 September were agreed as a true record by those present. All matters arising to be covered by agenda items. Setting up the Parent Council Helen updated new parents present on why the previous school Board had been disbanded in August due to new legislation. She outlined that all parents are now automatically members of a parent forum and the remit of the parent council that can be elected to represent them and to support the work of the school (including fundraising and other activities that previously had to be part of a separate PTA). It was noted that a working group consisting of staff and previous School Board members had drawn up a draft constitution over the summer, and that this had been circulated for broader consultation. The consultation exercise and previous open meeting had not resulted in any suggested changes, and the constitution had therefore been adopted at the last meeting. All parents had been invited to express an interest in being members of the new council over the last few weeks, and Helen went through the responses received. Council Membership The new parent council constitution requires a minimum of 3 and maximum of 8 parent members. The following parents had expressed a written or verbal interest in being council members: · Helen Barton (P4) · Ann Graves (P7) · Alan McDiarmid (P4) · Graeme Lyon (P1 + P4) · Susanna Leslie (Nursery (?) + P2) The four parents present plus Alan McDiarmid were therefore agreed as council members for 2007/08. (Helen noted that 2 other parents had expressed an earlier potential interest but had not submitted nomination forms and were not present at the meeting. It was agreed that further parents could be co-opted on during the year if they wished to join at a later date however). Ann & Helen also agreed to continue for the current year in the roles of Treasurer and Chair respectively. Miss Henderson advised that Julia Sinclair would continue to be the staff member of the Council for the current year. Miss Henderson will continue to attend meetings in an advisory capacity, but not as a full member. Helen noted that the council could also invite co-opted members from out-with the parent forum, providing parent members remain in the majority. It was agreed that links between the school and the broader North Kessock community were very important, and a discussion too place about how best to develop these. It was agreed that with the pending growth of the village with new housing development, there would be a lot of common interests between the Parent Council and the Community Council. It was agreed that Helen would therefore formally invite the Community Council to a co-opted place on the Parent Council. It was noted that we are now part of Black Isle Ward with 4 council members. However Councillor Isobel MacCallum has continued to take an active interest and should continue to be kept informed of and invited to attend future meetings. (Other members may want to attend from time to time). Helen advised that a number of parents had responded to say that they did not want to be formally involved with the parent council, but were interested in what was happening and / or willing to help out from time to time with other activities – in particular fundraising and social events. They include the following so far: · Evelyn Macdonald (P2, P4 & P6) · Catherine Chisholm (P1 & P4) · Emer & Bryan Beattie (P1 & P3) · Kirsteen Ferguson (P1) · Fiona Maclean (P2 & P3) · Elizabeth Ashburn (P5) Everyone agreed that this was a very encouraging response, and along with the council members, represented a good cross-section of families across the school. Priorities for the 2007/08 School Year Previous school board members outlined the types of activities that parents had previously been involved in helping the school with. Miss Henderson noted the success that the Board had in helping to raise the priority with The Highland Council of repairing the window sills, returfing the grass bank in the play ground and in getting reflective film fitted to the south facing windows in particular. Helen explained that in the latter part of the year, the main activity had been developing the structure for the new parent forum and council. Parent feedback from the September survey identified social activities, extra curricular activities and helping children with the curriculum. The following were therefore agreed as the key priority areas (in no particular order) for the coming year: i) School Building Miss Henderson explained that they are effectively tenants of the school building. The Education Department is therefore responsible for all external repairs apart from gutter clearing. The Head is responsible for all internal upkeep from within the capitation budget. The effect of the reflective film on the windows is still under review, as it was felt that due to the poor summer this year it has not yet been properly tested. Miss Henderson advised that some of the ventilation work and repairs to the sills are still to be completed. She will therefore continue to pursue the Education Department on these issues. The Parent Council hoped that this would be completed soon and asked to be kept informed of progress. ii) Growth of the village A long discussion took place about the possible implications of the new development likely to take place in the village in the near future. It is expected that once the new house building starts, there will be a sudden and significant increase in the current school role. Miss Henderson explained the rooms around class sizes, which are complicated depending when in the school year a child starts and consolidated classes etc. However, if there is a large intake, the rooms within the school currently used by the Nirsery classes and the Groove out of school club may be required, placing both facilities at risk of having to move. There was also concern about safe road crossing when traffic in the village and to the school increases. All agreed that having both groups within the main building was of huge benefit to the overall wellbeing of children in North Kessock. Finding out more about the implications of housing growth and having some influence in any proposals being developed was therefore agreed to be a key priority for the year. Helen agreed to contact the Head of Education at The Highland Council in the first instance to ask what the department’s plans are for the school to take account of the housing development. iii) Fundraising Miss Henderson explained the very limited budget available to the school. After salaries etc have been met, she has a budget of approximately £5,500 to cover all costs for the year, including some water costs, equipment and materials, books, paper, copying and transport costs. Buses to take all children to a performance in Fortrose costs approximately £200 for example. To make sure our children continue to have opportunities for a wide range of activities, fundraising is therefore always a priority! Miss Henderson advised that the staff were keen to run a ‘Totally Christmas’ event on 29 November, but asked if parents would be available to help out. Parents were sure this would be available, and thought the event was a good idea, particularly as social activities had been raised as a priority in feedback from the recent survey of all parents. It was thought hampers would be a good fundraiser again nearer Christmas, possibly at the annual nativity show. Miss Henderson will ask parents for donations in her monthly newsletter nearer the time. Graeme suggested the possibility of a ‘race night’. Talent Shows are always popular with the children, and the Pupil Council have suggested that parents should take part in the next one! Both of these to be taken forward as suggestions for the new year. Treasurers Report Ann confirmed that arrangements were in progress for opening the new accounts. There has been no change to the funds since her last report meantime. Correspondence Helen distributed copies of the latest edition of Backchat (the SPTC newsletter) Fortrose Bus for P7 Introduction Week Further discussion on this item was deferred until the next meeting Any Other Business No other business was raised Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held in the staff room at North Kessock Primary School on Tuesday 22 Januray at 7.30 pm. Meeting closed at 9.15 pm |
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