Minutes of the AGM of Strathblane Primary School Parent Forum
Monday 22nd September 2008
Present:
Staff: Jennifer Cunningham, Morven Bulloch
Parent Council: Debbie Bolton, Charlie Haggerty, Fergus Mitchell, Cathie Moir, Gun Orgun, Bernd Schwahn, Andy Thompson
Parents: Beate Beck-Schwahn, Libby Brittain, Yvonne Brogan, Nicki Corrigan, Bridie Cowan, Derek Fabel, Elaine Holmes, Traci Leven, Val MacCorquodale, Jennie McCutcheon, Fiona Owens, Sheila Paterson, Anne Scott, Lesley Sherwood, Suzy Ure, Margaret Urquhart, Ruth Wilson, Bronagh Ewart (clerk to the Parent Council)
1.Welcome & Apologies
Andy Thompson opened the meeting and welcomed parents and staff. There were no apologies.
2.Approval of Parent Council Office Bearers
Each PC member introduced him/herself. The meeting approved Andy Thompson, Cathie Moir and Gun Orgun continuing in the roles of Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. Fergus Mitchell is stepping down from the role of Communications Officer. The PC wishes to appoint someone to this job of developing a communication strategy and all offers are welcome.
3.Introduction of the Teaching Staff Representatives
Jennifer Cunningham introduced herself as Head Teacher and advisor to the PC and Morven Bulloch as the representative for staff. Anne Spencer will also attend PC meetings as the representative for the pupils and the link between the PC and the Pupil Council.
4.Brief Outline of Role of Parent Council and Parent Forum
The PC was set up last year as a replacement for the School Board. It is fundamentally different in that it fulfils two functions – to be representative of parents and to encourage participation and involvement of parents. All meetings are open and its role is to give opportunities for parents to participate, to identify priorities and then progress these through working groups. Teachers are not members of the PC but are there to represent staff and pupils. The Parent Forum consists of all parents while the PC is a group of parents elected to serve for two years and accountable to the Parent Forum. Office bearers are confirmed each year at the AGM. The PC is now at the stage of setting out an action plan having already established the key priorities.
5.Brief Summary of Chair’s Report from 07/08
Every parent has already received a copy of the Chair’s report and it is also available on the PC website. Andy Thompson summarised the consultation process which received a 30% response from parents and resulted in 12 key issues forming the basis for this year’s action plan.
6.Approval of Accounts and Appointment of Auditor
Gun Orgun reported that the fundraising account has a balance of £3932.72 at present. After a successful year’s fundraising, donations were made to the school to help pay for books for the new reading scheme, buses for school trips and £5000 to fund the adventure trail in the playground. The meeting approved Malcolm Ferguson as the auditor and a copy of the audited accounts will be distributed along with the AGM minutes.
7.Approval of Strathblane Primary Fundraisers representative(s) on the PC
Whereas previously the School Board and PTA were separate organisations, under the new constitution parents asked for both these bodies to be brought together. Therefore a standing committee called Strathblane Primary Fundraisers has been set up. Sixteen people have expressed an interest to be involved with this and the first meeting will be on Tuesday 30th September. Cathie Moir will draft a letter inviting all those interested to attend. This group will largely self-organise and will nominate someone to represent them on the PC. There followed a time of discussion when concerns were raised about lack of communication between the PC, SPF, Greenheart, MUGA and other village organisations. All bodies will be fundraising and this needs to be co-ordinated to avoid clashes. Andy Thompson stated that the PC was aware of this co-ordination problem. There is a community diary in the library where future events from various organisations are listed. The community website could also be a useful tool in this respect. With regard to MUGA, fundraising will only begin in earnest once Greenheart is reaching its target for redeveloping the playpark. A local resident has volunteered to write a business plan for MUGA to get the process started.
8.Membership of a National Parent Organisation (including insurance cover)
The PC has joined the Scottish Parent Teacher Council. It costs £90 per annum and includes fully comprehensive liability insurance as well as advice on disclosure, liability and educational issues.
9.Outline and Discussion of Action Plan for the Year
An Action Plan has been drafted and working groups will be set up around the following five main areas:
Fundraising
Teacher-parent communications
Extra-curricular activities
MUGA/playground facilities
Healthy eating
These areas were discussed and issues arising included ensuring we had the correct procedures in place for extra-curricular activities i.e. disclosure, insurance, costing etc.
10.AOB
Concerns were raised as to whether the school had an effective policy in contacting parents if a child did not turn up at school. Andy Thompson agreed that the PC would take up this issue.
The new website is now operational – www.strathparentcouncil.org. Fergus Mitchell encouraged parents to submit email addresses in order to receive news and updates.
Parents were encouraged to sign up for working groups.
11.Calendar of Meetings for Year
It was suggested to have two meetings per term. The PC may have operational meetings with staff at other times and feedback to the main meetings for decision making. As Jennifer Cunningham will be leaving early November and Anne Spencer is ill this could delay decisions. The PC will be involved in the recruitment process for a new Head Teacher.
12.Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 18th November 7.30pm in the School
Andy Thompson closed the meeting, thanking everyone for coming.