RDMS Parent Council Meeting - Minutes

Monday 13th June 2011

In attendance:, Julie Livingstone, John Flood, Gillian Rattray, Councillor Lewis Simpson, Hamish Bell, Suzanne Westwood, Dugald Campbell, Carol Rose, Laura Millers, Moyra Murray, Mary Dodds, Lynsey Blackburn, Susan Brown, Simon O'Loughlin, Kate Ramsay, Rosie Vallance Apologies: Claire Waite, David Shackles, Jacky Moss, Gill Amatt, Avril Turner

WELCOME

Julie Livingstone welcomed everyone to the AGM. REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING Amendment to the date of sports day minuted from previous meeting - P4-7 Tuesday 14th June. Amendment to listing of apologies - Mary Dodds was actually present.

TREASURERS REPORT

Gillian Rattray produced a breakdown of parent council accounts (income and expenditure for academic year 2010/11 - as at 13th May 2011) - see separate attachment. GR thanked Elaine Mudie for auditing the accounts. GR feared that the coming year may not be as successful in terms of profit as there is not the same level of events as the previous year. GR confirmed that the monies in the Parent Council account were £761 (cash box and bank) at the year end although there were still some outstanding invoices that would reduce this. i.e. P7 leaving gift, sport trophies, web-hosting and ice lollies were still to "come off the surplus". DFC asked for clarification on profit of tea towels and mugs from the summer fair. GR confirmed that whilst the tea towels made a profit, a loss was made on the mugs and that, with hindsight, the Parent Council should have charged more for them. JL suggested that the PC donate surplus mugs to Robert Douglas Memorial Home and the school. This was agreed. It was noted for future events that tea towels were very popular and made a profit. DFC congratulated the success of the summer fair.

STAFFING

Dugald Campbell (DFC) announced that RDM school staffing was still not finalised for the start of the new term in August. DFC confirmed that teaching staff would be at the same level as last year and that COSLA/ Union/ Local Government had agreed to maintain numbers. DFC confirmed that there would be 14 class teachers (outwith the management team) including 1 probationer. Fiona Whittet is still on maternity leave and Mrs Smith is acting DHT in her place. Supply cover is still to be finalised. DFC went to let the group know that Mrs Gellatly would be on maternity leave after the summer and another post (formerly held by Miss Devlin) would need to be filled. DFC announced that more would be known on Wednesday 15th June 2011 when a meeting regarding the school staffing structure would take place. DFC went to say that RDM is waiting on finalisation for the support for learning assistants (also to be confirmed 15/06/11). DFC continued that because of the restrictions to school budgets the school would not have an E.C.P. (Early Childhood Practitioner) for Early Years mainstream support. DFC conceded that this would be a "big miss" for P1 + P2. DFC confirmed that on Thursday 16th June ["moving up day"] not all teachers would be in place. DFC announced that the Authority was looking at the restructuring of additional support needs in schools and are looking to appoint a number of additional support teachers. DFC announced that it would not be a D.H.T. in charge of the Autistic Base but a Principle Teacher would be appointed to replace Mrs MacDonald when she retires. DFC announced that Gordon Burns would be retiring and Mrs Mackie would be going on maternity leave - both in October. JL asked if any S.L.A.'s (Support Learning Assistants) would be recruited for E.C.P.'s. DFC replied that there would not be as it is calculated as a return for the number of pupils that need support. DFC acknowledged that Perth & Kinross were "still doing pretty well" regards staffing of nursery and support staff. Cllr Simpson agreed that with Perth & Kinross schools being near capacity there was an advantage when staffing was on the agenda. DFC announced also that RDM was among a group of 4 schools who would receive additional provision in the form of a teacher and set up costs for a "Nurture Base". This base would be for children who require support outwith the normal curriculum and the teacher would be shared. DFC finally confirmed that he would be back permanently in August. This was greeted warmly by the group.

SCHOOL WORKS UPDATE

DFC announced that the resurfacing of the entire playground was high on the agenda and that a company were currently looking at the prospect of agreeing a 3 year plan to resurface. DFC went on to say that before work could begin an assessment of the drainage system would be done by the same company. DFC also announced that the (fenced) nursery area was likely to be improved as part of this plan. DFC announced that the current libraries in school would be consolidated into one and would be situated in the G.P. room. DFC said the room for the Nurture Base was still to be decided. HB requested an update on the road markings and barriers at the new gate as this was an ongoing agenda point. LS said that there may have been some confusion regarding this point as the barrier that was erected was done so inside the school grounds and that the "Safer Routes For School" organisation still had to let the school know their findings regarding child safety in that area. LS offered to find out more on behalf of the group. It was agreed that it was a Parent Council concern and that the barrier was possibly in the wrong place. LS revisited the earlier point regarding the resurfacing of the playground and asked if 3 years was a reasonable timescale to expect the work to be done. LS asked if, indeed, this task could be completed sooner. DFC offered to convey the concern at a forthcoming meeting, although conceded that it may be due to Authority budgets that these jobs are "phased".

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE

JL announced that the recent voting form given to parents (via school bags) to elect a new RDM Parent Council Chairperson returned ZERO nominations and asked the group if anyone present wished to nominate someone for the post of Chairperson. No nominations were forthcoming. In the absence of any nominations for Chairperson, JL nominated herself for the post of continuing Chairperson. This was seconded by John Flood. Chairperson - Julie Livingstone The following committee members were then nominated, (seconded in brackets) and confirmed without objection. Vice Chairperson - John Flood (Gillian Rattray) Treasurer - Gillian Rattray (Suzanne Westwood) Secretary - Mary Dodds (Julie Livingstone) DFC wanted to say a word of thanks to outgoing secretary Claire Waite for her efforts in the role. DFC also congratulated the Parent Council for their efforts this year.

MEETING DATES

JL asked the group if a Monday night meeting was still the preferred day for the Parent Council to meet. DFC announced that preferred janitorial cover for RDM means that after school activities should be on either a Monday or a Thursday. It was agreed that Monday was still the preferred meeting day. The following Parent Council meeting dates were confirmed for the following term. 29th August 2011 31st October 2011 5th December 2011 30th January 2012 19th March 2012 14th May 2012 18th June 2012 DFC announced that in February 2012 the school would be closed the following days. Wednesday 15th February 2012 (in service) Thursday 16th February 2012 Friday 17th February 2012

AOB

Cllr Simpson thanked everybody on the Parent Council for their efforts in the past year but made the suggestion that the Parent Council "constitution" may be worth looking at so that a committee members should 'serve' a maximum of 2 years (with the option of being re-elected). This may help with succession and the election of the committee. It was agreed that a review of the Parent Council constitution should be on the agenda for a future meeting. JL raised the point of the current Parent Council website and invited the group to discuss whether there was still the need to have a separate Parent Council website and how best it could serve the needs of the PC. The concern was that access to edit the website had to go through a third party (Moss Design Associates) and that the Parent Council committee may wish to administrate/ update it more readily. It was agreed that, while a new annual membership renewal would be paid to Moss Design Associates of £54, this issue would be raised at a future meeting. HB suggested that the RDM school website be the host page and the Parent Council page be part of the school site. This is to be discussed at the first meeting of the new academic year.

MEETING CLOSED 8.10pm

NEXT MEETING 29th August 2011 Minutes taken by John Flood (Vice Chairperson) Amended by Julie Livingstone (Chairperson)