Education Committee - 19/03/2001

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th March 2001.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost Helen WRIGHT

Joe FITZPATRICK

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

George REGAN

C D P FARQUHAR

John R LETFORD

Bruce D MACKIE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Betty WARD

Roderick A J WALLACE

Fiona M GRANT

Jill SHIMI

Kenneth J N GUILD

David BOWES

Robin PRESSWOOD

Derek J SCOTT

Mervyn J ROLFE

Richard BEATTIE

John CORRIGAN

Mr K ANDERSON

Andrew DAWSON

Iain M LUKE

Monsignor J CREEGAN

Allan PETRIE

Jim BARRIE

Mr E BAILLIE

Willie W SAWERS

Julia M STURROCK

Ms J SMITH

 

Neil GLEN

 

 

Councillor DE GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th February 2001 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I REQUEST FOR DEPUTATION

 

It was reported that a request had been received from St Margaret's RC Primary School Board for a deputation to be heard regarding a new school building.

 

The Committee agreed to hear the deputation:-

 

On behalf of the deputation Mr Vince Taylor, School Board Chairman and Mrs Margaret Walker presented a petition with over 1800 signatures in support for a new school building. They went on to address the Committee expressing concern that the existing building was now fifty years old and that because of the age of the building has led to problems with heating and general maintenance. However, despite the limitations of the building the school made a significant contribution to the local community and attained high academic achievements.

 

In this connection the Convener advised that whilst agreeing with what had been said there was not the finance available for a new school at present.

 

Thereafter having answered questions, the deputation was thanked for their attendance and withdrew to the public benches.

 

II MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 27TH AND 28TH FEBRUARY 2001

 

The minutes of the above meetings (Appendices I and II) were submitted for information.

 

III TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Report No 180-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

 

(i) ST LUKE'S AND ST MATTHEW'S PRIMARY SCHOOL - ROUGHCAST REPAIRS TO GYM WALL

 

The Committee approved acceptance of the offer under the Schedule of Rates which was received from Dundee Contract Services for Roughcast Repairs to the Gym Wall at St Luke's and St Matthew's Primary School for the sum of 13,800 together with allowances of 2,208.00 giving a total amount of 16,008.00.

 

IV HEALTH IMPROVEMENT FUND

 

There was submitted Report No 184-2001 by the Director of Education bringing to the Committee's attention successful bids for funding from the Health Improvement Fund administered by Tayside Health Board.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) note the successful bids; and

 

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to monitor the implementation of the associated projects and report progress to Committee as appropriate.

 

V MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT (EDU-01-342)

 

There was submitted Report No 185-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to accept a tender for the maintenance of physical education equipment for schools in Dundee and other sites in the former Tayside Region.

 

The Committee agreed to award the contract for the maintenance of physical education equipment for the period 1st April 2001 to 31st April 2003 to Kinder Sports Limited, 16 Cloberfield, Milngavie, Glasgow.

 

VI GRANT AID TO OUT OF SCHOOL CARE CLUBS

 

There was submitted Report No 190-2001 by the Director of Education seeking approval to award grants to a number of out of school care clubs in Dundee as noted in Appendix 2 of the report.

 

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report and approved the award of grants to out of school care clubs as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report.

 

VII EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP

 

There was submitted Report No 188-2001 by the Director of Education outlining details of the Education Department's response to the consultation paper "Education for Citizenship".

 

The Committee noted and approved the contents of the response to the consultation paper which was appended to the report, including the following amendments submitted by Mr E Baillie:-

 

Section 2.0: final bullet point

 

Add: "However, the implementation and development of the ideas contained within the paper is dependent on action at all levels within the Scottish education system; it cannot be progressed if it becomes simply a further imposition and burden on teachers."

 

Section 3.0: page 4 question

 

Insert after third sentence:

 

"This culture and ethos will require to be based on an awareness of the nature of power, the exercise of power and the power inequalities which exist in our society."

 

VIII ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN STARTING PRIMARY 1

 

There was submitted Report No 189-2001 by the Director of Education seeking Committee approval to consult parents and staff about reducing the part-time transition phase for children entering Primary 1.

 

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report and agreed to:-

 

(i) approve in principle the reduction of the part-time transition phase for children entering Primary 1;

 

(ii) remit the Director of Education to consult with parents and staff in primary and nursery schools to canvass opinions and views in relation to the above proposal; and

 

(iii) remit the Director of Education to bring a further report to the Education Committee in May 2001 to detail the outcome of the above consultation and to make recommendations thereon.

 

IX SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE - SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

 

It was reported that due to the resignation of Mr Filip Myzylowskyj as a School Board member of the School Attendance Sub-Committee, the Director of Support Services had sought nominations from School Boards in the City and that Ms Irene Shearer (Glebelands Primary School Board) and Mr Tom Connelly (St Ninian's RC Primary School Board) had indicated their willingness to serve on the School Attendance Sub-Committee.

 

The Committee were asked to note the appointments and along with the other two School Board representatives, the Clerk would arrange for attendance on a rota basis.

 

The Committee noted the appointment of Ms Irene Shearer and Mr Tom Connelly as School Board members of the School Attendance Sub-Committee and the arrangements for attendance.

 

X "CITIZENSHIP IN ACTION: INVOLVING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT"

 

It was reported that the above conference, organised by Children in Scotland and the Scottish Local Government Information Unit, was to take place in Edinburgh on Thursday, 26th April 2001 at a cost of 85.

 

The Committee were asked for their instructions regarding attendance.

 

The Committee approved the attendance of the Convener or nominee at the above conference on 26th April 2001.

 

CONFIDENTIAL ITEM

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the undernoted item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of information which is exempt in terms of paragraph 5 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

 

XI REQUEST FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

 

There was submitted Report No 187-2001 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee an application for the provision of education at home for a Dundee pupil of secondary school age.

 

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this report.

 

 

 

 

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.

APPENDIX I