Stockbridge School Board
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JOINT SCHOOL BOARD / STOCKBRIDGE SCHOOL PTA
MEETING
21 MAY 2003 STOCKBRIDGE SCHOOL LIBRARY 7pm
1.Welcome and Apologies
PRESENT: Board members: John Burton (Chair) Jacqui Horsburgh (Head), and Anna
Beynon.
PTA: Jeanette Veitch (Chair) and Graham Bodenham
Staff: Sally Marshall, Bernadette McLaughlan
.
In Attendance: Susan MacInnes (Clerk to the Board) Michael Dixon (Local
Councillor for Stockbridge Ward)
Apologies: Jill Telfer and Alan Thomas.
A warm welcome was extended to Michael Dixon who introduced himself and
indicated that he would attend as many School Board meetings and other school
functions as he could. He had also agreed to become a Trustee of the Friends of
Stockbridge School.
2. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting on 26 February and 26 March 2003 were
agreed.
3. Matters Arising
JH advised that she had not received a letter from AT on the subject of the loss
of a teacher for the current P3 class. (3.1 from the last Board meeting
26/03/03). The Board was advised that AT had indicated that he still intended to
write formally on this point.
4. Review of Board's Objectives for 2002/03
Proposed Objectives for 2003/004.
JB explained that the main objective this session was to liaise with the PTA and
to promote monthly informal meetings to include subjects for more general
discussion. He admitted that there had been a lack of promotion although the
dates had been advised to the parent body in advance. The idea behind the
"Parents' Forum" was to attract more parents to the meetings of the
Board and PTA, but there had been a disappointing response.
There seemed to be no strong feelings in the general parent body about anything
in particular and those who came to the discussions and got involved were mainly
those who had already become members of the PTA and Board. JH suggested that if
the topics had been decided in advance then there might have been a better
attendance. People could have diarised ahead.
JB stated that he believed the Board's core functions as determined by the
legislation had been complied with even though the meetings had been held
jointly with the PTA.
There was then a discussion on the objectives of the Board for the next academic
session. JV made the point that PTA members were not interested in heavy
business meetings. This perspective contrasted with some Board members who had
felt that the meetings this past session had not been formal enough.
AB said that she felt that the Board meetings should be specific and short. GB
pointed out that traditionally there had been an overlap between the Board and
PTA and therefore the dual meetings had at least removed some of the
duplication. More sub-groups might be a way forward to deal with certain points
and allow the main meetings to be shorter. JB suggested that if the times of
meetings were staggered then this would allow people to make a choice to
participate in specific agenda items.
JH agreed that the feedback from the extended parent membership shows that most
people do not want to sit through heavy meetings. The timing of meetings
depended on the composition of the membership of the group - it might be more
convenient for some meetings to be held during school hours.
JB proposed therefore that one of the objectives ought to be to alter and
improve this current year's experiment with joint meetings but to adjust the
timings to separate the formal business items from the general discussion on
matters concerning the whole school.
With regards to the Parents Forum, AB said that she thought it was a good idea
but it had not really worked in practice. There was then a discussion as to how
this could be improved and it was suggested that extra flyers should be sent
home with the children immediately before the dates to encourage parents to
attend. There was a general feeling that it was necessary to keep trying to
attract more parents to the meetings, as it was important to get more people
involved in both the Board and the PTA, as some of the existing members even
rarely attend.
It was agreed that there had been no particularly big concerns to be dealt with
this year and that there was no current "burning" issue. However, JH
suggested that the school's annual road safety week could be tied in with the
proposed new City Centre Traffic plans. It was decided that another formal
objective for the next session would be a renewed emphasis on Safe Routes to
School.
5. Office Bearers
JB intimated that he would be standing down as Chair at the AGM but would
complete his term of office as an ordinary Board member until November 2003. [NB
Wilf Treasure is also due to retire as Vice-Chair at that date.]
JH explained that the parent body elects the Board (or the members are elected
by default if there are not enough nominations for a formal election) and then
the choice of office-bearers is up to the Board itself.
AB volunteered to take over as Chair and it had been intimated that AT had
agreed that he would be willing to be Vice-Chair if WT did not wish to carry on.
JB advised that the formal adoption of the new office bearers would be dealt
with at the AGM next month.
6. School Lets
These will be agreed between JH and the Chairs of the Board and PTA. An attempt
will be made to find the best split of meetings.
7. Correspondence Received.
· Sustrans
· Education Service update plan 02/03
· Council consultative Committee march 03
· School Budget for 02/03
· Request for update of current Board membership details
8. AOB
The final PTA event of the session was the annual summer fair to be held on
Saturday 7 June between 11am and 2 pm and it was hoped that there would be the
usual large turnout and support from the parents and children. This year there
is to be a Silent Auction.
9. AGM
This is to be held on Wednesday 11 June and there will be entertainment provided
by the P6 and P7 classes.
Susan E MacInnes (Clerk)
31 May 2003
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