Schools at risk in council cuts

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 9 Dec 2010 09:30 10 Comments

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Council leader Sam Ovens says all options are being considered.

SEVERAL schools and nurseries across the county could be in line for merger or closure as the council seeks to make savings.

No names have been announced but the Advertiser understands that moves are being made to reduce the number of school buildings in the council's portfolio.

The plans have been strengthened by the recent budget engagement process which revealed 74 per cent of respondents preferred a cull of schools rather than cuts across the entire sector.

Asked whether the council should "take action to address the low occupancy in some of our schools", three out of four respondents said 'yes'.

They also agreed that nurseries should be merged with neighbouring primary schools to "ease transition".

Deerpark, Tillicoultry, Park, St Bernadette's and St Mungo's primary school have already been flagged for operating with fewer pupils than the government-recommended limit of 60 per cent of maximum capacity.

Clackmannanshire Council's five-year property management programme also recommends Sauchie Nursery be demolished – with nursery provision moved to a nearby school – and Tower Nursery combine with Park Primary, a move estimated to cost £180,000.

Council leader Sam Ovens confirmed the local authority preferred the closure of buildings to cutting budgets and that officers were "looking carefully" at the options available.

He said, "Both the results of our budget engagement and our own asset management planning show that bringing primary schools and some nurseries together is an option that could save property costs in some cases, while retaining high quality learning and teaching.

"We would prefer to save costs on buildings rather than cutting funding for staff and supplies.

"Everything is on the table at the moment and we are looking carefully at which cases might be viable.

"There is extensive legislation in place around school closures and mergers, so any decision taken would be subject to statutory consultation with and input from parents, pupils and teachers."

With the two denominational schools highlighted for operating well below their capacity there is the possibility that Catholic school provision in the county could be scrapped completely.

Father Michael Milton, of St Mungo's RC Church, said the closure of any school was "bad news".

He said, "It's bad to lose any school, Catholic or not, unless they are offering something out of this world in return, which I haven't seen.

"As far as I'm concerned all schools are just as important for the youth in this area."

He added that any change to Catholic provision would have to be discussed with the local diocese and the Scottish Parliament.

The council received around 1000 comments from residents and staff during the engagement process and is analysing which responses could deliver savings.

In an accompanying statement on Clacksweb, the authority admits that in the difficult economic climate "some of the decisions will not be welcomed but are necessary to provide a balanced budget".

By mid-December further results and analysis will be made available, showing some of the areas being considered.

Other results of the engagement process:

Would you be prepared to see more wild habitat areas created in parks and open spaces, reducing the frequency of grass cutting? Yes – 296 yes, No – 261.

Should we reduce capital projects and just maintain the buildings we need to their current standard? Yes – 382, No – 164.

Would you be prepared to accept services from a private sector provider? Yes – 267, No – 248.

Could some community halls be better owned or managed by the voluntary groups who use them? Yes – 338, No – 207.

This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 08 Dec 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

redhopi
28 posts
Dec 9, 21:26
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Interesting how Sam Ovens and his colleasgues are happy to close schools etc in what they say is an effort to save money. This, from the same ones that have got us supposedly over £120 million in debt.

Maybe we should be told the truth about these debts, where and how they were incurred, and also if there are any 'hidden' debts that we have not been informed about, before they start closing places.

Of course, the councillors will make certain that they are OK and to blazes with what the public think.

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James White
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Dec 10, 09:24
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Think you will find this wont happen anytime soon and be put on the back burner as council elections are due soon and what party wants to be associated with School Closures when your own position will be jeopardised. The people running this authority are in my opinion not fit for purpose.

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hipdropshimmy
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Dec 10, 11:04
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congratulations clacks council it seems to me like once again there have been very important and disruptive decision being made without thinking with any regard for those it concerns!

our childrens education is very important however their happiness is paramount!

some children find change extremely stressful and to take these children and move them into an unfamiliar environment could harm them for life. i know this might sound extreme but it is not.

it has not been forgotten, that this same council allowed the closure of the catholic secondary school, and now the heads of two primary school are on the chopping block once again.

st bernadette's has values you will not find anywhere else, it is unique as it has a great sense of community. the teaching staff is second to none and if it came to the crunch i would home school, however children need to interact with others.

there has to be more we can do as parents , as a community and as a council!!

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redhopi
28 posts
Dec 10, 22:09
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Interesting to know who were given these questionnaires, as I have never seen one, and have not heard of anyone who has seen or received one.

Is this another case of figures not adding up or, were the only ones to get these forms specially chosen'?

Before any school or establishment that we are paying for is closed/amalgamated, it is time to let us know ALL the council debts and how they were accrued, and why they were not picked up by the auditors. After all, we are expected to take all these closures/amalgamations without so much as clear information, so time this council came clean with us. though, to date we have had very little honestly from this lot.

Oh yes, I believe I read that Councillor Holden is all for a reduction in councillors, and the uniting with Stirling Council - there is another council with problems; and he wants us to go with a very unsatisfactory council? - OK for him, he has got himself a very nice earner with Forth Valley Health Board, complete with car, so he is ok. I also believe that he is stepping down at the next election, so it will not bother him how many councillors there are here. He has had his share of what was going. Another who will not be missed.

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Margaret
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Dec 12, 11:03
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I think it's an excellent idea!! Close those schools who let's face it, have never worked at full capacity. The council can save £ squillions in the long term by reducing Teachers, Classroom assistants, Janitorial staff, Maintenance etc etc. What's the point of keeping schools/nurseries open simply because of the romantic idea that they've been there for centuries. As for the scrapping of denominational schools, again I'm all for it. Interestingly, the same one's who want to save their religiously biased schools, are probably the same people who would be first to scrap other denominational schools that don't meet their bigoted views.

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Susie
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Dec 13, 17:58
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I think the Council will find they cannot close the Catholic schools - the right of Catholics to educate their children in Catholic schools is law.

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StevieG
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Dec 15, 23:34
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It may also be an idea to look at smaller schools such as Fishcross and Muckhart. I would imagine they are costly to run and maintain. I've even heard that Muckhart pupils are mainly from outwith the Clacks Council area and travel in to the area to go to school. Shouldn't Perth & Kinross be contributing or do they already? Couldn't they attend Strathdevon in Dollar if this is true? Just wondering ......

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fraser
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Jan 2, 11:10
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well said stevie g.! Fishcross, Muckhart are two that need serious looking at. also agree with th epeeps who mentioned the denominational schools. god, it is the 21st century we live in we are supposed to be a diverse and tolerant nation yet we still insist on discriminating in education???? get real.

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dodge watcher
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Jan 7, 02:38
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Yes, but Clacks council has a reputation for closing Catholic schools. I recall my parents in the 1970's suggesting the council was "run" by "masons" and "orangemen", and it seems that it is still prevalent today.

It's 2011, is it not time the "old school" (pardon the pun) was removed from local politics? I for one will go to the Scottish parliament on this matter, and I will also bring it to the attention of Scotlands MSP's that Sectarianism may well be prevalent in Clacks council. (Local history tells the story)

Perhaps if they stopped wasting OUR money on stupid statues in the high street and on roundabouts throughout the county, school closures would not be on the agenda.

Is it not time for the people of Clackmannanshire to call upon the services of the audit commission, or perhaps the local government ombudsman to investigate just how Clacks council goes about spending OUR money. Remember the £2 million odd shortfall in their budget?

Yeah sure, but it's ok for council bosses to hire "their partners" as consultants isn't it?

It's at times like this I really wish I didn't live in the wee county. The council is pathetic.

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local catholic
Unregistered User
Jan 19, 19:55
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Why is it every time that the media hear that there will be school closures, they automatically assume that it should be catholic schools that are the target. When you look at the ethos of Catholic schools they give every child a good moral grounding for life. They produce the best results in the area and it is time that the fear that people have of catholics and their schools is let go

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