Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday 3 February 2010

Minutes of meeting on Wednesday 3 February 2010


Attendees: Audrey Ross, Anne Williamson, Barbara, Tammy, Julie Moran, Debbie Innes,
Christine Fairbairn, Jeff McGhie, Lesley Malkin

Apologies: Vicky Carr, Avril Knox, Amanda Arkell, Michelle McArthur, Sherry Houlihan


■ Introduction/Welcome

Jeff thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.

■ School Refurbishment Plan

Lesley Malkin, Corporate Asset Manager, from Stirling Council came to speak to us about a future refurbishment of the school. The good news is that Cowie Primary School is the next priority for the financial year 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. Resources permitted, the Council hope to finish the refurbishment of the school so that they do not need to return to carry out further work again for years to come.

Lesley wanted to have some input from the parents who have children at the school, what things they would like to see improved. The main priorities mentioned were the gym/assembly hall which is too small for the size of the school and needs to be made a lot bigger with a staged area, dining room and kitchen area need modernised, condition of the upper classrooms which need to be updated in-line with the refurbishment of the nursery and P1-P3 classrooms. The general maintenance of the school was also discussed i.e. drainage, guttering, and the grounds outside. Lesley mentioned that the Grounds for Learning group should link in with her for any plans they have to improve the playground, in view of the future refurbishment of the school.

Lesley confirmed that our comments will form part of the refurbishment brief outlined for the school. An architect will be assigned to draw up plans which will be submitted to the planning department for planning permission and a building warrant. Hopefully, works will start soon afterwards. Lesley will keep the group updated with the progress of this. We also agreed that the works should be carried out with minimal disruption to the children and further discussions will need to take place to decide on how this will happen.

■ Amend and Approve minutes from last meeting on 18 November 2009

No amendments made and minutes approved.

■ Headteacher’s Report/Update

Attached for your information.

■ National Parental Involvement Event & Local Events

Jeff gave us details of the National Parental Involvement Event to be held at the Radisson Hotel in Edinburgh on 20 March 2010. Invitations were distributed. If you are interested in attending you should contact Mike Kincaid at mike@eltconsultants.co.uk by Friday 26 February. This event is an opportunity to find out how parents and staff are working together to get the best for children and young people.

Copies of the latest Parent Council Newsletter dated January 2010, were also handed out. A copy is available in the Parent Council Folder for anyone that was not at the meeting.

A half day event to be held by Stirling Council in March 2010 at the Raploch Campus was also mentioned (theme - keeping our children safe and will include issues such as bullying and internet safety). Further details will follow in the next school newsletter.

Action – Mrs Ross can you include brief details of the event to be held at the Raploch Campus in March in the next school newsletter, for parents who are interested in attending and want to book their place for this.

■ A.O.B

1. Anne suggested having an Easter Disco for the children, as the Valentine one did not go ahead this year. The date mentioned was Wednesday 31 March 2010.

Action – Julie agreed to ask Michelle if Gavin is available to do the disco on this date and then further arrangements can be made to organise this and communication done.

2. Art fund raising ideas were shown to the group to consider for the summer fayre at the school. Mrs Ross is keen for the Parent Council to be involved in this.

■ Date of Next Meeting

The date of our next meeting is Wednesday 21 April 2010 at 7pm in the school. Hope to see you all there. Please pass your agenda items to Julie Moran before this meeting! Mrs Ross can you please orgainse the let for this meeting.