Lewis & Uist schools
So the decision was made about midnight last night.
Shut Back
Reprieve Lionel
Reprieve Shawbost
Then to reprieve all S1/S2 schools and determine if it was better to turn them into S1/S3 schools.
Effectively, this means the decided to tear up the entire policy and disavow something that has been under discussion for many years.
Some questions:
I've updated the title, because this presumably means that Paible and Daliburgh are also reprieved.
Shut Back
Reprieve Lionel
Reprieve Shawbost
Then to reprieve all S1/S2 schools and determine if it was better to turn them into S1/S3 schools.
Effectively, this means the decided to tear up the entire policy and disavow something that has been under discussion for many years.
Some questions:
Given that he said that the Education Minister "hadn't a clue", where does this leave the Director of Education?Now is the time to review, fully and with a clean slate, just how we intend to deliver education in the islands, and the impact this will have on all the services.
How does all this affect the new schools PFI scheme? (Answer, I think/hope it fatally undermines it, due to reductions in pupil numbers)
Where does this leave the Convener, who has responded to the demands of his constituents after lobbying, rather than leading on a major policy issue which affects the fundamental operation of Education policy in the islands?
Where is the money going to come from?
I've updated the title, because this presumably means that Paible and Daliburgh are also reprieved.
27 comments:
Uneconomic schools, population in decline, freezing old folk, no jobs, no income, politics in disarray; what a clever little island this is.
Well Angus you must be pleased you are not in amongst those spineless bunch of Prats.
This has got to be the worst council since CNES was formed. This will mean no new schools for Point the West Side and Uist.
If this is the kind of people we get elected using the STV voting system bring back the first past the post.
If it stops the long term financial disaster that is the PFI scheme, then this could be a blessing in disguise. Like the broadband situation, many residents - and most councillors - do not understand it and therefore don't realise the importance / seriousness of it.
Paying for something many times over, over several decades, is a bad move; a shady money lender in the back streets of Glasgow will give you better terms, conditions and APR.
Dearie me reminds me of the nursery rhyme "The Grand Old Duke of York"
Whether you are in favour of closing schools or not this episode makes Gordon Brown look decisive when compared to our collection of councillors.
And did I read that one abstained as there was a strong possibility that his vote would have been decisive!
And all this concerning EDUCATION the most important resource you can give an individual, the foundation for the future of our islands.
I despair!
And the Duke of York is of course our very own Curly who admirably fought of the threatened demise of S1/S2 at the beginning of this process (and had the support of the councillors with him) only to be bought off with the agreement that it be rolled out throughout the Western Isles. Now that the councillors voted on the Lewis schools last night he wants his ball back and the whole tumbled down like a pack of cards.
Yes it seems Kenny Maciver has certainly got it in for the convenor (what's the history to that?) and I have it on good authority there were plans afoot to hold a vote of no confidence in the convenor although I guess that didn't happen - or is that what it was all about?
The people of the Islands had the chance to vote in new blood but prefered the Old Guard hence you have the Talibun and Gin Queen plus Teflon Maclean to represent Harris.
The truth is an insular population has used neoptisum in its choice of political leaders rather than common sense and now we are paying the price off that.
ps
Should not the Talibun stand down over this as a matter of principle she was stabbed in the back by her team.
Methinks anon 12:18 is a disgruntled unsuccessful candidate for the Harris and South lochs Ward...
I understand Munro and Macdonald voted to close the S1/S2's while Maclean voted to retain them all. That seems like a good democratic balance, reflects the balance etc.
Whats homing in on Harris all councillors about ? Am I missing something ?
What does “laughing stock” mean?.
Well, well, well, what a turn up (or should that be turnip?) for the books. Couldn't have written the script for that one myself....
The Comhairle beggars belief at times, but it's surpassed itself on this occasion.
Harris is the centre of the universe don't you know!
I don't think reprieve is the right word.
Nobody has decided to keep any school open.
From my reading the decision that was made was to review the feasibility of S1/S3 schools. Now forgive me for being cynical, but I have a feeling that a CnES-employed consultant will determine all S1/S2 schools and any S1/S3 options unfeasible (Thankfully).
Would such a decision not ensure the swift closure of all these schools that have been given a "reprieve"?
Would it not be a wonderful idea to just employ consultants to represent the people rather than having Councillors who do not understand what they are being asked to vote on, or the consequences of their actions?
Consultants to represent the people. I wonder what they would recommend? A private teacher per pupil, a la carte lunches, taken to school on velvet lined sedan chairs. Please forgive the facitious nature of this post but really how unrealistic is this. We have collective responsibility to take the correct decisions for the whole of society. Of course there will always be single issues that will be the focus of vociferous lobbying but lines have to be drawn and resources allocated responsibly for the benefit of all, present and future.
It was pure theatre in there on Wednesday evening! Did you know that turncoat Coinneach (Mor) tried to request voting be done in private? There was nearly a riot amongst us the 'cheap seats'
The parents and campaigners much get together and compile their 'case' cos the 'inpedendent' consultant sure as guns wont be!!
Is there any truth in the rumour that the Council is to rebrand its corporate image with a new logo. It is to be in the shape of an oxo cube with silver braid around it and will be known as the laughing stock?
Councillors, never ever play poker with anyone.
....stick to snakes and ladders against young children.
if our councillors have been found to be unfit for purpose should they not be dismissed thats what happens in the real world of employment
For any sane reasonable person the option of a full review of education is the only way forward.
I despair that some of the gymnmasts who are masquerading as councillors are incapable of the joined up thinking required to take this "brave" and "innovative" step. If only they were as forward thinking as Donald Manford and co.
Donald Manford is the only one talking sence. A review of where schools should be and what kind of schools should be there is what is needed. No one should have mentioned ACfE to the councillors because they have misunderstood what its all about. The truth of the matter is ACfE can take place in any school - 2 year sec, 3 year sec 0r 6 year sec.
The amount of time Donald Manford spends in Angus' office makes me think that Angus is still running the SNP Group and setting their policy.
Manford for Convener and Angus to come out of retirement and become his Vice looking after the money.
RE anonymous 10.33am
It's not going to stop PFI. That was imposed by the government years ago. Although she was taken aback by being caught up in the announcements of S2 closures, I don't recall Ms Hislop saying "Don't be ridiculous, here's where you can get the money for all your schools". If that's your beef why arent you all campaigning in Holyrood and Westminister.
Instead you're prolonging the gravy train for consultants, lawyers etc.
And yes of course you're all happy to be paying BT ~£20/month for "up to 8MB" when you only get half that in town and you'll never get near it out of town and that's download only. What are our local tv & video companies going to do trying to upload at modem speeds?
God save us if Manford is the best we have to offer.
Oh, didn't you know maroot, they are typing up his name onto official documents as we speak!-P (insider)
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