Minutes of School Council Meeting - Fort Street High School

Minutes of School Council Meeting
Wednesday 3 August 2011
Fortian Room 6.00pm
1. Welcome and Apologies
Tom Hubble
Chair
Ros Moxham
Principal
David Osland
Staff Representative
Janice Eastment Staff Representative
John Ockwell
Staff Representative
Arlo Beaumont-Edmonds Student Representative
Don Newby
Fortians Union/Foundation Representative
Denice Smith
Fortians Union President
Kathy Esson
Parent Representative
Jules Davies
Executive Officer
Apologies were received from Charlotte Taylor, John Melville, Tanya
Anhtuan. Tom welcomed Denice Smith, Fortians Union President.
Tom announced that he will be stepping down as Chair at the end of this
year.
2. Confirmation of Previous Minutes
The minutes from 1 June were confirmed.
3. Correspondence
None
4. Speech Day survey results
David distributed copies of the survey results for the Speech Day awards. The
response has been good with more than 310 students, 33 staff and 179 parents.
The results have also been broken down into year groups.
As these results have only just been compiled, Ros suggested that the Council
have a look at these results in preparation for a discussion at the September
meeting. Ros and David will be able to prepare a summary and comments for
the September meeting also. David will forward an electronic copy to Jules to
distribute to Council representatives not present.
5. Aircraft Noise update
Ros reported that we now have a new roof on the Rowe building and there were
no leaks during the recent wet weather. Unfortunately there were many other
leaks elsewhere in the school. The acoustic paneling and the old gas heaters in
the Hall have been removed. The new acoustic system hasn’t been tested
properly yet. There are a few minor adjustments around the school being made
where needed.
The fascia board on Wilkins has been replaced and the pigeons have been
removed successfully.
The food technology department have been out of their rooms for about 3 weeks
while the insulation work continues.
Next term the builders will concentrate on fixing defects and preparing to reroof
the Hall and put in a new ceiling in the Rowe staffroom. Work is going well and it
looks as if all work will be completed by the deadline of June 2012. The biggest

delay has been with air conditioning parts coming from Japan. The feedback
from the students doing exams in the Hall has been very positive.
The biggest issue next term will be where to house the displaced staff from the
Rowe staffroom after 9 December when the Hall and the Rowe staffroom are out
of action. The plan at the moment is to relocate staff into K13, which has 30
computers, and perhaps another computer lab.
Ros stressed that the impact on staff and students during insulation work this
term shouldn’t be underestimated.
At the last meeting the School Council supported Ros’s request to release funds
from the building fund to refurbish a second science laboratory. We are still
waiting for a final quote for the work. It has been brought to our attention
however that in order for us to comply with the new disability act, we would have
to install a lift to access the first floor laboratory earmarked for refurbishment.
This would cost a substantial amount of money and we are unable to fund it
ourselves. Ros is waiting for a response from the Department regarding this.
6. Principal’s Report
Ros began her report with student achievemnets. Three Year 11 students
attended the 2011 Professor Henry Messel International Science School during
the July school holidays. Rebecca Dawkins has also been invited to attend the
National Youth Science Forum to be held in Canberra next January.
All four bands entered in the NSW Band Festival won gold.
Phil Canty was contacted by Emily White, Fortian 2010, who informed the school
that she had been awarded the Australian Vocational Student prize of $2000.
Emily is the second FSHS accountancy student to win this prize.
Harriet Scandol and Michael Nguyen are attending the SRC State Conference 2-
5 August.
The staff development day at the start of this term was held at Newtown School
of Performing Arts. Li Cunxin gave an inspirational talk about his life and
extraordinary journey from poverty in China to successful world class ballet
dancer. He talked about the value of dedication, perseverance and hard work.
The next school Open Evening is on 18 August.
Ros also circulated the finished Distinguished Service medal which will be
awarded to recipients at an event yet to be arranged.
Shane Fischer is on military leave in the Solomon Islands at the moment and Ros
has been selected for a program called Boss Lift, which means that she will visit
the Solomans for 1 week to see the work that the military are doing there. This
will be in the first week of November.
David continued that we are coming to the end of the three year period covered
by our current strategic plan and staff and the Executive are working on the new
strategic plan for 2012-2014.
7. Other reports
P&C Report
Kathy reported that there had been an Executive meeting last Monday and there
is a meeting for parents re the HSC next week. This is aimed at year 11 parents
and anyone else who is interested.
The HSC music and drama nights are very soon and the P&C will be offering
food at the events.
There is a vacancy for P&C President at the end of this year.

Student Report
Arlo circulated the report on the school water bubblers for the Council’s
comment. The Council would like to have a chance to read the report and it will
be added as an agenda for the next meeting. The Council did comment that the
report is of a very high standard and the students involved should be
congratulated.
Arlo continued to report that a sleep out is planned for the night of 19 August, so
long as there is adequate staff supervision available.
Fortians Union Report
Denice introduced herself as the newly elected President of the Fortians Union
and explained that she was attending this meeting to see how she and the newly
revitalised Fortians Union can help the school. The Fortians Union AGM was
well attended and now has an active committee. There is a Fortians Union
website in production and this will be linked to the school website. The
committee has only been together for one month so it’s early days, but one
function being planned is cocktails in the quad, to encourage younger alumni to
get involved.
Denice added that she was happy to act as representative on the Council or for
Don to continue, depending on what works best for the school and for Don. Ros
commented that Don has done an outstanding job as Fortains Union
representative on the Council and has been invaluable when helping with the
school budget and finances. Ros asked that Don stay on as representative as
his help in this area is highly valued. Denice and Don agreed.
Foundation Report
Don reported that the Foundation met last month and approved the release of
funds as recommended by the Council. The Foundation has been contacted by
Colin Long, who was President until his resignation 2 years ago. Colin has
offered to return as President and will be voted in officially at the next meeting in
September.
8. Other business
Kathy asked that the Foundation consider an honour board to recognize parents
who make a significant contribution to the school. Ros replied that this should
really be a School Council matter that the Foundation will endorse and asked that
Kathy bring a proposal to the next School Council meeting for discussion.
Ros finished the meeting by thanking Tom for all his hard work and contribution
to the School during his time as Chair.
9. Next Council meeting Wednesday 7 September 2011