Minutes of School Council Meeting - Fort Street High School
Minutes of School Council Meeting - Fort Street High School
Minutes of School Council Meeting - Fort Street High School
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<strong>Minutes</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>Council</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Wednesday 3 August 2011<br />
<strong>Fort</strong>ian Room 6.00pm<br />
1. Welcome and Apologies<br />
Tom Hubble<br />
Chair<br />
Ros Moxham<br />
Principal<br />
David Osland<br />
Staff Representative<br />
Janice Eastment Staff Representative<br />
John Ockwell<br />
Staff Representative<br />
Arlo Beaumont-Edmonds Student Representative<br />
Don Newby<br />
<strong>Fort</strong>ians Union/Foundation Representative<br />
Denice Smith<br />
<strong>Fort</strong>ians Union President<br />
Kathy Esson<br />
Parent Representative<br />
Jules Davies<br />
Executive Officer<br />
Apologies were received from Charlotte Taylor, John Melville, Tanya<br />
Anhtuan. Tom welcomed Denice Smith, <strong>Fort</strong>ians Union President.<br />
Tom announced that he will be stepping down as Chair at the end <strong>of</strong> this<br />
year.<br />
2. Confirmation <strong>of</strong> Previous <strong>Minutes</strong><br />
The minutes from 1 June were confirmed.<br />
3. Correspondence<br />
None<br />
4. Speech Day survey results<br />
David distributed copies <strong>of</strong> the survey results for the Speech Day awards. The<br />
response has been good with more than 310 students, 33 staff and 179 parents.<br />
The results have also been broken down into year groups.<br />
As these results have only just been compiled, Ros suggested that the <strong>Council</strong><br />
have a look at these results in preparation for a discussion at the September<br />
meeting. Ros and David will be able to prepare a summary and comments for<br />
the September meeting also. David will forward an electronic copy to Jules to<br />
distribute to <strong>Council</strong> representatives not present.<br />
5. Aircraft Noise update<br />
Ros reported that we now have a new ro<strong>of</strong> on the Rowe building and there were<br />
no leaks during the recent wet weather. Unfortunately there were many other<br />
leaks elsewhere in the school. The acoustic paneling and the old gas heaters in<br />
the Hall have been removed. The new acoustic system hasn’t been tested<br />
properly yet. There are a few minor adjustments around the school being made<br />
where needed.<br />
The fascia board on Wilkins has been replaced and the pigeons have been<br />
removed successfully.<br />
The food technology department have been out <strong>of</strong> their rooms for about 3 weeks<br />
while the insulation work continues.<br />
Next term the builders will concentrate on fixing defects and preparing to rero<strong>of</strong><br />
the Hall and put in a new ceiling in the Rowe staffroom. Work is going well and it<br />
looks as if all work will be completed by the deadline <strong>of</strong> June 2012. The biggest
delay has been with air conditioning parts coming from Japan. The feedback<br />
from the students doing exams in the Hall has been very positive.<br />
The biggest issue next term will be where to house the displaced staff from the<br />
Rowe staffroom after 9 December when the Hall and the Rowe staffroom are out<br />
<strong>of</strong> action. The plan at the moment is to relocate staff into K13, which has 30<br />
computers, and perhaps another computer lab.<br />
Ros stressed that the impact on staff and students during insulation work this<br />
term shouldn’t be underestimated.<br />
At the last meeting the <strong>School</strong> <strong>Council</strong> supported Ros’s request to release funds<br />
from the building fund to refurbish a second science laboratory. We are still<br />
waiting for a final quote for the work. It has been brought to our attention<br />
however that in order for us to comply with the new disability act, we would have<br />
to install a lift to access the first floor laboratory earmarked for refurbishment.<br />
This would cost a substantial amount <strong>of</strong> money and we are unable to fund it<br />
ourselves. Ros is waiting for a response from the Department regarding this.<br />
6. Principal’s Report<br />
Ros began her report with student achievemnets. Three Year 11 students<br />
attended the 2011 Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Henry Messel International Science <strong>School</strong> during<br />
the July school holidays. Rebecca Dawkins has also been invited to attend the<br />
National Youth Science Forum to be held in Canberra next January.<br />
All four bands entered in the NSW Band Festival won gold.<br />
Phil Canty was contacted by Emily White, <strong>Fort</strong>ian 2010, who informed the school<br />
that she had been awarded the Australian Vocational Student prize <strong>of</strong> $2000.<br />
Emily is the second FSHS accountancy student to win this prize.<br />
Harriet Scandol and Michael Nguyen are attending the SRC State Conference 2-<br />
5 August.<br />
The staff development day at the start <strong>of</strong> this term was held at Newtown <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Performing Arts. Li Cunxin gave an inspirational talk about his life and<br />
extraordinary journey from poverty in China to successful world class ballet<br />
dancer. He talked about the value <strong>of</strong> dedication, perseverance and hard work.<br />
The next school Open Evening is on 18 August.<br />
Ros also circulated the finished Distinguished Service medal which will be<br />
awarded to recipients at an event yet to be arranged.<br />
Shane Fischer is on military leave in the Solomon Islands at the moment and Ros<br />
has been selected for a program called Boss Lift, which means that she will visit<br />
the Solomans for 1 week to see the work that the military are doing there. This<br />
will be in the first week <strong>of</strong> November.<br />
David continued that we are coming to the end <strong>of</strong> the three year period covered<br />
by our current strategic plan and staff and the Executive are working on the new<br />
strategic plan for 2012-2014.<br />
7. Other reports<br />
P&C Report<br />
Kathy reported that there had been an Executive meeting last Monday and there<br />
is a meeting for parents re the HSC next week. This is aimed at year 11 parents<br />
and anyone else who is interested.<br />
The HSC music and drama nights are very soon and the P&C will be <strong>of</strong>fering<br />
food at the events.<br />
There is a vacancy for P&C President at the end <strong>of</strong> this year.
Student Report<br />
Arlo circulated the report on the school water bubblers for the <strong>Council</strong>’s<br />
comment. The <strong>Council</strong> would like to have a chance to read the report and it will<br />
be added as an agenda for the next meeting. The <strong>Council</strong> did comment that the<br />
report is <strong>of</strong> a very high standard and the students involved should be<br />
congratulated.<br />
Arlo continued to report that a sleep out is planned for the night <strong>of</strong> 19 August, so<br />
long as there is adequate staff supervision available.<br />
<strong>Fort</strong>ians Union Report<br />
Denice introduced herself as the newly elected President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Fort</strong>ians Union<br />
and explained that she was attending this meeting to see how she and the newly<br />
revitalised <strong>Fort</strong>ians Union can help the school. The <strong>Fort</strong>ians Union AGM was<br />
well attended and now has an active committee. There is a <strong>Fort</strong>ians Union<br />
website in production and this will be linked to the school website. The<br />
committee has only been together for one month so it’s early days, but one<br />
function being planned is cocktails in the quad, to encourage younger alumni to<br />
get involved.<br />
Denice added that she was happy to act as representative on the <strong>Council</strong> or for<br />
Don to continue, depending on what works best for the school and for Don. Ros<br />
commented that Don has done an outstanding job as <strong>Fort</strong>ains Union<br />
representative on the <strong>Council</strong> and has been invaluable when helping with the<br />
school budget and finances. Ros asked that Don stay on as representative as<br />
his help in this area is highly valued. Denice and Don agreed.<br />
Foundation Report<br />
Don reported that the Foundation met last month and approved the release <strong>of</strong><br />
funds as recommended by the <strong>Council</strong>. The Foundation has been contacted by<br />
Colin Long, who was President until his resignation 2 years ago. Colin has<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered to return as President and will be voted in <strong>of</strong>ficially at the next meeting in<br />
September.<br />
8. Other business<br />
Kathy asked that the Foundation consider an honour board to recognize parents<br />
who make a significant contribution to the school. Ros replied that this should<br />
really be a <strong>School</strong> <strong>Council</strong> matter that the Foundation will endorse and asked that<br />
Kathy bring a proposal to the next <strong>School</strong> <strong>Council</strong> meeting for discussion.<br />
Ros finished the meeting by thanking Tom for all his hard work and contribution<br />
to the <strong>School</strong> during his time as Chair.<br />
9. Next <strong>Council</strong> meeting Wednesday 7 September 2011