Minutes of School Council Meeting - Fort Street High School

Minutes of School Council Meeting
Wednesday 2 February 2011
W1 6.00pm
1. Welcome and Apologies
Tom Hubble
Ros Moxham
David Osland
Janice Eastment
Connor Pearce
John Melville
Don Newby
Charlotte Taylor
Kathy Esson
Jules Davies
Chair
Principal
Staff Representative
Staff Representative
Student Representative
P&C Representative
Fortians Union and Foundation Representative
Parent Representative
Parent Representative
Executive Officer
Apologies were received from Tanya Anthuan and Carol Li.
2. Confirmation of Previous Minutes
The minutes from December were confirmed.
3. Correspondence
Tom has forwarded the letter to Verity Firth but given that the state election is
next month we may need to follow this up in April.
4. Aircraft Noise Update
David reported that the air conditioning work is progressing well. The Council
met in W1 so we could experience one of the almost complete rooms. Teachers
in W1-3, the lower art room and the learning centre have been very comfortable
in this week’s heat. David pointed out the new features in the room including the
window seals, double glazing and blinds. The door has been replaced and the
non opening windows have thicker glass. There is still some mechanical work
that is visible in the rooms. Wilkins will be completed by the middle of term 2.
The builders will start asking us to take 3-4 rooms offline at a time starting in
about two weeks time. This is so they can complete the mechanics and paint.
David commented that he was concerned at the end of January that there was
considerable mess, but before term started the rooms have been professionally
cleaned and the outside areas have been cleared up. The Council felt it would
be appropriate to write a letter to the foreman to thank them for their hard work in
January.
The Hall is not yet finished but is a functional space and looks pretty good. The
library has had the air conditioning installed but it was not working well today.
Kathy asked if there was a plan to refurbish the rooms when the work was
finished. David and Ros replied that there is no money allocated for that so no.
David continued that there will not be any internal work in Kilgour until the work in
Wilkins is complete, however they did replace the south section of the Kilgour
roof in the holidays in preparation for the external air conditioning units.
There has also been a lot of infrastructure work on electricity.

Ros added that the 4 old staff studies that were refurbished have now had air
conditioning installed.
All work is due to be finished by July 2012.
5. Budget and Finance 2011
David circulated a document showing an overview of the budget for 2011. This
year we haven’t had to reduce anyone’s budget. David also circulated the
Annual Financial Statement. The Annual Financial Statement for 2010 showed
that we carried over a higher balance than in 2009, showing a figure of $993K at
the end of November 2010, but out of that only $254Kwas actually available to
spend on school projects. All the other funds were tied in trusts, unpaid orders
and invoices, casual salaries etc.
During the holidays the phone system crashed when the electricity was turned off
and couldn’t be revived, which incurred extra cost. The cost of the electricity
usage has increased dramatically, even before the cost of air conditioning. We
need the DET to increase the global budget to cover this cost. At the moment
there is a $63K allocation for semester 1, which is nowhere close to the actual
cost. Ros added that the electricity usage did not decrease in the holidays as it
usually does, and this has to be checked, but it could be because the builders
were working throughout the holidays.
6. Fortian Alumni Wall criteria update
John Melville has compiled a list of judicial Fortians. Jules will get an electronic
copy of the original alumni list and circulate to the Council and this item will be
revisited at the next meeting.
Don will also get a copy of the list of Fortians who have served.
Kathy has offered to take medicine as her category.
7. Non Fortian medal update
We do not yet have the medals to present. However, the Council agreed that it
would be good to announce the intention to present the medals at Speech Day.
The Council would like to present medals to people involved with the aircraft
noise project including Bruce Sutton and Nyin Cameron. The Council would also
like to present one posthumously to Michael Browne. Tom will phone the family
to see if they agree.
8. Principal’s Report
David Osland reported that Ros had been seconded as School Education
Director for the term and David is relieving as Principal. Penny Starr is relieving
Deputy Principal for years 8, 10 and 12.
Dr Strauss is HT Welfare/Teaching for term 1. Dr Griffin left at the end of last
term and Janice is now HT Admin. Janice will also oversee science until this
vacancy is filled. Mr Gaal is HT PDHPE. Ms Forsyth has returned from extended
leave. Ms Macdonald is on leave this semester and Ms Leotta is filling this
position. Ms McGown has accepted a position at UNSW and Ms Ryan is now full
time in the Learning Centre. Ms Chipps is covering for Ms Harper while Ms
Harper is studying in Salzburg. Mr Cox continues to fill in for Ms Schubert who is
on maternity leave.
We have new staff this term. Mr Grant joins the TAS faculty, Mr Hall joins
Science, Ms Blake in CAPA and History.

Staff will be disrupted as the works continue but the message to them has been
to concentrate on the teaching and learning programs and let us deal with the
works.
Dux for 2010 was Ellen Moore who was also the recipient of the Order of
Australia Youth Commendation. Equal second place was William Wang and
Robert Pattinson. 25 students received Premiers All Rounder Awards with 10
units over 90, and a further 8 students achieved 9 units over 90. In the School
Certificate 34 students achieved grade A and 21 students were on either 88% or
89%. Mercurius carries a full description of student achievements.
The year 8 debating team took part in a residential course at Sydney University in
the holidays. They also won the State debating title.
Two students were nominated for HSC Encore and two students have had their
nominated visual arts work accepted into HSC ArtExpress.
We are waiting for more information from the 2010 year 12s re their ATAR results
as we only receive their HSC results. We would like the ATAR results so we can
acknowledge the correct people at Speech Day.
David finished with the news that the swimming carnival will be held at Ashfield
Pool next Monday and year 7s will be tested before their orientation.
9. Other reports
P&C Report
John M reported that the P&C has not yet met but will meet next Monday. There
is a new parent night next Wednesday.
Student Report
There was a meeting today, mostly concerning the rose drive. Selling for this
starts tomorrow. The year 7s have a trivia night on Wednesday. Ros asked if
there was anything planned for new students from other years. Connor replied
that the focus is on year 7. There has been an idea put forward for an inter
school dance with Hunters Hill. Ros informed the Council that the reason this
hasn’t been done before is that it is a huge responsibility for the staff who
supervise. There are often uninvited guests and bad behaviour. David agreed
that this would be discouraged. Ros pointed out that from a staff welfare point of
view it would not be supported.
Fortians Union Report
Don reported that the Fortians Union had not met.
Foundation Report
The Foundation meets in March.
10. Other business
Ros added that during the holidays the copper downpipes had been stolen.
Also the regional assets manager has asked FSHS to suggest areas that need to
be fixed, ie concrete cancer, toilets etc. Ros asked that if the Council has any
ideas then please forward them to David.
11. Next Council meeting Wednesday 2 March 2011