|
|
|
Responses from Board of
Management to
frequently
asked
questions
on the proposed move of the school Q
Why relocate St.
Brigid’s at this time? a
number of strong educational reasons: Ø No space to avail of improved pupil – teacher ratio Ø Inadequate space for pupils to avail of learning
support and resource
Teaching Ø Inadequate space to fully implement methodologies
recommended in
1999 Primary School Curriculum Ø Inadequate play area, hall and no green space Ø No development potential Q Where did the idea of relocating St. Brigid’s
come from? of Management saw the
provision of a new school as the only realistic way to resolve the serious
limitations of our present location.
All efforts since 1999 to develop the existing site
are unsuccessful. There is no realistic way of resolving the challenges on the
existing site. Q Why take in more children if the school is
overcrowded? constant
pressure to enrol additional children:
(It was envisaged that space would be provided for these two new Junior
Infant
classes due to the fact, that
first of all, one sixth class will leave in June ’07, and
secondly temporary accommodation would be provided for the other class
here on
our present location at Trafalgar Rd.).
Ø
In
December 2006 Department of Education and Science promised that they would provide accommodation ‘for every child
who would be properly entitled to enrol’.
It was following this promise that 16 more children were accepted (Every child
accepted for Junior Infants 2007 is either a sibling of a present pupil or from the
parish of Greystones) Q When did the Department of Education and
Science inform the Board of Management of the
relocation? greenfield site, the Department of Education and Science informed the Board of Management on the 6th December ’06 of their proposal to relocate St. Brigid’s to the site in Charlesland
Q What else has the Department of Education
and Science said? the
following proposal: That the
relocated St. Brigid’s would become two sixteen mainstream class
schools OR Ø
One
32 mainstream class school Ø
The
Board of Management is continuing negotiation on this proposal and has
expressed a preference to D.E.S. for a 24 mainstream class school. Ø
The
Department of Education and Science promised the opening date of the completed relocated
school will be September 2009 if all goes to plan Q
Will there be temporary accommodation? A
The Department of Education and Science will provide
temporary accommodation for
some classes at either:
change of
use planning permission and appropriate fit out) Ø Accommodation
for Junior Infants September 2007 who have siblings in St. Brigid’s will be here at
Trafalgar Road. Planning permission
is being sought for one extra
temporary classroom. If this
application succeeds, all Junior Infants may be accommodated here at Trafalgar
Road. Ø
13
classes will be here at St. Brigid’s Trafalgar Road. Whether the other two
classes will be at St. Brigid’s Trafalgar
Road depends on planning permission.
Q Why relocate to a site approx. two miles / 3 km away? A
The site in Charlesland zoned for a school on 4th December
’06 by Wicklow County Council is the only site available at
this time. Q How will children from the town get to Charlesland? involves a longer journey to school
for some children. We are hoping that the improved facilities will make the
distance worthwhile and that Board of Management, P.A. and parents will
work together to solve the transport difficulty Q Has a deal been done with developers? St. Brigid’s School or
the Convent in Greystones to anyone
nor are they in discussion with any party to dispose
of these lands. Q Could the convent and its grounds be purchased for
development by the A No – The
convent and grounds are not for sale. Q Who is negotiating with the Department of Education and
Science on behalf
of the school? A
The Board of Management Q How will the parents be involved in the decision making
process? Ø Representatives from
the Board of Management met with the Department
of Education and Science to hear and discuss the proposal from Department
of Education . Ø On
the 8th March the Board of Management reported back to parents and invited responses /
comments. Ø The
Board of Management has invited senior officials from the Department
of Education and Science to meet parents here on 21st March at
7.30 p.m. Ø The
Board of Management will hold regular meetings for parents Ø
Parents
have two elected representatives on the Board of Management who
communicate between the Board and the Parents’ Association and
vice versa Ø
The
Board of Management will also work with the Parents’ Association to ensure that the parents’ views are taken
into account when the final decision is made. Ø The Board
of Management invites written comments from parents Ø
The
Board of Management will take a decision, taking into account the views of parents as well as the long term
effects of the decision.
Q Has the Charlesland site already been purchased? Education and Science has
indicated that they are in negotiation with Zapi, and these negotiations will not be
completed for a matter of months. The
D.E.S. has inspected the site and
confirmed its suitability for a school. Q Who is responsible for the Management of St Brigid’s School? A The parish is responsible, through the Board of Management, for managing the school and holding in trust
the vision for Catholic Education.
the school will continue to be under the patronage
of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
|