Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Questions you should ask your councillor...

In a letter sent to all parents by John Simmons (Head of Education) dated 2nd August 2006 he says...

"During the construction phase all pupils and staff at Bishopbriggs Academy will have access to the full range of facilities of the former Bishopbriggs High School. This benefit is only possible because of the decision made by the Council."


The council meeting took place on Monday June 26th 2006. At the interim school board meeting on 22nd May 2006 John Simmons announced this decision, a full month before the council meeting! At that time I understood that only one bidder could build at the Bishopbriggs High site, while it was in use (they had yet to decide the preferred bidder). When I questioned this fact it was indicated that the other bidder must have agreed another new design for the High School site.

The preferred bidder pays for any costs involved to decant pupils. How could the council make this decision without knowing who the preferred bidder would be? Would the bidder, who would pay for this, not have to agree beforehand?

Westerhill Road, between the Thomas Muir High site and Cadder, had been pointed out as dangerous for pedestrians to use as it has an incomplete footpath and little street lighting.
The upgrade of this road was started on Monday 3rd July, again twenty three days before the council meeting, another coincidence?

The council also state that their decision had the backing of the Interim School Board. I was part of that board and, like everyone else, did not know the councils decision until a few days ago, so how could we back it?

I resigned before the decision was announced, as I believe, from what I did know, that the decision would NOT be made for the right reasons.

The council sent an A4 sheet underlining the reason they picked the Thomas Muir site rather than, the people's option (and Jo Swinson) - the Bishopbriggs High School site.

Thomas Muir Site - "The orientation of the building allows for good natural light in all rooms" the plan shows an enclosed courtyard! The proposed High School building had greater areas exposed to light on all sides!

High School Site- "The open space on the lower ground floor may have to be restricted if items are dropped from the levels above. This could become a health and safety issue."


Amazingly, this is not mentioned under the illustration of the Thomas Muir School (note the two floors overlooking an open space). So this couldn't happen on that site?

All in all I can see no great 'Educational' advantages from building at the Thomas Muir Site.

I would argue that there are great financial advantages and the use of the site to decant the pupils from St Ninians while their school is built on their existing site.

The location of the school at Bishopbriggs was the right decision, the proposed school on that site, by the preferred bidder (that required NO decant) was fantastic. It's a pity the public were not invited to see it.

This decant may not cause a delay in the building at Thomas Muir but the site will not be completed until both schools are built and the St Ninians pupils move back to their new school. (see 'August 2008 slips to 2009' post)

I want the best for all the pupils, parents and staff of the new school.

So ask your councillors to answer these questions and see what they say.

The winning bidder was InspirED or is it ConspirED.

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