Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has appealed to some local critics of Education policy and the schools consultation process to stop providing misleading and inaccurate information.

Referring to billboard claims from the ‘Save Back School Campaign’, organised by Gordon Maclennan,  that the Comhairle has closed 9 schools this year, the Chair of Education and Children’s Services, Mrs Morag Munro said: “The Comhairle has not closed 9 schools and it is inaccurate to say it has. The Comhairle has taken the decision to end S1 S2 provision at 4 schools (Bayble, Daliburgh, Lochs and Paible) and we are consulting on a further 3 (Lionel, Shawbost and Back). There are no decisions to close any of these schools, only to discontinue the s1/s2 provision in four of them. We have agreed to close 2 primary schools where low pupil numbers have made them non viable. Is Mr Maclennan arguing that all schools should be kept open, irrespective of the best educational interests of the children, pupil numbers and the consequent diversion of resources away from other pupils?”

On the recent comments from Iain Don Maciver, Chair of the Bayble School Parent Council, Mrs Munro said:
“Mr Maciver’s comments are very misleading.  The Comhairle required a decision to be made as to whether the Bayble facility was to be Primary only or Primary/Secondary.  Far from the decision being taken with undue haste – it has been under discussion since the HMIE report of 2003.  The decision on Bayble was required to enable a contract for a design team for the five school project to be drawn up.  A contract has now been placed with the Design team and work is in progress in relation to the various schools in the project.

Mr Maciver also misleads by stating that the post of Project Manager has just been filled.  The post has in fact been filled for over two years.  However, the previous postholder moved on recently having given generous notice and consequently this enabled a new appointment to be made without any period of vacancy.

In relation to the Bayble School Canteen the Technical Services Department Repairs and Maintenance Team have acted to improve the conditions within the canteen and to generally make it more pleasant inside.  The operations of the heating and extractor fan systems have been radically altered to alleviate the condensation.  This was combined with further work to re-bed the windows and make them more weatherproof. . However we do accept that substantial improvements to buildings of this type (a Horsa building) can only really be accomplished by demolition and new build which is the Comhairle’s intention.

 Mr MacIver’s account of an intention to use a vacant classroom as a canteen is not something that the Comhairle has discussed.”
  
Mrs Munro concluded: “I fully accept that parents, pupils and others have very strong feelings on these matters and it is quite right and reasonable that they should express their views. I would expect no less. These are difficult decisions but the Comhairle has a duty to act in the best interests of all pupils in the Western Isles. I am happy to listen to the views of everyone and anyone in this matter. I can give the clear assurance that we are determined to give the best educational opportunities and provide the best possible educational service to all our pupils and that is what this review is about.  
However, it is unhelpful and in nobody’s interests when facts are twisted and information is misrepresented to give a false picture. I would urge those who are making such claims and allegations to desist now, in the interests of all, particularly the young people throughout these Islands whose needs we are committed to serve”.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk