School Council  Report

Our second last meeting of School Council was held on the evening of November 25 with a number of key motions and decisions pertaining to the 2021 school year discussed.  In addition to endorsing dates for school camps, working bees and school council meetings, we also discussed setting Curriculum days for next year and the 2021 swimming program.

As has been done in previous years, the first two days of the new school year will be used as curriculum days and the first day back for grades 1 – 6 will be Friday 29th January.  Our incoming Foundation students will commence the following Monday on February 1st.  The two other agreed curriculum days were Friday 13th August and Monday 1st November.

A motion to subsidise the 2021 swimming programs was put forward, which allows for participation of students from all grades.  School Council had intended to commence further investigation this year about what our long term plans were for this program and the feasibility of offering such a significant subsidy.  Due to Covid, that research could not be undertaken and therefore has been carried over for the 2021 School Council to consider.

The 2019 School Councillors voted in favour of offering a full subsidy this year, but because the program couldn’t be delivered, the funds committed weren’t expended.  Having maintained these savings sat favourably with members and despite an increase in swimming fees for next year, the motion to offer a full subsidy for the 2021 swimming program was endorsed.

This time of year is critical for planning ahead and the leadership team have been quite busy with finalising class numbers, staffing and recruitment for next year.  Our Foundation enrolments are lower than the last few years, which may be a reflection of more families moving away and heading out to regional areas or perhaps opting to repeat a kinder year.  This is all speculative however and regardless of the reasons behind these numbers, we can only make plans moving forward based on facts, not assumptions.

Our Capital Works project is in its final stages, although the impacts of Covid have pushed out the completion date by approximately four weeks. We had initially planned to occupy the new space in December, but with works carrying on into the New Year, an Occupancy Permit won’t be issued until January.  The flow on effects are delays in landscaping, installation of new play equipment, bike racks and classroom equipment, however much of this will be completed in the break while the students are not on site.

Our State Government funding for Stage 2 has also allowed us to undertake some upgrades and repairs on the Waterdale Road building.  Tender documents are currently being developed and it is planned that the successful contractor will undertake those works during the Easter break next year.

The meeting closed at 8:40pm and our final meeting for this year will be convened on Wednesday 9th December. We are hopeful that access restrictions will be amended somewhat, which will allow for our final School Council meeting to be held onsite at IPS and face to face with those members who can attend.

Kelly Toghill

School Council President