Parents, staff, the wider Colmonell community and others with an interest in Colmonell Primary School are being invited to take part in a formal consultation process. It will focus on the future of the school building and the decanting of staff and pupils to other buildings.
South Ayrshire Council is currently reviewing all of its school estate buildings. Following a series of technical surveys of the main teaching block at Colmonell Primary School Officers from the Council’s Property and Design section advised, that although the building is safe to use, arrangements should be made to exit the building no later than August 2008.
Extensive informal discussions about future accommodation for the pupils and staff of Colmonell Primary School has taken place, the formal consultation will now progress the matter.
The Minister for Colmonell, the Reverend John Lochrie, who is the Church of Scotland representative on the Council’s Leadership Panel education matters said: “I appreciate the way in which the consultation process has been carried out. The local community has been kept fully in the picture and their wishes respected, particularly the strong opinion of many locals that the children should remain within the village.”
A consultative document ‘Proposed Decant of Colmonell Primary School’ has been produced that sets out proposals for the proposed decant of staff and pupils at the school from the start of the 2008/09 school session.
Councillor Hywel Davies, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Lifelong Learning said: “Colmonell Primary School lies at the heart of a rural community. The school was built in 1967 and has provided good quality education for children living in and around the village. During the consultation process Officers will continue to work with everyone who has an interest in Colmonell Primary School to make sure that temporary accommodation, that will be located on the playing field site in Colmonell, is fit for purpose. The temporary accommodation will comprise of one large teaching room, an activity room, shared office accommodation, storage and toilet provision meets the needs of the school.”
All interested parties including the Parent Council can make written representations on the proposal to the Director of Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning, County Buildings, Ayr KA7 1DR , or by e-mail to “colmonelldecant@ea.sayr.sch.uk” no later than Wednesday 26 March 2008.
The Director of Education, Culture and Lifelong learning will prepare a report on the results of the consultation process, the content of which will be considered by members of the Council’s Leadership Panel in April 2008.