Press Release Following CSC Meeting

The CSC meeting took place this morning. The recommendation accepted by the committee was to continue with the status quo. In the meantime, the Council have asked the education department to continue to investigate a single site school for Madras although they have allowed them to look outwith the Kilrymont site.

As parents we are frustrated that once again, the Council seem to have done nothing . The major stumbling block from the Council's point of view was the unknown future of housing in the NE fife area (awaited from the Draft Fife Structure Plan) and the lack of funds. To do nothing until we have both is unacceptable.

The Draft Fife Structure Plan should be confirmed by the Scottish Executive soon and on its release we will have a clear idea of our schooling requirements. However, that does not mean that the Council can sit back and wait for the results. They should be planning now so that plans are ready to be instigated the moment the Structure Plan is no longer a draft.

On the funding issue, the South St site has yet to be accurately valued. A true picture of the funds available to re-build Madras cannot be obtained until both sites have been accurately valued. During today's meeting, when discussing the reduction of school class sizes, Chairman Dair said that we must plan even if the money was not available. It is a shame the Council did not apply the same principle to the Madras project.

We renew our call to parents of pupils, both future and present, to make their voices heard. It is understandable that parents have become disheartened about the Madras issue as every attempt to move forward with a solution has been frustrated by the lack of action by Fife Council. The responsibility of our elected members is to meet the needs of their constituents. Our children only get one chance at education and it is the responsibility of the Council to make that chance count.

PARENTS MUST BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We repeat our call to parents to act on this issue or it appears the "status quo" will be what we will be forced to accept for the next four years. This means that nothing will be done between the elections in May 2007 and May 2011, we believe our councillors and MSP should commit themselves to resolve this issue before the 2011 elections.

Lisa Williams