News / Further Skerries delay
THE FINAL decision on the future of Skerries secondary department could be delayed until mid December after Shetland Islands Council agreed a further two week extension to the consultation.
The council had already extended the consultation period until the end this month after islanders said they had not been able to submit comments using the SIC’s electronic system.
Now it has granted a further 12 days after receiving correspondence from the island’s parent and community councils requesting extra time due to the school October break.
SIC children’s services director Helen Budge said that 11 people who thought their responses had not been received had been invited to resubmit by 12 November.
So far the council has received 38 responses to the Skerries consultation, 60 per cent of whom opposed the closure based on its impact on the island’s social and economic well being.
This is the sixth attempt by the council in the last 13 years to close Skerries – the smallest secondary department in Scotland – each previous effort having been successfully fought off by the community.
The estimated savings from closure amount to £75,000, though islanders say the council will end up losing money when young families leave Skerries and its elderly folk without local carers. They also fear for the future of the island’s successful salmon business.
Education staff argue that the island’s children are missing out on the standard of education and the social opportunities that other Shetland youngsters enjoy.
This week the council is holding two public meetings to discuss the possible closure of Bressay primary school this week.
A 6pm ferry from Lerwick will be able to take people from Lerwick to attend the meeting at Bressay public hall on Wednesday evening at 7pm, with a return ferry at 9.45pm. Tea and cakes will be provided, due to the long evening.
The following evening a meeting will be held in Bell’s Brae primary school at 7pm.
The Scottish education secretary will stop receiving comments on the future of Olnafirth primary school on Wednesday and has a further three weeks to decide whether to the call the matter in after the council backed closure earlier this month.
On 13 November the SIC”s education and families committee will debate a report into the future of secondary education in the isles, which is currently being compiled.
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