Letters / My view on schools
Perhaps it would help if I made it clear which school closures I think should go ahead and which should not: I have considered the many letters I have received on this topic (far too many to answer individually, I am sorry to say).
As a result, I have changed my mind on some and had my views reinforced on others.
The arguments about the single-track roads to Burravoe and Sandness Primary Schools I accept. I would vote for them to stay open. I am not so sure about Cullivoe, which has a good road to Mid Yell, hopefully soon to be improved further.
There is a similar argument about daily commuting by secondary pupils from single track roads in Walls and beyond to Anderson High, so if Aith junior high closes then there should be the option of hostel accommodation in Lerwick after the new school opens (in 2017, we are now told).
I do not see the sense in closing Symbister or Mid Yell junior high schools, as they both serve relatively large populations of pupils and could be continued as four-year schools, with secondary five and six pupils offered hostel accommodation at the new AHS.
Much as I sympathise with my Unst friends, I do not see any justification for continuing secondary education in Baltasound and at present would vote to transfer secondary 1-4 pupils to Mid Yell, with S5-6 going to Lerwick.
As for Sandwick, I do not see the logic of continuing secondary schooling there and would vote to close it, again with the option of hostel accommodation for Dunrossness pupils on request.
In Burra and the central Mainland it is hard to understand why we have so many primary schools, so I am open to arguments for amalgamating some of them.
These are my own views. I am not a member of any council group, declared or undeclared. I am happy to debate my ideas with anyone who is willing to argue from facts and refrain from personal insults.
There has been public criticism of a recent visit that Cllr. Duncan and I made to the Accounts Commission in Edinburgh, to discuss our concerns about serial attempts by elected office bearers to undermine council financial and education policy.
George Smith and Billy Fox are, of course, free to oppose and undermine any council policy they wish, but from the backbenches, not as elected office bearers with a duty to uphold democratically agreed policy.
Mr Duncan and I consider we were doing our duty to report to the auditors this breach of the solemn undertakings on “governance” which the council gave to the Accounts Commission after the debacle in 2010.
The problem which the leaders of the cabal do not yet appear to understand is that the council’s financial policy (i.e. a solvent council by 2017) cannot possibly be achieved unless there are major reductions in education spending – or large cuts in other services which have already seen their budgets slashed.
This was made very clear at the council’s budget meeting on Wednesday (‘Milestone’ budget slashes draw on oil funds; SN 03/12/14).
In my view, to vote against carefully researched, fully-consulted proposals to amalgamate schools that do not provide equal opportunities at affordable cost is to undermine the whole financial policy.
Da Flea and I must obviously accept the result of a democratic vote, whatever backstage manoeuvrings took place beforehand; we have no alternative.
But we do have a right to point out the calamitous consequences of this vote, which has derailed the entire educational reform policy and, with it, any hope of a solvent council by 2020, let alone 2017.
Perhaps our critics would like to see a new law preventing individual councillors, and even the chair of the SIC audit committee, from having direct access to the Accounts Commission and the auditors? Interesting idea…
For the record, I am not a member of “a coalition of 22 independent members”.
This facile soundbite is an absurd notion. I try to represent the interests of constituents in my own ward and also the interests of the whole of Shetland.
In this endeavour I will continue to oppose attempts by the cabal to undermine the interests of all the pupils and parents of Shetland.
Jonathan Wills
Councillor for Lerwick South
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