Parents hit out: 'Our kids deserve better'

Published 10 Mar 2010 13:54 9 Comments

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AXED: Moorpark Primary

By Rosalyn Campbell

PARENTS are hitting out at council plans to house their kids in a building that is 'fit for demolition' while their own school is being upgraded.

The controversial decision by Renfrewshire Council to close Moorpark Primary and then decant Kirklandneuk Primary pupils into the Moorpark building has parents concerned.

The council plan to adapt the Moorpark building in readiness for the Kirklandneuk pupils, who will be housed there for a year while their own building is refurbished.

Kerry McMillan, whose youngster is in primary one at Kirklandneuk Primary, started up a facebook group last week called 'Kirklandneuk School Deserves Better' which had 82 members at the last count.

Their suggested alternative to council plans is for the new St James' Primary to be built first, with the Kirklandneuk pupils decanted there instead.

Kerry said: "All I want is for my child to be accommodated in adequate facilities during the decant.

"On the one hand, they're saying Moorpark Primary needs substantial investment to meet the standards required.

"Now they're telling us it just needs some minor adaptation to make it okay for Kirklandneuk kids for a year.

"Which is it - surely it can't be both?

"In today's economic climate, it's a waste of money to upgrade a school that will be demolished one year later anyway."

On the facebook site she wrote: "The staff of Kirklandneuk Primary will undoubtedly continue to strive to provide the highest standard of care, education and professionalism to the children.

"However, will they be able to do this if the facilities provided by the council are substandard?"

Maggie Cavan, mum-of-two, responded: "In a school which requires 'substantial investment', but that's only getting 'minor adaptation', I really don't see how." A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "Renfrewshire Council is investing £20 million in schools in Renfrew.

"It is a complex process to build a brand new school and a pre-five centre, redesign and extend another school, and demolish a third while minimising the disruption to the education of hundreds of children.

"There are a number of dates in the construction timetable that are dictated by the legal process of issuing tenders and considering contracts.

These are outside the council's control. It takes around 15 months to design and build a new school the size of St James'. Using Moorpark to decant pupils is a vital part of the construction programme."

This article appeared in The Gazette 10 Mar 10

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MrsT
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Mar 10, 15:14
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i think its very disrespectful of the council to treat kirklandneuk kids in this way. they desrve better than to go to school in a building not fit for purpose!

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disgusted
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Mar 12, 11:49
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How can the council justify their actions? first they say the school is unfit for purpose and the beautiful building is to be destroyed and now - wow actually its ok for another year but were still going to move all the moorpark kids! I am disgusted by this decision.

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Kerry McMillan
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Mar 12, 20:37
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I think the council are under estimating the number of people who are disgusted by this decision. Both the Moorpark and Kirklandneuk pupils face major disruption to their education over the coming year. The whole community of Renfrew must stand strong and show the council that we care for our young and will not accept their unfair proposal. In order to gauge the level of support please send an email to kirkydeservesbetter@yahoo.co.uk

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Kerry McMillan
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Mar 13, 12:18
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I just wanted to clarify that the 'Kirklandneuk School Deserves Better' campaign includes those children from Moorpark as they will ultimately be Kirklandneuk pupils come August 2010.

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Tony
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Mar 15, 10:08
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As usual the council just expect everyone to deal with their decisions - it doesnt matter about the childrens education. Instead of investing all this money surely they could find a way to make everyone happy?

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Andrew
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Mar 15, 13:47
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What do you all suggest? So easy to continually criticise, but nothing constructive. My kid has just spent best part of a year located in Ferguslie as part of St peter decant. Not perfect either, but the majority know the short term pain is for the longer term gain. Wisen up and stop your moaning

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Billy M
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Mar 16, 11:01
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Although I applaud the council for investing money into education in Renfrew - this seems somewhat funny. Imagine telling parents that your children are being moved out this school because its not fit for purpose but then tell another group of parents its fine for another year. Which one is it?

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PAUL M
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Mar 18, 22:54
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Nobody's kids are being treated disrespectfully in this situation. Obviously there has to be some upset given the nature and logistics of closing, building and refurbing 3 schools. All of the non-denominational schools in the area are under- attended at present, St James is at capacity and will further grow because of the closure of Moorpark and redrawing of catchment lines for Newmains and Kirklandnuek. Refurbing Kirklandnuek isn't just to make it fit for purpose, it is bringing it up to date to make it a better learning environment, would the parents rather their kids' education continued with extra pupils but no investment to improve their learning environment. A viable proposal was put to councillors regarding these changes; to close Moorpark, build NEW St James's then decant Kirklandnuek into the OLD St James's. Would the Kirklandnuek parents be happy with this proposal? Maybe a facebook petition for that would be more constructive. I have an issue with the one-sided reporting by the Gazette of these issues, the future of Renfrew's primary education is being sorted out for the better with this investment, can't everyone recognise the long term gain? Also, these proposals were available for everyone to object to 6 months ago at the legislative consultation period and have been subsequently passed.

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David Mcf
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Apr 14, 16:13
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I have just recently moved into second year at renfrew high but i went to moorpark primary all my years were spent there so I find it unfair that the kids already there are kicked out but then kids from kirklandnuek are told they can be housed there !?

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