(a) Additional Support to Tywyn School
To receive a verbal report on the above by the Senior Manager – Education Resources Service.
(b) Brief Information on the Schools’ Network Service
To receive a verbal report on the above by the Senior Manager – Information Technology and Business Transformation
(c) Update on On-line Payments
To receive a verbal report on the above by the Senior Manager – Education Resources Service.
(d) Update on the Breakfast Club Consultation
To receive a verbal report on the above by the Senior Manager – Education Resources Service.
Minutes:
(a) Item 5 - Ysgol Tywyn's Budget and Financial Deficit
The Senior Manager Education Resources Service
reported that following a request from the Chair of Tywyn Secondary School's
Board of Governors for assistance with the historical deficit, that discussions
were on-going regarding the way forward.
It was added, that thus far the matter had not been discussed with the
Council's Leadership Team.
Resolved: To
accept and note the above.
(b) Item 8 (b) - Schools' Network Service
A presentation was
received in the form of slides by the Senior IT and Business Transformation
Manager, giving the history of the internet from its inception in 1969 and by
today its use had increased and devices had moved forward considerably. Under the Learning in Digital Wales grant
programme, a broadband connection at a speed of 10Mbps was provided to primary
schools and 100Mbps to secondary schools.
The evolution of the network to schools was
explained, as well as the improvements the PSBA network for the public sector
in Wales had made and the increasing future benefits.
Regarding who is
responsible for what, the following was explained:
·
That CYNNAL provide support for the equipment that
links to the network and the administration of the filter.
·
The Council is responsible for providing network
support, managing BT contracts, wireless, security, filtering and developing
new services (such as phones)
·
BT were responsible for the PSBA network
infrastructure
In terms of cost
allocations of £540,000, this was based on the following four elements:
·
Direct contact
·
Network
·
Maintenance to include software
·
Central staff support - responding to problems and
developing the network
During the ensuing
discussion, the Senior IT and Business Transformation Manager responded to the
enquiries as follows:
(i)
that the Service Level Agreement was nearly in
place, and by highlighting what was proposed it was trusted that schools would
agree to a provision via the authority to access a dependable network, and it
was possible to cooperate with the Welsh Government to facilitate the
Successful Future programme.
(ii)
in terms of the equipment's age, it would be
necessary to add to it after approximately 10 years (the equipment was already
four years old)
(iii)
in the context of funding any addition to the
equipment in approximately 2021-2023, it would be necessary for schools to plan
before hand for the costs.
In response to (ii)
and (iii) above, the Cabinet Member for Education stressed the need to put a
plan together soon and also the need to warn schools beforehand of the
likelihood of costs as technology was changing fast.
Resolved: To
accept, note and thank the officer for the presentation.
(c) Item 9 - On-line Payments
The Senior Manager
Education Resources Services reported that an on-line service had now been
introduced in primary schools and the majority of school staff had received
training. The service was welcomed and only a very few comments had been
received such as that parents could not see balances / credit. It had been decided to use the 'SIMS Dinner
Money' system with the authority funding the module. There were implications of re-training Dinner
Money Clerks, however, the module would be advantageous as it would reduce the
work of accounting and balancing. It
was noted that discussions were on-going with CYNNAL for training and it would
be incorporated with the training organised to collect breakfast club money
(see below).
Resolved: To
accept and note the above.
(ch) Item 10 - Breakfast Club Consultation
The Senior Manager
Education Resources Services reported that the Cabinet at its meeting on 3
October 2017, had decided to charge a fee of 80p for the childcare element
prior to the breakfast club. It would be necessary to draft a specific letter for each school to
outline the arrangements, times, payment method etc, with a letter to emphasise
that there was a statutory duty to offer free breakfast and that the fee would
be charged for the childcare time.
It was added that it would be necessary to offer training to school
staff (Finance Clerks) to collect money and that this would be held at the same
time as the SIMS Dinner Money training.
The above elements would be discussed with ancillary staff Unions. In addition, the system would offer a permanent
contract to the Breakfast Club Supervisors with the right to sickness pay.
In response to a query by a Headteacher regarding administrating the
system and the need to ensure that the details were clear in a business plan,
it was explained that the money would be collected on-line and it was
acknowledged that there would be a change in procedure and schools were
encouraged to contact the Education Department if they anticipated that there
was any matter of concern to be resolved.
Resolved: To accept
and note the above.