Thirteen secondary teachers’ posts in Dundee are likely to be axed to compensate for the savings lost in delaying the closure of Rockwell High, the city’s education committee will be told next Tuesday.
Ironically, none of the posts is at the threatened secondary, which has initiated a ballot on self-governing status and is thus exempted.
The Rockwell school board voted for the second time last week in favour of balloting parents, a move that thwarts the Labour council’s savings target of Pounds 218,000. A merger this summer with Kirkton High would have trimmed that sum from the budget. The ballot has to be held within three months and is expected in June.
John Kemp, the city’s education convener, said: “We would have to seek the consent of Rockwell school board to reduce their staffing by a proportionate amount. The board is cutting everyone else’s education because of their action.”
A further saving of around Pounds 20,000 is likely to come from axing free transport for Rockwell pupils. A paper before the education committee notes: “The free transport arrangement operated for pupils living within a three-mile radius of the school is a special arrangement recognising the unusual nature of the catchment area. It does not apply to any other school within the city. ”
