Page 23 - Phonebox Magazine November 2007

Councillor Corner
A contribution from Councillor Steve Clark
CONTACT INFORMATION
Cllr Stephen Clark, 32 Dagnall Road, Olney, Bucks MK46 5BJ
Telephone, SMS text or fax: 01234 711743
Or email: stephen.clark@milton-keynes.gov.uk
School Parking
The issue of inconsiderate parking around our schools to drop off and pick up children is one that invariably causes serious concerns. Olney Infant School is a typical example where some parents or carers have been known to stop in potentially hazardous locations, despite regular newsletters from the school imploring them not to. It is particularly dangerous for parents or carers to drive into the school premises at times when children are arriving or leaving. There is also a problem with vehicles stopping on the zig zag markings at the entrance to school premises. Milton Keynes Council is hoping to resolve the latter problem by issuing Traffic Regulation Orders that will allow the Council’s Parking Contractors, NCP, to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to motorists who park on the zig zag marks between 8.00am and 5.00pm. The new Orders will be introduced in phases starting with an initial group before the end of this year. It is intended that all schools across the Borough will be compliant by 2010, with each school being consulted prior to implementation of the Orders. I have requested that the schools in Olney and the surrounding villages be included in the implementation programme at the earliest opportunity.
School Travel Plans
Milton Keynes Council is keen that all schools within the Borough should encourage children and staff to walk or cycle to school wherever possible. This not only helps to relieve the
parking issues outlined above but has the added bonus of improving the health and fitness of the individuals concerned. Olney Infant School submitted a successful School Travel Plan which resulted in a grant to allow the provision of new facilities. The grant was used to purchase and install new bicycle storage shelters at the school and the head teacher and governors are delighted to note that the new shelters have been full to capacity from the first day they were used!
School Improvements
Olney Infant School, along with many other schools within the Borough, lost a whole year group when the change of Age of Transfer was implemented. Milton Keynes Council introduced a Primary Investment Programme
am sure that our loss will be fantastic gain to Beaudesert and I join with my fellow governors in wishing Elaine every success in her future. Olney Infant School (formerly Olney First School) has an enviable record of producing candidates for headships and a number of schools locally have Head Teachers who are former members of teaching staff in Olney. The photograph below shows Elaine with Head teacher Steve Dunning.
to enable these schools to reconfigure teaching areas to make best use of the resulting additional capacity. Olney Infant School has benefited tremendously from the provision of this programme, which has enabled the provision of new teaching facilities, as well as additional corridors to improve the flow of children and staff around the school. The school’s old computer suite has been converted into a new multi-purpose room, which can be used for cooking as well as a useful space for special projects or break-out groups. A room previously used as a Year 3 classroom has been upgraded into a new computer suite complete with the very latest technology. The suite has 15 new computers in three pods (large hexagonal tables) allowing two children to work at each computer. There is also a teacher’s computer, a laptop docking station and a new interactive whiteboard. IT facilities in other classrooms have also been upgraded.
In a somewhat sad recognition of today’s society, the new facilities are protected by ‘Smokecloak’ and ‘Smart Water’ technology. Smokecloak is a really amazing system. In the event of an unauthorised entry into the room a very dense cloud of fog is introduced at high speed, making vision impossible. The beauty of the system is that the fog does not leave any trace of contamination, and therefore does not damage equipment protected by the system. Smokecloak was actually developed by Milton Keynes businessman Paul Dards in 1992 after he got fed up of repeated burglaries at his business premises in Stacey Bushes. If you have broadband facilities, you can see a demonstration of the system at www.smokecloak.com. You might also wish to see www.smartwater.com.
Congratulations to Elaine
Elaine Cox, currently the Deputy Head Teacher at Olney Infant School, has secured a very well-deserved promotion to the position of Head Teacher at Beaudesert Lower School in Leighton Buzzard. Elaine,
who will take up her new post in January, has been a tremendous asset to Olney Infant School and will be sorely missed. However, I
The school governors have taken the decision to appoint an acting Deputy Head for two terms from January 2008 before advertising nationally for a permanent Deputy to start in September 2008. This will ensure a stronger field as the vast majority of teachers prefer to change job at the end of a school year.
Calendar Girls Revisited!
I am sure that readers of this illustrious journal will be familiar with the film ‘Calendar Girls’, which was based on a true story. A group of ladies from Rylstone W.I. in Yorkshire achieved worldwide notoriety by posing for a nude charity calendar to raise funds for research into Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma after John Baker, the husband of one of the members, died from the illness in 1998. To date, the project has raised over £1 million. The story has seen many spin-offs, including a recent calendar featuring nurses and radiology staff from Bedford South Wing Hospital. The latest of these charity calendars features no less than the girls from Olney Co- op! The calendar went on sale from 17th October and features on Three Counties Radio and Horizon Radio ensured steady sales from day one. It seems likely that the initial print run of 500 may well be exhausted by the time you get to read this, but hopefully there will be more to follow. The proceeds from the calendar are all going to The Children’s Society, a very worthwhile cause. If you have ever wondered what goes on at the Co-op after closing time on a Sunday, get your copy now and be truly amazed! K
Phonebox Magazine 23