Parent concerned about school’s finances

A 40-YEAR-OLD female resident of Brackendowns and parent whose child attends Glenview Primary, is frustrated about a financial crisis that the school is allegedly encountering.

She raised concerns about this and the problem was escalated to the governing body of the school.

During a parents meeting on July 29 this was discussed: a crises which resulted in a loss of R 800 000 in school fees. Parents were only informed in this meeting, even though the crisis had been ongoing for around a year, according to the parent.

SGB Glenview Primary School chairman Enoch Malisa explains, “A presentation of our 2013 Audited Financial Statements was presented, which is available at the school and was tabled to parents.

“It indicated that the school had made a loss in that particular financial year due to lower than expected school fees received.

“The amount quoted by the parent is incorrect. As this information pertains to the school, it will be highly incorrect to make pronouncements about this in the media. However, any parent of a learner in Glenview is invited to inspect these records at the school.”

The concerned parent mentioned that the teachers have been informing learners about the schools financial crisis regarding outstanding school fees.

Enoch said, “There was a general note to the learners to remind their parents about school fees, which is an acceptable practice in many schools where school fees are paid.”

An SMS message the parent has on her cellphone reads: “Dear parents please sent two toilet rolls and one ream of Typek paper with your child as we have no stock due to a financial situation. Thanking you, the school governing body.

The parent was confused why they were asking the parents for extra paper, but this is included in the standard book pack that parents have paid for which includes normal writing materials, books to write on, flip files, etc.

“Following our meeting with parents of Glenview, there were numerous suggestions from parents that the school needed to detail to parents items that are needed. As the school, we believe that this was a fair request and it was not compulsory at all.

“The response by our parents was overwhelming and this request saved the school quite a bit of money to be used where needed,” said Enoch Malisa.

The parent noted that she believes this problem is occurring because Glenview is not only taking in children from the immediate area, but also taking them from outside the area.

“Glenview is guided by the Admissions policy of the Department of Education, which stipulates that a child is admitted to a school if the parents live in the area or work in the area, or if there is a sibling in the school.

“As a school we do not discriminate against children, we follow the Admissions Policy of the Department that if a parent works in the area their children may access the school. Refer to Regulations for Admission of learner to public school (Act No. 6 of 1995).”

The parent wanted to know why the merit assembly was cancelled?

“Merit Assembly was not cancelled, it was only postponed until further notice. This was communicated to the parents via School Communicator on August 1.

Prior to the meeting on July 25, the school took the children per grade class (grades are usually split per class, eg grade 1 A, grade 1B, grade 1C, etc.) and were put into one classroom, and it was said by the teachers that it is because of the financial issue. Then the problem was resolved regarding the classrooms a few days after the July 29 meeting and the classes were put back to their normal sections.

“The school rearranged the classes to model to the parents the worst case scenario should we not have the additional teachers paid by the Governing Body. This is what we did for a few days :

Grade 1A,B,C and D – garde 1A,B and C

Grade 2A,B,C and D – grade 2A,B and C

Grade 3A,B,C and D – garde 3A,B and C

Grade 4A,B,C and D – garde 4A,B and C

Grade 5A,B,C and D – grade 5A and B

Grade 6A,B,C&D – garde 6A and B

Grade7A,B,C&D – grade 7A and B

“Our learners are back in their respective classes,” he noted.

“On behalf of Glenview Primary School, we wish to thank all parents, including the complainant, for continuing to engage the school on all matters relating to the education of our learners.

“While the current situation is impacting on our ability to provide sustainable and quality education, we remain buoyed by the response of parents who have come forward to make the necessary payments.

“We believe that working as a collective (parents and the school) we will be able to turn the corner irrespective of the tough economic challenges that every parent is facing during this time,” said Enoch Malisa.

In all of Enoch’s statements regarding parents’ concerns, he mentioned that all were incorrect or out of context.

“The plan going forward for the school is to encourage parents to pay their school fees. The parents are informed with statements that indicate the school fees infrastructure.

“For outstanding school fees, parents do receive personal phone calls and are encouraged to pay,” said Enoch Malisa.