Education Council

General presentations

• 1006286 – Environmental and resource policy.

  Submitted reviews of Áslandskóli, Hraunvallaskóli, Setbergsskóli, Öldutúnsskóli and the Hlíðarbergs nursery school.

  The Education Committee considers it important that the council adopts an environmental policy in the manner proposed here, and makes no comments regarding the school's contribution to the council's work.

• 1201362 – Standardised assessment tests in Year 4, Year 7 and Year 10, 2012

  A working document from the School Office was presented, which introduced the first summary of the results of the standardised tests in Hafnarfjörður in the 4th, 7th and 10th grades in autumn 2012. Further results will be found in the report from the National Assessment Institute when it is available.

  Presented for information.

• 1209541 – Parents' Council of Hafnarfjörður

  Presentation of the aims and outcomes of a course held in the autumn, which was supported by the Education Council.

  Gísli Guðlaugsson, chairman of the Hvaleyrarskóli Parent Council, presented the results of the course. It was reported that the courses were a success, and the council thanks Gísli for the presentation.

• 1206323 – Parents' Council for Preschool Children - Enquiry

  A question was submitted by the Parents' Council of Hafnarfjörður's kindergartens regarding the use of the kindergarten grounds. The Property Association of Hafnarfjörður's responses to the question were submitted.

  Presented for information; deferred until the next council meeting.

• 1008206 – Hjalli School

  A letter dated 13 November 2012 was presented from the headteacher of the Hjallastefnan Primary School in Hafnarfjörður and the nursery headteacher at Hjalli, requesting discussions regarding permission to increase the number of pupils at the Hjallastefnan Primary School in Hafnarfjörður.

  The Education Committee agrees to refer the matter for consideration in connection with the town's and the Hjalli School's negotiations on a service agreement.

• 1110250 – Confirmation of school curricula and work plans for primary schools.

  The school curricula and work plans for the primary schools of Hafnarfjörður for the current school year were submitted, together with the school councils' confirmations.

  The Education Committee approves the submitted school curricula and work plans of the primary schools in Hafnarfjörður. The documents can be found on the schools' websites.

• 1212050 – Educational services, prevention and professional standards

  A pilot version of a handbook has been presented, which will form the basis for supporting preventative measures in the town's primary schools.

  The Education Committee agrees that the submitted report/handbook will be sent out to the school community and also calls for feedback.

• School calendars 2012-2013

  A request was submitted from the head teacher of Álfasteinn nursery for permission to make up for 2 January 2013, which is a planning day according to the approved school calendar. It is requested that the staff work the day in return on two evenings.$line$$line$Letters of request from the headteachers of Ásland School, Lækjarskóli, Setbergsskóli, Víðistaðaskóli and Öldutúnsskóli request permission to count 19 December as two school days in the schools' senior departments, as on that day normal school activities will take place, followed by a Christmas celebration until 23:00 in the evening. In return, school for these groups will be cancelled on 20 December, which is the last school day before the Christmas holidays according to the school calendar.$line$Ministry of Education and Culture has given an opinion on this type of flexibility and has no objection, provided that all parties in the school community agree to it and that it is never decided for more than one year at a time.$line$MThe school councils of all the schools have confirmed this arrangement on their part.

  The Education Committee approves the request from the nursery school Álfasteinn for permission to make up for 2 January 2013, which is a staff training day according to the approved school calendar. It is requested that the staff work the day in exchange for two evenings, provided that all staff of the nursery school agree to this. The nursery head teacher sent the School Office a summary of the work on both evenings, which included details of staff participation. The Education Committee approves, for its part, the requests from the head teachers of Ásland School, Lækjarskóli, Setbergsskóli, Víðistaðaskóli and Öldutúnsskóli to count 19 December as two school days in the schools' senior secondary departments, as on that day normal school activities will take place, followed by a Christmas celebration until 23:00 in the evening. In return, school for these groups will be cancelled on 20 December, which is the last school day before the Christmas holidays according to the school calendar.

• 1212078 – Proposals from the town council

  The following proposals, which the Hafnarfjörður Town Council referred to the Education Committee on 5 December, were put forward: 1. „Development Project at Engidal School for Children Aged 2-10$line$$line$The Hafnarfjörður Town Council agrees to undertake a development project at the Víðistaðaskóli site in Engidal. A comprehensive school for 2-10 year old children will be run there, which will be dedicated to development work in specific areas. The school will operate on the basis of Article 5 of the collective agreement between the Municipalities“ Salary Commission and the Icelandic Teachers„ Association for primary schools. The school would be guided by the new core elements of education and key competences, such as literacy, sustainability, health and well-being, democracy and human rights, equality, and creativity. Furthermore, the school would be a leading school in the field of information technology, where a special development project would be devised on the use of electronic teaching materials.$line$The Education Department would be tasked, in consultation with a working group on school organisation, with implementing the proposal by 1 March 2013."$line$2. "Better use of school premises $line$As it is not feasible to undertake capital projects in the town in the coming months due to the municipality's debt position and provisions in loan agreements with lenders, the Hafnarfjörður Town Council agrees to seek a waye to resolve the accommodation problems at Áslandsskóli and Hraunvallaskóli by means other than extensions. $line$It is clear that there is sufficient school accommodation in the town, based on the figures presented for pupil numbers and the forecast for projected pupil numbers up to the year 2017. It is therefore proposed that premises in other schools in the town or nearby facilities be used for teaching on a temporary basis. The Education Committee and the Hafnarfjörður Property Company shall be tasked with finding a suitable solution to the accommodation problem.

  1. The Education Committee proposes that consideration of this proposal be deferred until proposals from the staff of Víðistaðaskóli, the Engidal site and the Álfabergs nursery school have been received by the Committee. The Education Committee postpones the consideration of the proposal for better use of school premises and refers it to the headteachers and school councils of Ásland School and Hraunvallar School, and to the Hafnarfjörður Parents“ Council for comment. The motion was approved with three votes, the representatives of the Independence Party abstained.$line$$line$ Representatives of the Social Democratic and Green Party wish to record:$line$“The assertions in the introduction of the proposal by the Independence Party representatives that it is not possible to finance the normal development of school facilities in Hafnarfjörður to improve conditions and accommodate the increase in pupils are incorrect."$line$ Eyjólfur Sæmundsson (sign)$line$ Helena Mjöll Jóhannsdóttir (sign)$line$ Gestur Svavarsson (sign)$line$$line$ Representatives of the Independence Party wish to record:$line$$line$Nowhere in the budget for next year is funding provided for new investment in school premises at Ásland School, and it is completely irresponsible to put forward proposals for the construction of school premises at Ásland School as representatives the majority have put forward.$line$$line$$line$$Representatives of the Independence Party wish to record:The proposals put forward by the representatives of the Independence Party regarding better use of school premises aim to find ways to make efficiencies and, at the same time, enhance development within the school system. Helga Ingólfsdóttir (sign)$line$$line$Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir (sign)

• Budget for Educational Services 2012

  The 10-month 2012 report on educational services was presented.

  Presented for information. Chairman wishes the members of the Education Committee and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.