Education Council

General presentations

• 1211267 – Integration of school leaving

  Report of the working group on the integration of education and employment, „Everyone in Education and Work Suitable for Them“, published by the Ministry of the Prime Minister in November 2012. The report can be found at: $line$ $line$http://www.forsaetisraduneyti.is/frettir/nr/7412$line$$line$Book by Gerða G. Óskarsdóttir, „Transitions between School Stages“, is presented, which discusses in detail the transitions between nursery and primary school, and between primary and secondary school. The findings in the book are based on the author's research, which is based on field observations, questionnaires and interviews.

  Presented for information.

• 1211275 – Bjarmi, request for an extension

  A letter dated 21.11.2012 from Björgum leikskólar ehf. was presented, requesting discussions with the City of Hafnarfjörður regarding the possibility of expanding and increasing the number of children at the Bjarma infant nursery school.

  The Education Committee agrees to enter into negotiations with Bjargir Leikskóli ehf. .

• 1003251 – Events, Education Department

  Sigurborg Kristjánsdóttir, development officer for nurseries, spoke about the seminar, „Language Development Delays“, which will be held on Thursday, 29th November. Ingbjörg Einarsdóttir, office manager at the School Office, attended the meeting and reported on what was launched in primary schools on Icelandic Language Day on 16 November.

  Thanks to Ingibjörg for her contribution in promoting the Big and Little Reading Competitions, a competition for sixth-grade pupils for places in the final of the Big Reading Competition and the Short Story Competition for eighth to tenth-grade pupils.

• 1208216 – Education Department Budget 2013

  To be taken up again from the last meeting.

  The following proposals, in addition to the budget submitted for the second reading in the town council, were taken for consideration.Proposal: A sports hall with four classrooms will be built at Ásland School and opened in autumn 2013. The operating costs are a net amount of up to 14 million next year, but the project would be financed by the property company, and this is being specifically considered. The building would be owned by the town from the outset. This is subject to a condition that an agreement is reached with the landowners of the Ásland school site for this new building.Proposal: The number of periods in the primary school will be increased by one per class next autumn, and will then be three instead of two in Year 1. – Year 7 and five in Years 8–10 instead of four. Cost estimated at around 23 million next year (equivalent to 50 million for a full year).Proposal: Full reimbursement to eliminate the difference in nursery and day-care fees will continue to be based on the age of 24 months. No further steps will be taken to lower the age to around 20 months. However, the general subsidy for all parents with children in day care will be significantly increased, from approximately 32,000 kr. to around 40,000 kr. kr. We are currently very low in this regard compared to neighbouring municipalities, but this increase would bring us closer to the average. The cost is approximately 19 million kr. on an annual basis.$line$$line$Topic 4$line$The income threshold for the additional nursery fee discount for low-income families to be increased by 9% immediately from the start of the year, and by a further 5% next autumn. This is based on the wage index and compensates for the fact that there was no increase this autumn. Cost of approximately 8 mkr.$line$$line$Suggestion 5$line$A speech and language therapist will be appointed to the School Office, as a waiting list has formed due to an increased need for speech and language therapy services in nurseries and primary schools. Cost of around 9 mkr. over a full year. Proposal 6. All fee schedules to be increased next autumn to reflect inflation, which is around 4% according to inflation forecast, except for food in nurseries and primary schools, which will increase in line with the indexation of food and drink prices, which is somewhat higher. The fee for additional nursery hours beyond 8.5 hours will not increase, thereby effectively equalising the difference between that time and the standard rate. $line$ Fee schedules with calculations based on these assumptions will be presented.$line$$line$The Education Committee approves the proposals with three votes in favour; the representatives of the Independence Party abstain. The proposals were referred to the town council and municipal council for consideration.$line$$line$Representatives of the Independence Party wish to record:$line$Representatives of the Independence Party abstain from the handling of the education department's budget in the education committee, but will, when the budget for Hafnarfjörður is presented to the town council and city council, discuss the budget for Hafnarfjörðurarbæjar in its entirety.$line$Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir (sign)$line$Halldóra Björk Jónsdóttir (sign)$line$ $line$An observer representative of parents of preschool children wishes to record:$line$The Parents' Council of Preschools in Hafnarfjörður strongly protests the 4% increase in the fee schedule for the year 2013. This increase comes on top of the huge increases in nursery fees in 2012, which hit families with children in the town very hard. The parents' council also points out that the nurseries are closed for 5 weeks during the summer of 2013.$line$$line$The parents' representative on the council for primary school children wishes to record:The Parents' Council of Hafnarfjörður expresses its concern about the increases in the price of school meals for primary school pupils, which will hit families in the town hard. The Parents' Council expresses its satisfaction with the appointment of a speech and language therapist to the School Office and the increase in supervised playtimes in primary schools.