News / Skerries folk to follow school debate via video link
SKERRIES folk will be unable to attend tomorrow’s crucial council meeting because there are no planes or ferries running on a Tuesday.
Shetland Islands Council hopes to save just over £70,000 annually by closing the island’s three pupil secondary department, the smallest in Scotland.
But unless islanders are prepared to embark on a three-day round trip they will only be able to follow proceedings via a special video link.
Head of children services, Helen Budge, confirmed on Monday that the council has responded to a request from the community and will be transmitting the debate from Lerwick’s council chamber.
Parent Julie Arthur said a delegation from the island would definitely be travelling to Lerwick on Wednesday morning, when the full council will debate the recommendations and come up with a final decision.
The item on the future of the school is to be moved to the top of the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting to allow islanders to catch the ferry home in the afternoon.
The mother of three said: “We are hoping the decision will work out favourably for us. The quality of education that is received here has to count for something.
“The new head teacher Patricia Babin has been like a breath of fresh air.
“There is such a positive vibe in the school; the entire school is buzzing with excitement and happiness, and we are just hoping that after Tuesday and Wednesday there will be more happiness.”
Islanders had invited councillors to visit Skerries last Saturday to experience island life for themselves.
While nine councillors responded by saying they were already engaged otherwise, none of the other 13 managed to get to Skerries as transport services were only slowly getting back to normal after two days of weather related disruption.
Renewing her invitation, she said Monday would have been another opportunity for a short visit.
“We would be able to accommodate them any day. If they wanted to have come on Monday, they could have done so by taking the 7.10am ferry from Laxo via Whalsay, arriving here at 9.20am, and leaving again on the ferry in the afternoon.
“We would have welcomed them here to see the island, meet the children and ask them what they think about their education,” she said.
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