Catholic Primary School Management Association

News & Current Developments

NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF CPSMA

The Standing Committee of the Catholic Primary School Management Association with the approval of the Irish Bishops Conference has appointed Eileen Flynn as the General Secretary of CPSMA. The appointment is effective from 2nd September 2008.

Eileen is currently the National Co-ordinator of the School Development Planning Service (Primary). Eileen brings to the post her experience as a Primary Teacher, a Principal and her vast knowledge of the Primary system gained through her work with SDPSP.

To ensure a smooth transition of the duties of General Secretary, Mgr. Dan O'Connor will work with Eileen in the CPSMA Office at Veritas House for the month of September.

The Office of CPSMA moved on 31 October 2008 to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.

CPSMA will in the future become part of the Catholic Education Service.

 

Retirement of CPSMA secretary

Florence Conroy, the Office Secretary will retire from her post on October 31st after 36 years of loyal service to CPSMA. Florence has worked with seven General Secretaries and six Chairpersons of CPSMA and has been a most valued friend to all in Primary Education. She will be missed by all who have had occasion to phone or visit the office.

The Office Manager is now Linda Gorman.

Office: (01) 6292462; Fax: (01) 6292654.

click here to visit the CPSMA website and to download the most recent issue of SOLAS.

ONE DAY WORK STOPPAGES

CPSMA has been informed by the Trade Union 'IMPACT' that IMPACT members employed as School Secretaries and Caretakers in schools across the country have voted by a margin of 98% in favour of taking part in regional and/or national one day work stoppages. IMPACT informs that the decision has been taken 'to protest against the Department's failure to address seriously, within the informal process agreed under Towards 2016, the continuing inequalities in the pay and conditions of employment of secretaries and caretakers'.

IMPACT has given formal notice that IMPACT Union members as and from the 17th June will proceed with a one day regional work stoppage in all schools throughout Donegal. IMPACT will advise of further regional and/or national one day work stoppages in due course.

 

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Catholic Primary Schools: A Policy for Provision into the Future

Preliminary results of a five-year research project on education systems in 13 member states of the EU by staff at Dublin City University (“Include-ED”) found that Irish schools are far ahead of their European counterparts in preventing social exclusion. Catholic primary schools are acknowledged to be among the most inclusive in the country.

"There is need for greater diversity in schooling in Ireland so as to respond effectively to the changing needs of parents and children in our country. This issue is as important for the denominational sector as it is for the State and for others. The Catholic Church has no desire to be the sole provider of education for whole communities. However it does wish to respond to the desire of those parents who want a Catholic education for their children." Bishop Leo O'Reilly launching a Policy Document on Catholic Education at the Columba Centre, Maynooth on 1/10/2007

CLICK ABOVE FOR THE BISHOPS' CONFERENCE DOCUMENT

CLICK HERE FOR BISHOP O'REILLY'S PRESS RELEASE

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THE ETHOS OF CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Sr Eileen Randles, the former General Secretary of CPSMA gave an address on the Ethos of a Catholic School, which was reproduced in the February 2004 edition of Solas
click here for the full text.

Boards of Management were asked to study Sr Eileen's address as it outlines how a Board of Management of a Catholic Primary School can serve the Pupils, Staff , parents and parish community, Patron and the Minister for Education & Science fulfilling all the requirements of the 1998 Education Act for the good of the young people in our Primary Schools.

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CHECKING REFERENCES

Chairpersons should check the references of all applicants for positions in National Schools. If an applicant has not supplied a reference from a school where they had previously been employed, the Chairperson should contact that school also to ask about the suitability of the applicant for appointment.

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THE ALLOCATION OF MARKS IN APPOINTING TEACHERS
TO POSTS OF RESPONSIBILITY

A number of schools have had to hold interviews for a second time because they did not follow the Appointments Procedure.

The Procedure is clear that there are three criteria on which the applicants are marked. Schools should not create new criteria. Neither should they sub divide "experience gained through length of service" into
i) years of service and
ii) courses completed during years of service.
The criteria relates to length of service alone.

Also, please note that the criteria carry equal weight and the marks available for each of the criteria should be the same.

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

The Department of Education and Science (DES) has introduced revised Child Protection Procedures for the Officials of the DES regarding allegations or complaints of Child Abuse made to the DES which relate to schools.

The procedures the Officials are to follow are outlined in Circular 0046/2007

A copy of the Circular is being sent to all schools. It can also be viewed online by clicking on this link: http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/cl0046_2007.doc

 

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Insurance of Members of Boards of Management of Primary Schools

Allianz will be happy to take calls from schools who have questions regarding the cover provided by the schools policy. 

The Catholic Primary Schools Insurance policy covers the individual members of the Board and the Board as a corporate body, and the Boards successors, for any claim made by any individual or group against the individual members of a Board and the Board as a corporate body.

This cover applies providing the Board is acting in good faith and within the provisions of:

The 1998 Education Act

The Rules and Procedures for BOM

The Rules for National Schools

The Board and Individual members of a Board as a corporate body and as individuals are also indemnified for any claim made against them under Section 14 of the 1998 Education Act.

Click here for some background information relating to operation of Primary Schools in Ireland

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Draft School Accommodation Plans for East Meath area launched

Details on the Draft School Accommodation Plans for North Dublin / East Meath / South Louth area are available on the Department's web site. Click here

 

School Insurance Questions

Schools often have questions relating to insurance. Most schools in the Diocese of Meath are insured by ALLIANZ Corporate Ireland plc. Visit their website for details of the School Protection Policy and sample letters to Parents regarding insurance before and after school opening hours.