Council chief urged to bring parties together to solve school bus problem
Dundee's depute lord provost is urging an end to a school bus dispute.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 07.10.11
- Published online : 07.10.11 @ 08.30am
Ian Borthwick said he is worried that the row over the axing of a service to St John's High School is risking damage to the ''excellent'' relationship between the city council and the Roman Catholic church.
The 4S bus, withdrawn by National Express on commercial grounds, took more than 40 West End pupils to and from the school.
In Thursday's Courier, the chairwoman of the St John's parent council and a senior diocesan representative warned that Catholic education was being undermined and called for council funds to subsidise the service (link).
However, the council said it had not provided such subsidies in more than 15 years.
Mr Borthwick said the row was ''deeply regrettable'' and he believes it is time for ''cool heads and sound judgment'' to prevent a further deterioration.
He has written to council chief executive David Dorward asking for ''all necessary steps to secure a meeting of all parties involved in seeking a satisfactory resolution.''
Mr Borthwick said he understood the differences of opinion, but felt it best to deal with them ''in an atmosphere of mutual respect.''
West End councillor Richard McCready also called for a meeting between the council and parents.
He said he was surprised by the council saying it did not subsidise school buses as he understood there was such a bus to St Paul's Academy, the city's other Catholic secondary, which cost £45,000 a year.
10.12am - 07.10.2011 Kenny - Forfar, Scotland Report This
It is harming Catholic Education. What is Catholic education? Do they teach Maths and English and PE in a different way from other schools. I think not. Do not play the religious discrimination card. Churches should teach religion and leave the schools to get on with the rest of it.
04.47pm - 07.10.2011 N E Strathtay - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Lets get real, the 4s used to pick up on the Perth Road at 8.15, now they have to get a bus 10 minutes earlier! It is not the case that it takes an hour and a half to get to school as some claim. There are 4/5 services that leave that end of town and get to there in plenty time (8.35 / 8.40)
01.00am - 08.10.2011 Anthony. - Dundee, Scotland Report This
This is what happens when schools are closed. Fund these buses!! What alarms me is the suspect pillorying of Catholic concerns because the council is trying to save money and I'm hoping this hasn't anything to do with the Catholic church's reaction to the SG's anti-sectarian laws
12.07pm - 08.10.2011 Ballumbie Ryan - Dundee, UK Report This
If the Catholic church wants seperate schools then let them pay for it. What better way to promote religious division than to send kids to different schools based on religion. As has been said before, let schools educate and churches promote religion.
10.49am - 10.10.2011 Alex - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Not a Catholic or a parent, but schools have been amalgamated and even I can see that means some kids travelling further for schooling. If the SNP-run council wants to save money, fine, but empty our schools of non-Dundee kids first!
01.21pm - 10.10.2011 Steve Scott - Dundee, Scotland Report This
P&K & Angus children should only go to their own schools, not Dundee's. As for religion, how many St Johns kids are actually Catholic? A lot will be, but many that go aren't. This makes a mockery of the claim it's harming "Catholic" education. @Anthony - nothing to do with SG, just Secular opinion
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