Minutes:
MINUTES OF THE APS TRUST MEETING HELD ON 3 JUNE 2009
AT ASAKO PRIMARY SCHOOL
Trustees present:
Anthony Gross – AFG Kulisa Shora Dirkicha – KD
Ismail F. Solola – IS Lissa Campbell – LC
Juma Ali Dido – JAD Mohamed Hassan – MoH
Apologies: Mark Cheruiyot – MC Tony Fitzjohn – TF
Mike Harries - MH Stephen Kameti - SK
In attendance:
Kate Hargreaves - KH
1. The meeting was opened with a prayer by IS
2. The Minutes of the meeting on 20 March 2009 were tabled and passed.
3. Matters arising
* AFG to write to MH and TF regarding the windmill and to try and move this forward.
* There is also a problem with the water from the borehole as it is not being pumped to the school or the houses but it was not clear what the problem was. AFG to contact MC.
* LC has ordered the bookbags and these will be ready in 2 weeks time. LC to ask SK if he can transport to Asako.
* HT had not produced paper detailing staff bonus breakdown. This was asked for next meeting. The question was raised whether staff would receive any bonus if only 7 students achieved the pass marks. It was agreed that this should be discussed once the results are known but a pro rata basis would probably be applicable.
* The next football match is to be in Balambala on Saturday. The students will walk there. It is hoped that this match will be more successful than the last when fighting broke out on the pitch by onlookers. LC asked that a school trip to Garissa also be organised soon.
* AFG has closed the GPB account. It was felt that changes need to be made to the Garissa account. Currently money is often transferred direct to JAD’s personal account as 2 signatories are needed for him to access the Garissa account. AFG and LC to contact Garissa bank and see if a faxed letter signed by 2 signatories will be permissible for him to withdraw money.
4. Funding
* The proposal for the bee-keeping was not available so this was deferred to the next meeting.
* Dining Hall for 500 children (currently 450 in school but expecting another 50)
* Dormitories for 50 girls and 50 boys.
It was agreed that APST would consider funding the dormitories only once the dining hall had been built. The dining hall to be funded locally – whether by CDF, applying to Arid Lands or the Councillor. IS said that the CDF funding was not reliable as it was politicised and the MP only got 7% of votes from that area.
* ISSB – Brick making machine. It was agreed that this could be the way forward for reducing the costs of building the dormitories. Local trustees to think about how the children could be involved, who would be trained (4 members of the community and 1 teacher) and the costs involved and a proposal to be submitted at the next meeting. As Madogo are also submitting a proposal for one it was suggested they seek advice from them. A funding template drawn up by Sarah Cooper was handed over.
5. New Secretary
* LC said she was moving to the UK in July so would no longer be able to be the secretary. LC to remain proxy trustee for Asako and become trustee for TAS. LC thanked the trustees for their help and good work and hoped the school would continue to improve. LC introduced KH who would like to take over from LC. A vote was taken and KH was unanimously voted in and warmly welcomed.
6. Satellite phone
* JAD asked if the satphone could be de-restricted so they could contact anyone using it. The phone to be used for school business only or emergencies. A couple of times JAD has asked LC to contact someone when a relative has passed away suddenly. LC to look into amount currently being spent on phone each month, whether a monthly cap could be placed on it and if it could be topped up directly by trustees.
7. Bursaries
* It was thought that we should wait till the end of the school year to see if the 2 Madogo students improved. IS said that most of the schools in the Tana River were not very good and that Balambala was better than Madogo which needs to improve.
* JAD, IS and KD asked if APST could support a child who failed Standard 8 at Asako but went to Balambala and has since greatly improved. His report was shown to trustees. His mother is a widow and is very poor. She has a daughter in Standard 8 currently. AFG offered to pay for 1 year for the boy if his mother writes to him with the request and a copy of his school report.
8. Teachers
* Prior to the APST meeting, at LC’s request AFG, LC, KH and MoH met with all the teachers. Details of this were then discussed at the APST meeting. While greatly appreciating the work of the Trust, the teachers said they felt sidelined and not represented on the Trust. They asked if Hussein Duba become a trustee. It was agreed that it was essential for the teachers to be properly represented. Hussein Duba was considered a good candidate but because of gender sensitivity it was wondered whether a female teacher should be chosen. Due to time constraints the decision was deferred to the next meeting.
9. Actions
* AFG to write to MH and TF and contact MC regarding water issues.
* LC to pick up bookbags and ask SK to take them to Asako.
* MoH to detail staff bonus breakdown and fill in completion reports with help of JAD, IS and KD
* AFG and LC to contact Garissa bank
* LC to investigate changes to satphone set up.
10. The meeting ended at 2.30pm. The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 15th September 2009 at AFG office in Nairobi. GMA to be present at the meeting.
After the meeting the date of the next meeting was amended to Monday 14th September.
