This article is from page 25 of the 2012-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
CLARE Vocational Education Committee (VEC) has confirmed appointments to positions at Scariff Community College.
In a statement, a VEC spokesperson confirmed that Angela McNamara would replace the retiring Sean Daly as principal of Scariff Community College. Ms McNamara is currently deputy principal of Ennis Community College.
Brian Crossan, who is currently director of East Clare Adult and Community Education Centre, Scariff, will take up the role of deputy principal at Scariff Community College. He replaces retiring deputy principal John O’Donovan. Mr Crossan is a former director of St. Joseph’s Training Centre, Ennis.
The issue of teacher retirements was raised at the January meeting of Clare VEC. The meeting heard that the number of retirements, including principals and their deputies, is “up a little bit on average”.
Under the Croke Park agreement, teachers who retire before the end of February will have their pensions and lump sums calculated on ‘pre-cut’ salary, the salary they were earning before the pay cut imposed in January 2010.
Clare VEC is waiting to see how many teachers take up the option in order to assess the impact on Clare schools.
Last month, in response to concern over teaching retirements, CEO George O’Callaghan said that teachers could be hired in a temporary capacity to take classes until the end of term.
Mr O’Callaghan said the VEC does not expect to encounter any problems in filling posts. He said the VEC would examine the situation more closely in February.
Concern was also expressed over the impact of cuts to career guidance services announced in last November’s Budget.
Mr O’Callaghan told last week’s meeting that meetings are due to take place with principals in the coming weeks to ascertain the impact of the cuts. He said these discussions would guide the VEC’s response to the situation.
Meanwhile, three delegates will represent County Clare Vocational Education Committee at the annual Eigse Colm Cille Winter School Conference on Magee Campus in Derry.
Responding to an organisers’ invitation, the committee unanimously chose the chairman, Cllr Tommy Brennan; Bernard Hanrahan and Cllr Gabriel Keating.
The conference, on February 24 to 26, is a literary weekend of events celebrating the Irish language in the North-West.