GSIS and Ma On Shan

[courtbas]

I totally agree with happyhour. The parents and the board have to meet each other half way. May I know who is in the lower building at the moment? Will there be any construction to the lower buiding? Why do children in the lower building need to be decanted to Pok Fu Lam while they renovate the middle building in Phase 2 (if the construction is to be done after 3pm every day)?

On top of happyhour's suggestion, I have a couple more:

1. Keep Kindergarten in where they are, move Y1-Y4 students to PFL. Move Business College + Y5 & Y6 students to Ma On Shan.

2. If they must decant Kindergarten, then move KG to Ma On Shan together with Y5 & 6 and Business College. The rationale behind this is KG has a much later start (9am) and the parents who will be applying to KG for 2010 have a choice to whether they want to put their kids there for 2 years. If not, they can always come back for primary school. The most affected are the older children in Y5 & Y6 and the "grown ups" in business college.

The biggest benefit of either solution (1) or (2) is that everyone will be in ma on shan for a maximium of 2 years. This is asuming they are going to take 4 years and Phase 3&4 are to happen. If they are not then everyone will return to the peak in 2 years.

I think both parents and the board need to compromise on both ends. There is no perfect solution. It's apparent that there is no other site on HK island and Ma On Shan is proven to be too far for parents to accept.

 

[FFONG]

saw this in other forum, i guess most parents have it too:

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GSIS EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS UPDATE

Hong Kong, March 16, 2009 ? In response to a requisition by parents concerned with the school?s plan to decant its Primary section to Ma On Shan while its Peak campus undergoes renovation, the German Swiss International School Association Ltd. held two Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) last Friday night to discuss and conduct a formal vote among attending members on motions related to the proposed temporary relocation. Only registered GSIS Association Members in this capacity, not the school Board (as reported in SCMP on March 13), voted on items tabled at the two EGMs.

The First EGM was held to reach out to concerned parents with a compromise proposal, which addresses the common concern for the commuting time of the youngest children affected by the campus redevelopment. Accordingly, the Lower Primary will be accommodated at Pokfulam to minimize their commute and only the Upper Primary will be relocated to Ma On Shan while the Peak campus is renovated. Polls indicated that 125 members were in favour of the Board?s compromise proposal while there were 161 members against it, 6 invalid ballots and 1 abstention.

The Second EGM was held to vote on the original requisition by the abovementioned parents to immediately abort any negotiations related to the Ma On Shan decanting site. Polls indicated that 171 members were in favour of aborting Ma On Shan altogether as a decanting option for the Primary while 120 were against it and 7 ballots were invalid.

At both EGMs, the Board restated its position that the statutory power to make a final decision in this matter in the best long-term interest of the school rests with the Board.

The Board will make a final decision on the Ma On Shan offer by the end of March as required by the Education Bureau.

###

About German Swiss International School
The German Swiss International School Hong Kong (GSIS) was established in 1969 by German Swiss families who were looking for a bilingual German-English education in an international setting. From these early beginnings, GSIS has grown into one of the leading international schools in Hong
Kong.

 

[genome]

I think that the discussion re what is best for the school is purely academic. I think that the board of the school is just going to ram the whole thing through and tell everyone that they are doing it in the best interest of the school.

Up until the board comes out with a clear cut statement as to what their plan we are wasting our time in that whatever happens we need to work with the school to get this done.

I would suggest to the board that they make their decision and stop delaying till the end of March. These discussions have been going on for a long time and they should at least know by now what they need to do. Or are they still thinking about it?

Make the decison and let people know so that people can get on with things.

 

[happyhour]

genome,

After reading the latest Media Release by the Board, I have the feeling that you are right. They are talking about "the best long-term interest of the school" and "a final decision will be made by the end of March". The Board will probably just push it through no matter what. In case it really happens, what would the opposing parents do then? Looking at it from a practical point of view, perhaps starting a legal action is the only option left but it would be very costly and time consuming.

I have been thinking about what the board will do. In my opinion knowing them they will just push through MOS.

 

[genome]

I cannot speak for others but I would not want to be part of a school that did not believe in the voice of the community or did not at least take in to account the opinions of the parents who are all educated and well informed in their respective fields and can tell the difference between what is right and what is wrong.

I would leave the school and move to somewhere where they care about the parents and students.

Life is to short to have it ruined by a principal who categorically told me that it was not wrong to have young children travel for distances or one that believes the best form of communication is through the web as he pointed out on friday night or a board that are out of touch especially when there are good choices out there.

The only reason that I have stuck it out so long is that I believe in the teachers they are the ones that make the school run and educate our children.

 

[parent]

Agreed with genome. The people making decision for the school are so up high in their own "Tower".
They just blind themselves with pride because they cannot stand to be corrected. It already shows at every meeting we have in the school. We talk the talk and they walk the walk.
So sad.

 

[happyhour]

Who are "the people making decision for the school"? The Board? I wonder if they really have a free hand.

I remember the Board was saying at the EGM that they had to seek the German Government's approval (which by the way was not given) in such small matter as to use English language in the board meetings. I don't think this proposal to redevelop and relocate to MOS would have been made without the blessing and full backing of the German Government.

Furthermore, under the Q & A Section of the school's website, it said:-
Is the Board planning to increase student numbers?
The Board is making provision for two German forms per year group to accommodate the fluctuations in German enrolments, which tends to reflect the business cycle. English Stream enrolment will be held at current levels. Provision is made for:
? two forms per year group K01-K12
? two forms per year group Y01-Y06
? three forms per year group Y07-Y11
? two forms per year group Y12-13

Taking all these together, I just wonder whilst the opposing parents are thinking that they are fighting against an arrogant and stubborn Board, could it be that they are in fact pitting themselves against the German Government whose wishes are being carried out by the Board? I must say this is nothing more than a mere speculation and it's not substantiated by any proof. I could be completely wrong. But if it were true, then it could explain why the Board is so determined to push it through. It's because they have been told to do so.

Agreed with genome. The people making decision for the school are so up high in their own "Tower".
They just blind themselves with pride because they cannot stand to be corrected. It already shows at every meeting we have in the school. We talk the talk and they walk the walk.
So sad.

 

[genome]

The school is run with no interference by any government. It is purely run by the board they make all the decisions on how the school is run on a day to day basis. There is no hiding behind the German Austrian or Swiss government on this one. MOS was conceived by the present board.

 

[happyhour]

I see. Thanks for correcting me.

The school is run with no interference by any government. It is purely run by the board they make all the decisions on how the school is run on a day to day basis. There is no hiding behind the German Austrian or Swiss government on this one. MOS was conceived by the present board.

 

[genome]

One week left and still no word out of the board. It would be nice if they could get on with things and at least let people know what they are going to do so that we can get on with things.