Latest news with #ElginHighSchool
Press and Journal
16-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Why Moray Council officials are recommending AGAINST upgrade works to Buckie High School
Education officials have warned Buckie High School could be left to deteriorate as part of a plan to secure government funding for a new school. This is despite council officers admitting the school has 'further deteriorated' and is close to becoming part of the lowest rated schools in Scotland. Councillors have been given a number of options to decide the future of the school, but have decided to delay the decision until after a public meeting in June. The council will also wait until after a decision to move ahead with Elgin High School's extension has been made in the autumn. While guaranteeing 'complete transparency,' Deputy Chief Executive for education Denise Whitworth warned upgrade works could impact any future funding bids for improvements. Officials are hesitant because if school standards improve, it risks the Scottish Government diverting funding to a different school in need of a new build. It means any future works to Buckie High School will likely be dictated by the Scottish Government's school standards grading system. Currently, on a scale from A to D, Buckie High is rated a 'C' in condition and 'B' in suitability. The minimum standards for both is 'B'. This puts the school in the worst 8% of both primaries and secondaries in Scotland. Moray Council's learning estate programme manager Andy Hall admitted there is a 'necessity' for 'substantial' investment into Buckie High School. He told councillors 'mechanical and electrical' areas of the school have 'further deteriorated.' He also noted issues with the school's roof and windows. However, as a result of Moray Council's ongoing budget issues, officers admitted finding funds for school improvements is a 'significant concern.' The council is currently unable to fund a new school for Buckie and would need financial support from the Scottish Government. However, the government are yet to commit any more funding for new school projects. This conundrum means officers presented several alternatives to councillors, including transferring funding from other projects such as Elgin High School's extension. Buckie councillor Sonya Warren said the school and its additional role as a community centre has always been 'the heart of the community.' She wants the school to remain 'top of the priority list' for a new build to afford Buckie students the same learning opportunities as 'all other upgraded schools in Moray.' Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae said it was 'disappointing' the recent Programme for Government announcement did not make any further funding available. Meanwhile, SNP group leader Scott Lawrence said it was important to 'maximise the funding opportunities' and said any extra money the council could source for Buckie High School would be welcome. The council has agreed to postpone any decision until after a public meeting on the 17th June and once final research into Elgin High's extension is complete. However, councillors did agree to work together to prepare a cross-party letter to be sent to the Scottish Government, asking for a clearer picture on future school funding.
Press and Journal
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Fears Buckie High School revamp could be 'kicked into second place again' in favour of Elgin High School extension
Plans for Buckie's new high school could face yet more delays while Elgin High School's extension is finalised. A council report has published several options for Buckie's new school, a number of which recommended councillors wait until the exact details of Elgin High School's planned extension are confirmed. Other options include the council 'do nothing' or have officers borrow more money. In reaction to the report, Buckie councillor Sonya Warren said the lack of progress on a new school was 'beyond being political.' It comes after hopes of the Scottish Government's Programme for Government unveiling new funding for school projects were dashed earlier this week. Buckie councillor Sonya Warren told the Press and Journal the recent Programme for Government announcement 'doesn't change the situation' for Buckie High School. The SNP councillor said she intends to 'hope and pray' the Scottish election next year brings a government that will commit funding for a new school. Without that extra funding, she doesn't believe the council is in a position to be able to afford not just a new school, but perhaps even a programme of refurbishment. Councillor Warren said: 'Buckie High absolutely has to stay top of the priority list. Three times now it's been kicked into second place. 'It is still one of the worst schools in Moray and one of the worst in Scotland – there are not many worse than it. 'It's way beyond being political, it's a vital resource for the east of Moray.' She added the school situation was 'not a reflection on the teachers' and they were doing a 'phenomenal job' in the circumstances. Moray Council's learning estate programme manager Andy Hall has prepared a report outlining eight proposals councillors could take forward for Buckie High. They range from 'do nothing' or 'delay' going all the way up to borrowing money for the new school. With Buckie High School currently at 87.5% capacity, a number of different proposals remain on the table, dependent on funding. The bare minimum approach the council has suggested would be to refurbish the priority areas of the school with whatever money they have. Councillor Warren has questioned this approach. She said: 'It's obviously going to be a huge expense whatever. 'The question has to be asked – is it worth spending so much money on repairing and replacing to keep it going instead of doing a new build?' The report has made it clear to councillors they should consider postponing making a decision until plans for Elgin High School's extension are finalised. The Elgin High project is currently paused until further work is done on the capacity needs of that school. The report also says 'any significant investment beyond immediate repair and maintenance' should wait until after more Scottish Government funding becomes clearer. Buckie High School's last condition report graded it a 'C' which is below the minimum 'B' standard. Councillor Warren said more recent investigations moved the school down to a 'very low C,' and nearing the lowest tier 'D' grading. Recently announced housing could bring more families to Buckie, adding further stresses for the school. A petition earlier in the year calling for more investment in the school gathered over 1,000 signatures. Another report will be prepared for November, with a review on how much funding is required for the Elgin High School extension.
Press and Journal
08-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Meet the Elgin woman who turned her back on university to kickstart career through apprenticeships
By the time she reached the end of fifth year at Elgin High School, Aimee Stephen had already earned the qualifications needed for university. After then completing S6 with five highers, she chose a different path and stepped straight into the workforce to start earning. She joined DYW Moray as a Business and Administration Modern Apprentice. Since then, she has held various roles within the organisation after leaping in straight from school. Aimee, 24, believes apprenticeships offer a great opportunity for others to launch their careers, just as she did. Our story when Aimee first joined DYW Moray. Image: Mhorvan Park/ DC Thomson Initially aspiring to be a PE teacher, she shifted her focus to business after developing a passion for it. Almost seven years later, Aimee now serves as Apprenticeship Development Manager helping Moray employers recruit and upskill people of all ages through apprenticeships. Why Aimee said no to university from school Aimee decided university straight from school was not the career path for her, and is now eager to help others facing the same decision. She wants to use her experience with apprenticeships to help support businesses create more opportunities for youngsters find jobs quickly. Aimee said: 'I was able to get all the qualifications needed to go to university, however I didn't want to do that. Aimee Stephen has went through a few apprenticeships. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson 'I wanted to get out in the workplace and start earning to get some money behind me. 'I joined DYW for the Business Administration Modern Apprenticeship and I just got on with things as I'm a naturally proactive and motivated person. 'It was great to get stuck into a wide range of tasks including managing marketing, social media, and other responsibilities. 'It wasn't a shock to the system being in the workplace as I had worked at Adolfos chip shop when I was at school and had work experience with NHS Grampian through the foundation apprenticeship.' 'University isn't the only path' University wasn't something on the cards for Aimee straight from school but was something she decided to go back to later. Last year she achieved a BA (Hons) in Business Management at Robert Gordon University. Aimee added: 'I've been fortunate to gain experience in the workplace while working toward both a modern and a graduate apprenticeship. Aimee Stephen wants to let young people know university doesn't have to be the only path to their dream job. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson 'It's been beneficial on a personal level as I was able to save more money which helped me move out at a younger age. 'I think it's really important to show young people that university isn't the only path. 'There's still a lot of pressure to go down the traditional route, and I completely understand that. 'But times are changing—more and more young people are choosing to go straight into employment, and the numbers reflect that shift. 'Ensuring young people know they have options is vital.' Aimee's goal to grow apprenticeships in Moray In Aimee's new role, she wants to target getting 20 people upskilled though an apprenticeship within their current organisation as well as 30 newly created apprenticeship roles and five events. Aimee said: 'It's also about identifying gaps—both in businesses and in skills—and seeing where apprenticeships can help fill those gaps. 'One key message I'm trying to get across is that apprenticeships aren't just for young people; they're valuable and accessible for people of all ages. Aimee Stephen is hoping to help businesses create more apprenticeships. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson 'The role focuses on both modern and graduate apprenticeships, aiming to upskill people who are already in employment through these partnerships. 'It's also about supporting employers to create new roles and opportunities. Apprenticeships can help businesses attract more talent Aimee also believes apprenticeships can help businesses by attracting more talent. She added: 'Another key message I really want to get across to employers is the importance of making roles open to apprentices. 'Doing so can significantly expand their talent pool. Aimee Stephen pictured. 'I understand that, for some businesses—especially smaller ones—it may feel like they don't have the capacity to train and support someone new. 'It's not always the right fit for every situation. 'But with the right mindset and the willingness to have those conversations, there's a lot of potential to make it work.' Any employer looking for support about apprenticeships can contact Aimee on
Press and Journal
27-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Temporary classrooms could stay longer at Elgin High School as extension opening pushed back
Can you believe it's time for Planning Ahead again already? It's our weekly round-up of all the planning news in Elgin, Buckie, Forres and right across Moray. As always, there's quite a lot to get through this week so I'm not going to hang about. This month the Press and Journal covered concerns raised by residents south of Elgin about a quarry that has been proposed in their rural community. Now it can be revealed that more than 250 objections have already been submitted about the plans. The price the Leys Road toilet block in Forres sold for has been revealed, and it's significantly less than the council's asking price. And alterations have been proposed for Elgin Community Centre. Let's get started though with plans submitted for Elgin High School and what it might mean for the extension due to be built there. Despite only opening in 2017, Elgin High School is already one of the most full schools in Moray. Latest Scottish Government figures show it currently has a roll of 842 students, meaning it is operating at 93.7% capacity. An extension for Elgin High School to take the capacity up to 1,150 pupils has already been commissioned. Initially it was hoped that construction would begin early this year with the new building open August next year. However, final plans for the project are yet to even be submitted, let alone any work on-site beginning. The latest update presented to Moray Council in February explains the project has been 'paused' for 12 months to allow more studies to be done on future capacity needs. It means the expected handover date on the extension has already been pushed back to December 2026. Meanwhile, Moray Council has this week submitted plans to extend the period the existing temporary classrooms can remain outside the school. Currently, they can remain next to the sports pitch until January 12 next year. Moray Council now wants to extend this until March 2028. Last week we spoke to residents in Thomshill and Birnie after it was revealed a sand and gravel quarry and a concrete plant had been proposed. The rural community on the southern outskirts of Elgin is anxious dust, noise and traffic from the site will 'put profit above people'. Aberdeen-based developers Leiths have stressed there will be 'no unacceptable effects' from noise or dust. However, it has not stopped residents from submitting hundreds of objections to oppose the plans. Now it can be revealed Moray Council has already received more than 250 objections from locals with others saying they visit Moray Archery regularly, which is directly opposite the proposed Dykeside Farm site. There has been one letter of support backing the plans, saying any firm wanting to bring business to Moray should be supported providing they take the necessary steps to minimise their impact on the area. The writer adds that they believe proposed embankments will adequately reduce noise and dust from the quarry once operational. Moray Council currently expects to make a decision the project by the end of July. When Moray Council put the former public toilets on Leys Road up for sale they put a price tag of offers over £45,000 on them. Now it can be revealed that they sold for £36,000 – meaning they sold for 20% less than they were valued at. The loos were shut by the council in 2018 as part of budget cuts and have been boarded up ever since. Charity Ray's Opportunities was revealed as the buyer by the Press and Journal last month. The Forres-based group aims to support people of all ages who have physical, learning, or hidden disabilities as well as their families. The charity wants to reopen the public toilets to help the wellbeing of the community as well as provide extra facilities for shoppers and visitors. Charity Elgin Town Hall for the Community has been forced to move from the building it shares its name with as work commences to refurbish and extend it. The group is currently primarily operating from the nearby Elgin Community Centre, although it does have plans to run events at other venues during the disruption. One of the first events in the new home is a comedy night, due to be held on May 10. Now the group has applied for permission to erect a sign displaying 'Elgin Town Hall for the Community' on the left side of the building, as viewed from the Lossie Green car park. The charity has applied for permission for the sign to be there for two years.
Chicago Tribune
07-03-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin student helps draft bill to require opioid OD medications in libraries
An Elgin student attending the Illinois Math and Science Academy is working with her local state representative on a bill that would require public libraries to keep on hand medications that can reverse an opioid overdose. If approved, the legislation also would require libraries to always have at least one staff member working who is trained on responding to an overdose situation. Jordan Henry, an 18-year-old senior, said she became interested in substance abuse issues when she learned about the 'War on Drugs,' a policy movement kicked off by President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s. Though the movement has been through many iterations, it has consistently focused on preventing drug use through criminalization. 'We've really used punishment where care is needed,' Henry said of the movement. She started volunteering with local nonprofits that tackle substance abuse as well as the stigma behind it. 'Seeing it as an issue at-large and an issue close to home has made me really want to dedicate a lot of time and effort to it,' she said of the opioid epidemic's effects on her community. Through volunteering, Henry learned about harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange programs and access to fentanyl test strips. Opioid antagonists like naloxone, which counteract the effects of an opioid overdose, are another example of harm reduction. The medicine can be injected with a needle or ingested via nasal spray. Henry connected with state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, through her mother, whom she met when the legislator came to Henry's home collecting ballot signatures to run for reelection. Henry also was a classmate of Moeller's daughter when they both attended Elgin High School prior to Henry transferring to IMSA in Aurora. Moeller said Henry presented her with the research she'd done, including having found similar library-based naloxone programs in other places around the country. Henry demonstrated her 'follow-through and her maturity,' Moeller said, which prompted her to agree to work with her after hearing her pitch. Despite being aware of the growing movement to have opioid antagonists available in public spaces, Moeller said she had never thought of libraries as possible locations to have it on hand. 'When you think about it, a library is a great place to have this available,' she said. 'They are very well used by people, they are places you can go for free and there's usually no barriers to being there.' While House Bill 1910 does not provide for funding from the state, it stipulates the opioid antagonists may be supplied by local county health departments. If the health departments are unable to supply the medicine or funding to purchase it, alternative sources would be found, Moeller said. Training library staff on how to administer opioid antagonists would be overseen by organizations selected by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The proposal does not specify the amount of opioid antagonists each library should have available, only that 'all libraries open to the general public in the State shall maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in an accessible location.' Narcan, a common brand of naloxone, has been available in Chicago Public Libraries since 2022. The city's initiative included training library staff to administer the medicine. 'What this bill would do is to expand that all over Illinois,' Henry said. 'I know it would be super beneficial in the suburbs and especially in rural areas.' In an appearance on the Chicago Department of Public Health's 'Healthy Chicago Podcast' last year, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown said he wasn't initially sure the program would have success. But in the program's first 20 months, Chicago Public Libraries said it distributed over 10,000 Narcan kits to the community. Brown said it helps to provide an alternative to substance abuse or health centers. 'It's just a public space that removes some of the stigma,' he said about libraries carrying the medicine. 'And I think that's what I attribute the incredible uptake in use.' Moeller said Henry did the majority of the work drafting the legislation, including research and reaching out to libraries in the state. The high school student also helped write the bill alongside members of Moeller's staff. The bill was filed in late January and is currently awaiting a hearing in the House Public Health Committee. Moeller said she is hopeful the proposal will have bipartisan support, citing past efforts by both Republican and Democratic legislators to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Despite the statewide decrease in opioid deaths, Henry noted the problem is not yet under control and people in her community are still dying from overdoses. According to IDPH's Opioid Data Dashboard, about 110 people experienced overdoses within Elgin's ZIP Codes in 2022, the latest data available. That same year, Elgin had 11 locations where naloxone was distributed, according to that same online dashboard. Ten of the locations were pharmacies. 'It requires support on various levels,' Henry said. 'Whether it be in the health care realm specifically, whether it be in public community spaces like libraries, in education and schools, it's a huge puzzle and we're putting it together.' Moeller said she wants Henry to remain involved with the bill as it goes through the steps of moving a proposed law through the Illinois General Assembly 'so she can see what it's like to move policy through the legislative process.' Henry views the bill as the first step of many when it comes to providing more resources for those experiencing drug addiction. She plans on continuing to work on ways the legislature can help with harm reduction. 'Being able to have a hand in this work, which I think is just so vital, at such a young age, is really inspiring,' Henry said. 'And it shows me that I can do a lot more.'
