'Can review threatening school jobs in Moray be dumped?'
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A councillor has asked whether proposed changes to the jobs of primary and nursery school office workers could be "dumped".
Moray Council is currently conducting a review of the primary school administration service.
However, Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Independent) has told the education committee that his email is packed with complaints from local people.
The councillor went on to state that office staff "sit at the heart of our schools".
December is the target date for completing the review.
If the proposals go ahead some clerical assistants will lose their jobs.
Administrators also face their hours being cut and their roles downgraded.
It is also thought some services could be centralised.
Public service union Unison raised concerns that the proposed changes would impact low-paid workers, many of them women.
Cllr Ross said: "I don’t know if other councillors are the same, but my email has been full regarding the admin review.
"It’s been full of members of the public – even young people themselves – and school administrators with criticism of our way forward in terms of administration in schools.
"As an ex-teacher myself I see the value of the school administrators.
"They sit at the heart of our schools, and over the years they’ve gone way beyond their remit to enable schools to run fully.
"Generations of young people, parents and staff are indebted to them.
"Having listened to our school administrators and our head teachers, will there be a chance for the completion target to be dumped and us not to go forward with this review?"
Monitoring officer Alasdair McEachan said: "While the comments of councillor Ross may be perfectly valid, he would probably be better to make them at that decision-making point rather than now."
Cluny Primary parent council member Sophie McWhirter has set up the Facebook group Moray Community Voice, to gather support against the changes to office staff roles.
Last week she met members of the pupil council at the school.
Mrs McWhirter said: "We had an hour long meeting, and the children were very passionate.
"They want to get in touch with other pupil councils, and they’re keen to have a petition against it."
She added one of the pupils told a member of the office staff, "If you’re going, I’m going".
A meeting was held in May for parents and anyone else connected with the primary schools linked to Buckie High.
There are now plans to hold two other meetings later this month – one in Buckie and another in Elgin.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: "The staff consultation closed on June 2. The feedback will now be collated and reviewed and findings will be shared with staff after the summer holidays.
"Any further consultations, outcomes and decisions to be made will follow thereafter."
