Summary of the 2013 Annual General Assembly (AGM) of the Parents' Association (PA) of the European School Frankfurt (ESF)
This year’s AGM, which took place in the Aula of the ESF on 12th November 2012, was well attended with 88 members of the PA present (compared to 54 the previous year). A number of members also opted for the possibility to grant powers of attorney. Unfortunately, the meeting started late, as the large number of attendees and powers of attorney increased the need for administrative checks at the entrance.
At 7:55 p.m., the PA’s President, Tony Obisesan, welcomed the attendees and opened the review of the past school year, by highlighting several key developments, notably:
- A formal agreement with the ECB is still not in place, however there is a very good level of cooperation and the following issues had been tackled:
- PA Liquidity problems resolved
- Administration expenses had been reduced in line with the former auditor’s recommendations and ECB views.
- A joint review and reorganisation of the PA activities is planned for 2014.
- School Extension main priority of Board
- An extension to the child-minding premises was made in summer 2013 and additional extensions are expected in summer 2014.
- Non-secondment of Teachers by the UK
- Interparents discussions on the reorganisation / reform of Secondary school studies / BAC
- Book sharing portal developed
Subsequently, board members Karl-Heinz (Kalle) Endres, Daniela Schackis, Thomas August, Vlaho Kostov, Insa Jung, Sharon Mawdsley, Geraldina Santandrea, Samantha Malmberg, Reinhold Ziegler, Barbara Soszynska, Andrea Haringova offered brief overviews in the various activity areas of the association. Interested members may download the presentation.
During the presentations, Peter Rennpferdt spoke to the expansion of the ECB, the new SSM and the impact this will have on the school. Peter indicated that they expected to recruit up to a 1000 new staff between now and September 2014. He estimates that this will result in up to approximately 600 or more new students. He also estimated that within five years we will be looking at a school of potential 2500 students. Peter believes the new mechanism is a very welcome development for the ECB and that the school community should be positive regarding the influx of new students and the diversity this offers. Peter also indicated that the ECB, the school and the PA are making every effort to ensure that the German Government full fill their contractual agreement. However at the moment due to the lack of a government in Berlin, this is proving difficult.
Several members asked questions and offered comments specifically in relation to the ECB plans, short term solutions, new school building, the use of Bad Vibel as an alternative to the ESF. It was proposed that all current and future information relating to the school extension be posted on the PA website.
Gerhard Brunnbauer, along with Friedrich Phillips who executed an audit of the PA’s books this year as required by the statues, reported on some improvements that could be made to the record keeping and formalisation of the funding arrangements with the ECB.
Following which, Gerhard proposed the discharge of the board, which was accepted by all association members present.
Ioannis Efthymiadis and Carl Kratzer were nominated as auditors for the next year: the decision was taken unanimously by the assembly.
For the elections to the PA board, nine candidates stood, to fill the five positions. The following candidates were elected or re-elected*: Karl-Heinz (Kalle) Endres (83*), Geraldina Santandrea (81*), Tony Obisesan (73*), Vlaho Kostov (58*), Elgin von Wedel (57).
Prior to the announcement of the election results, the assembly rejected the proposed statute change which had been previously communicated: 34 members voted against the proposed change with 29 voting in favour.
Finally, all elected and re-elected board members accepted the vote.
Tony Obisesan thanked all participants for their attendance and wished the new PA board good luck and success in their future work for the Parents' Association.
The meeting closed at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Sharon Mawdsley
Association Secretary
Frankfurt am Main, 12 November 2013