‘Better communication needed to keep parents and staff in the know’

Dundee council bosses have been urged to communicate more clearly with families and staff after the latest positive case of coronavirus in a city school.

It comes after an S4 pupil at St John’s High School tested positive for Covid-19.

The school remains open but Councillor George McIrvine, whose daughter goes to St John’s, said he and other parents only found out as word was spreading on social media.

He said: “If we hadn’t checked (social media) we wouldn’t have known.

“From discussions with other parents, that seems to be the case for most of them, too.

“From a parental side, I would like to see the communication be better. Communication is key to this and keeping the parents, pupils and staff in the know will help deal with the situation better.

“I think we saw with Kingspark that communication wasn’t up to scratch. That’s just a stone’s throw away from St John’s.

“From the other parents I’ve spoken to, I don’t think there is a lot of concern, though.

“People seem to be assured by the practices that have been put in place.”

The councillor, who represents the school’s Coldside ward, added: “It is righttothetakeprecautionarymeasures that have been put in place and I would urge everyone to be responsible in these uncertain times.”

A door to a classroom which had been used by the affected pupil was taped shut yesterday. A letter sent home to parents and seen by The Courier says the room has received a “tier/stage 3 deep clean”.

Identified contacts have been asked to self-isolate for two weeks before returning to the school.

Councillor George McIrvine.