One Stracathro parent could not have made his request to assembled Councillors Bob Myles and Mairi Evans any clearer; "You are his political masters, will you go and tell him he got this wrong?

Mr Anderson's decision to ask the head of Edzell Primary School to take over the running of Stracathro on a "temporary" basis has outraged parents at both establishments. However, their anger comes not from the appointment itself, but in the lack of dialogue in both camps leading up to it.

Stracathro's head teacher will move to a new post at the end of February and parents at Stracathro were clearly angered they have not been consulted on a replacement, while parents at Edzell feel there has been a similar lack of consultation relating to the involvement of their head teacher at Stracathro.

It was left to Council leader, Bob Myles, and fellow education committee member Mairi Evans to listen to the numerous concerns and complaints of parents at both schools and they were told in no uncertain terms how the parents at each establishment felt.

Mr Anderson was invited to attend the meeting held in the Inchbare Hall last Wednesday, which had been organised by the Stracathro Parent's Council. However, his decision not to attend was met by an emailed reply which read; "I am not prepared to attend a public meeting to discuss this matter. I am happy to meet your Parent Council, and equally happy for you to invite other parents to that meeting.

"As I indicated to your Parent Council when I met with them on January 23, I believe that a meeting involving the Parent Council, Mrs Morris and myself would provide a helpful and constructive way to move forward.

"I am sorry to say that I'm not available this week but if you'd like to suggest a couple of dates in late February. or early March, I'll do as much as I can to make myself available, and to check Mrs Morris' availability.

"Two final thoughts, would it be helpful for me to meet with one or two members of your Parent Council and one or two members of the Edzell Parent Council? That meeting might allow us an opportunity to set out some parameters within which we can work, including an agenda for any subsequent meetings with a wider group of parents.

"I am hoping to involve the School and Family Support Service in helping to ease future parental liaison in both schools. This service is currently working with Parent Councils across Angus, trying to establish these new bodies, and to promote ever more effective parental liaison. I'd be happy to talk to your Parent Council about this in more detail also."

Steve Smith, a parent with a couple of children at the school said he had nothing against the concept of a joint head teacher, but like many of his fellow parents, he felt the new set up was being imposed upon the school and upon the parents.

"We don't feel like we have been consulted, we feel bullied and we are not satisfied. This is informality to the point of negligence. "

Councillor Myles' argument was that the local authority was considering the most effective way in which to deliver education in the rural communities. He also pointed out that at some other rural schools in the Angus area, the concept of joint-headships was already in place. He felt that was beneficial to both the teaching and administrative needs required.

He added: "This is an idea that was felt might be worth trying here. It is an appointment on a temporary basis and Mr Anderson has stated the situation will be closely monitored. If it's not working, changes could be implemented.

"There could be a positive result, in as much as the appointment of a joint head would have the positive result of Stracathro having two full-time class teachers rather than one, plus a headteacher whose time was divided between teaching and administration."

Councillor Evans said she felt there had to be direct contact between the director of education and the parents and that they must come way from the next meeting of minds feeling as if they had been consulted.

"We need Mr Anderson to meet with both parent councils, so you can tell him directly what you want. We will make sure you are consulted."

Bryan Wilkinson, chairman of the Stracathro Parents' Council highlighted Government legislation that he feels should ensure parents are consulted on the appointment of senior staff members.

He was given support in his view by Graeme Wedderburn, chairman of Edzell Parent Council. He said; "This is about failing to bring parents on board and that is why everyone is angry. Fellow Edzell parent, George Davidson, agreed adding "There has been no discussions with the Edzell Parent Council and it looks as if this is being forced upon us."

Councillor Bob Myles promised to take back the strong feelings put over at the meeting to the director. "I will take back to Mr Anderson your distinct unhappiness that you feel this is being foisted upon you."