FRESH START FOR COLLEGE

search to find a new principal for Halton College finally got under way this week as the new board of governors held its first meeting on Tuesday.

Eight new governors have finally been approved by David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Their first job is to advertise for a new principal to replace Martin Jenkins who resigned with vice-principal Jenny Dolphin following a major investigation into a £14 million cash scandal.

The new governors include Halton councillor and education chairman Brian Jones, ICI Chlor Chemicals production area manager Peter Kent, Professor Jennifer Latto, provost and deputy to the vice-chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University, GMB regional organiser Terence Mellor, Albright & Wilson chief engineer Mike Organ, Duckworth Group human resource manager Margaret Thompson, acting principal of Halton College Peter Cavanagh and Halton College staff member Lisa Perry.

Peter Cavanagh said: "We will now be able to take the college forward and resolve outstanding issues. One of the first tasks will be to recruit the new permanent principal for the college."

Halton MP Derek Twigg said he was pleased the new board was in place. He said: "It is a fresh start and it is important now for them to appoint a new principal and vice-principal."

The new board members bring with them a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience from industry and education.

Councillor Brian Jones was appointed chair of the education committee in 1997. He is chair of governors of Moorfield primary school and Fairfield High School. He has served as an elected member of Halton Council since 1989 and was chair of housing from 1995 to 1997. He works as the project manager of New Start, Merseyside, one of 17 nationally-funded projects to develop a strategy to challenge disaffection and social exclusion of young people aged 14-19. He was formerly an LEA officer and secondary school teacher. He is a trained OFSTED inspector.

ICI production manager Peter Kent is tasked with improving plant reliability in an area of 11 plants, with sales of £200 million and employing 350 people. He used to be production manager for ICI chemicals and polymers. His areas of expertise include achieving world class performance through high performing teams, driving high level business goals through the organisation, delivering cost base reduction through restructuring and producing a business strategy that delivers corporate objectives.

Professor Jennifer Latto is responsible for all academic schools, academic support services and the enterprise section of Liverpool John Moores University. Prior to this, she was divisional director for the schools of education, health, human sciences and social sciences. She was a member of the North West Regional Advisory Council in FE and the co-chair of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers. She sits on the advisory committee of the Tate Gallery, Liverpool and is a council member of Merseyside Common Purpose, as well as a governor at Liverpool College secondary school and Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

Terence Mellor is a full-time GMB union official. Previously, he was a chemical operator with Agrevo and Laporte. He represented Agrevo on the European Works Council. He has been active in the trade union movement for 15 years. He was a student at Halton College (city and guilds in process chemistry). He as played rugby league professionally.

Mike Organ is chief engineer at Albright & Wilson, responsible for capital projects, maintenance and the technology part of the IT systems at the Widnes works. Prior to this, he was deputy chief engineer with The East Lancashire Paper Mill. For nine years he was a governor of the Old Hall county primary school in Warrington, holding the position of deputy chair of governors and chair of finance committee. He is a governor of Penketh High School and a fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Margaret Thompson is human resource manager of The Duckworth Group, a business in the food and drinks industry, with 150 employees at site in Runcorn and Manchester. A member of the Institute of Personal Development, she co-ordinated the group's work towards attainment in July 1996 of Investors in People and is responsible for ensuring that the group retains that status.

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