2 Eligibility

This section deals with the conditions that must be met before transfer and removal expense reimbursement may be approved.

The Eligibility Form (TR1) can be downloaded from the Ministry's web site www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/resourcingforms.

2.1 Definitions

2.1.1 Staffing incentive school

A "Staffing Incentive School" is a school that qualifies for the payment of the Staffing Incentive Allowance.

2.1.2 High priority teacher supply school

A "High Priority Teacher Supply School" is a Secondary school whose teachers qualify for the payment of a High Priority Teacher Supply Allowance

2.1.3 Priority teacher supply school

A "Priority Teacher Supply School" is a school whose teachers qualify for the payment of a Priority Teacher Supply Allowance.

2.1.4 Promotion

Promotion is defined as an appointment to a permanent position or long term relieving position of 12 months or more that has a total number of management units (MU's) greater than the total number of units in the teacher's current position.

This total will be the accumulation of permanent management units and management units allocated for a fixed term of 12 months or more. Middle Management Allowances (MMA's) or other salary units do not count towards this definition.

Principal positions

In the case of transfer to a Principal's position, promotion is defined as:

1. Transfer from a basic scale position (including unit holding positions and designated A/P's and D/P's) to a Principal's position.
2. Transfer to a Principal's position with a higher U-grading.

2.2 Appointment to a staffing incentive, high priority teacher supply or priority teacher supply school

2.2.1 Eligibility

For entitlement the following conditions must be met:

1. The teacher must be taking up a permanent position or long term relieving position of at least one year in a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School; and
2. The appointment must involve a shift to another Housing District.

Note: A teacher is not required to be employed in the state teaching service prior to appointment to a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School to be eligible for this provision.

2.3 Transfer from a staffing incentive, high priority teacher supply or priority teacher supply school

2.3.1 Eligibility

For entitlement the following conditions must be met:

1. The necessary period of qualifying service in a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher or Priority Teacher Supply School, as specified below, must have been completed; and
2. The teacher must be moving to another permanent position or long term relieving position of at least one year in another state or state integrated school; and
3. The new appointment must involve a shift to another Housing District.

Teachers, on resignation from a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School, have twelve months in which to obtain a permanent or long term relieving position of 12 months or more and access this entitlement.

2.3.2 Qualifying service

In calculating qualifying service, the following points must be noted:

1. A teacher must have completed a minimum of 3 years continuous service in a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School. Service in more than one Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School may be combined to meet the minimum requirement, but it must be continuous.
2. The minimum period of continuous service means service in a school during the time it has been classified as a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School. Service in a school prior to it qualifying as a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School does not count towards the minimum period of continuous service.
3. Where a teacher has been in more than one Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School, the minimum number of years continuous service specified in (1) may be met by combining the service in the schools concerned. The qualifying service must not be interrupted by service in non-Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply Schools.

2.3.3 Change in staffing incentive, high priority teacher supply or priority teacher supply designation

Teachers who become eligible for removal expenses by moving to a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School retain their entitlement to removal expenses out from that school after removal of the school's Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply status, providing the teacher fulfils the qualifying service requirement.

2.3.4 Protected country service

Teachers that held an entitlement to transfer and removal expense reimbursement from a Country Service school when the former Country Service provisions were replaced by the staffing incentives package, and have remained continuously employed at the school in a full-time, permanent capacity, preserve that entitlement and retain it for their next teaching position in the state school sector.

Teachers applying for reimbursement of expenses under this clause must provide evidence that the school was, during the time of their employment, regarded as a Country Service school.

For access to this provision full-time teaching service in the State Sector must be continuous. With the exception of breaks in service for parental and childcare reasons, no breaks in service are allowed.

Entitlement to this provision ceases on resignation from the teaching service and may not be claimed if a teacher rejoins the State teaching service at a later date.

2.3.5 Secondary school itinerant music teachers taking up an appointment in Southland

Secondary School itinerant music teachers taking up an appointment to an Itinerant Music Teacher position in Southland are entitled to full removal expenses as if they were appointed to a Staffing Incentive School.

2.3.6 Transfer to and from area schools

Full removal expenses shall be paid to teachers (including teachers taking up their first permanent appointment), on taking up permanent positions (or a long-term relieving position on 12 months or more). Subject to the completion of two years' continuous service in a permanent position in an area school, and on moving out of an area school to another permanent position in a state or state integrated school.

2.4 First permanent appointment

2.4.1 Introduction

This section deals with the payment of removal expenses on a teacher's first permanent appointment. Limited expenses only are payable. Teachers whose first permanent appointment is to a Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply School should claim under the Staffing Incentive, High Priority Teacher Supply or Priority Teacher Supply provisions, not under this provision.

2.4.2 Prerequisite conditions

The following conditions apply:

1. The teacher must be resident in New Zealand at the time of appointment; and
2. The appointment must be the teacher's first permanent appointment; and
3. The appointment must involve a shift to another Housing District; and
4. The teacher must have graduated from a course of teacher training recognised by the Secretary for Education.

2.4.3 Expenses items payable

Entitlement to reimbursement is limited to the following items only:

1. The cost of surface fares for the teacher and dependants, or the appropriate motor vehicle allowance rate.
2. The costs of removal of furniture and effects;
3. Actual legal expenses incurred, up to a maximum of $1000, when a teacher sells and buys a house within a year of first appointment.

2.5 Support for supernumerary teacher(s) under redeployment

2.5.1 Introduction

This section deals with the payment of removal expenses for teachers exercising the redeployment option under the surplus staffing provisions of the teachers' collectives where the redeployment option is funded by the Ministry of Education.

2.5.2 Eligibility

Where as a result of the implementation of the surplus staffing provisions of the CAs, a teacher has selected the supernumerary employment option of the relevant Collective Agreement, and the Ministry of Education funds this option, removal expenses may be reimbursed.

There are two situations that apply:

1. With the approval of the original Board and the Board of another school, teachers that exercise the option of serving out their supernumerary status at another school will be entitled to the reimbursement of removal expenses to their new school; or
2. Where a supernumerary teacher transfers to a school where they have been appointed to a permanent position or a long term relieving position of 12 months or more.

Note: Entitlement to removal expenses under this provision may be exercised for one transfer only. Teachers accessing the retraining option are not eligible for removal expenses.

2.6 Teachers returning from sponsored schemes overseas

A teacher returning to a New Zealand appointment following service overseas as part of a government-to-government contract is eligible for removal expenses incurred within New Zealand.

Teachers will be required to provide proof of serving on such a contract.

2.7 Chatham Islands teachers

2.7.1 Entitlement

Return fares and reasonable expenses including freight on household effects and motor car are 100% reimbursable if a teacher appointed to the Chatham Islands contracts to teach for two years. On completion of the two year contract term removal expenses from the Chathams are payable to the teacher's new location. In the event of breach of contract, the question of the return expenses must be submitted to the Resourcing Division for decision.

2.7.2 Hotel expenses beyond statutory period

Owing to irregularity of transport, the teacher and dependants may be obliged to stay in a hotel in New Zealand or in the Chathams beyond the period for which expenses are normally payable. The Ministry will consider payment of these expenses on a case by case basis.

2.7.3 Storage of furniture in New Zealand

The costs of furniture storage may be met when a teacher takes up a position on the Chatham Islands and leaves furniture and effects on the mainland. These same expenses may be paid when a teacher, because of the available freighting connections, forwards freight back to the mainland prior to them completing their two years of service in the Chathams.

Requests for assistance must be sent to the Resourcing Division for consideration before expense is incurred.

2.8 Removal within same locality

Where a teacher who occupies a school residence which is replaced or is being extensively renovated and the house has to be vacated, or a teacher who occupies a private residence is required by the Board to move to a school residence, that teacher and any dependants who are required to board during renovations shall receive a rent subsidy.

2.9 Teachers on long-term specialist courses

Teachers undertaking a long-term specialist course at the request of their employer and with the agreement of the Ministry, are entitled to the reimbursement of actual and reasonable expenses where they shift their household to the course centre.

"Long-term", in the context of this provision, means of at least one academic year's duration.

"Specialist" courses include courses which a teacher undertakes following appointment to a school, e.g. Guidance Counsellor or special needs training etc. It does not include training for manual training teachers or for teachers granted leave without pay to continue or complete academic study. Proof of acceptance into such a specialist course must be provided with the eligibility request in place of a letter of appointment.

Teachers qualifying for expenses under this provision, having undergone specialist training, are entitled to removal expenses in moving to their first permanent appointment following the completion of the course. The first permanent appointment provisions apply.

2.10 Miscellaneous

2.10.1 Introduction

There are a number of other circumstances where removal expenses may be reimbursed.

2.10.2 Minister/ministry directed school changes

1. Where, as a result of an earthquake, fire, flood or other natural disaster, the Minister of Education directs the closure of a school, any teacher appointed to another school or position may be paid actual and reasonable transfer expenses to the new position. A teacher who is obliged to live away from home while holding a temporary position may be paid actual and reasonable expenses.
2. Where a teacher takes up a temporary or relieving position when their position is disestablished or reduced in grade (but not lost due to falling rolls) and the teacher later moves again to a permanent position, a refund of the expenses involved in both removals is payable.
3. A teacher who loses or is about to lose a position through no personal fault (e.g., through disestablishment, closure, amalgamation or translation of a school) is entitled to removal expenses.