Appendix 3 NZ Principals’ Federation Initial Proposal

15 June 2000 - A paper presented to the Minister’s School Staffing Review Group by the New Zealand Principals’ Federation.             

1. The basic premise of this position paper is staffing for the effective delivery of the curriculum.
2. We do not intend to re-litigate the pluses and minuses of MRG.  It happened. Some won, some did not.  We are starting afresh, and the Minister has challenged us to present something which can provide a basis for staffing schools for effective delivery of the curriculum, and achieving the government’s objectives for education.
3. It is the Principals’ Federation’s intent that this review will address the current inequities of educational resourcing.   It is also the view of NZPF that many of the proposals will be fiscally neutral, as they would be phased in at a time of roll declines in the primary sector.
4. NZPF believes there must be a basic entitlement of staffing for every school, regardless of size or type, and that the needs of smaller rural schools are reflected in the recommendations of the Review Group
5. In addition, every school must receive several staffing entitlement components to resource:

• Programmes for students at risk of failing (Decile-based, with extensions including transience factor)
• Leadership / Management of the School
• Special Needs Programmes              (General provision, not decile based)
• Staff Management & Appraisal
• Planning and Assessment
• IT Support (FTTE and Technical)

1. The teacher-student ratio to be adjusted to a level which recognises the current increased teaching load and to ensure more adequate delivery of an expanded curriculum. In the short term, this to be:

1:20              Year 1-4 students

1:25              Year 5-8 students

1:15              Mäori medium classrooms

1:100              Technology staffing ratio

and in the longer term, the ratios to move to:

1:15              Year 1-4 students

1:22              Year 5-8 students

1:12              Mäori medium classrooms

1:75              Technology staffing ratio

1. A new staffing assistance component to be introduced: TEACHER ASSISTANT positions, extended to all schools, and providing a higher level of Teacher Aide, a person working with children and paid at a rate commensurate with the increased level of responsibility.  This to be set at 0.1 for every 5 students on the roll.

Since the early 70s the operations grant has included a small component for Teacher Aides, Clerical Assistants, Technicians (in some schools) and other support staff. In recent years these workers have been gathered under the Support Staff in Schools Collective Contract.   The early intention was to pay those volunteers and helpers for their work in assisting teachers with some of the menial tasks involved in the preparation of materials for teaching and learning programmes.  

Various amendments to the contract have put in place a career structure and the capability of moving through scales to a more senior level.   However, this is funded from the school’s Operations Grant, which has only recently been adjusted for inflation. Over time the role and work of these employees has been raised to a higher level, and many thousands of people are now working with students in schools while still receiving a low rate of remuneration.

The NZPF seeks to recognise the work and the worth of these people in our schools and recommend:

• That the government increase the funding to Boards of Trustees to provide for the adequate payment of Support Staff in schools, recognising the para-professional nature of their work, the responsibility of caring for individuals and groups of students with behaviour and learning needs, and providing for the recognition of a career path for these employees.
• That the Ministry investigate a means of providing for Teacher Assistants in schools, centrally funded and formula-driven, to allow schools to employ people to assist the work of teachers in the classroom setting.

1. The 0.2 Beginning Teacher Support to remain, and to be extended to 0.1 for the second year.
2. On appointment to a first Principalship, an additional 0.2 staffing to be provided by the Ministry for approved principal development programmes; 0.1 staffing to be provided in the second year.
3. Newly appointed Principals on promotion receive an additional staffing component of 0.2 for the first year.
4. The formula for Principal Management Release be adjusted to provide 0.4 FTTE for a U1 Principal, 1.0 FTTE at 160 pupils, 2.0 at 320 pupils, and an additional 1.0 for every additional 160 pupils.
5. Any part-time Management Staffing components may be converted into dollar equivalents for staffing support. The rate of conversion is at the top of the basic scale.
6. Up to 10% of Management Units may be converted into additional Management Staffing Support.

1. Every school to receive a minimum component staffing provision for Guidance Counselling on the basis of 1.0 for every 500 students, with a proportional provision for schools below 500 (eg, 0.2 for 100 pupils, 0.6 for 300 pupils) plus decile-weighted supplements.