School trustee leaders want urgent action

Media Release

School trustee leaders want urgent action on schools operations grant funding

The leadership of the Association representing the interests of school boards of trustees in NZ have given top priority to the completion of the schools operation funding review as a key issue for this year.

A combined meeting of the National Board and National Council of the New Zealand School Trustees Association has confirmed that this matter remains the key issue and priority for NZSTA, says General Manager Ray Newport.

He says the National Board and Council, which are comprised of trustees elected from the NZSTA membership, had noted that the issue of adequacy of schools’ operational grant funding had been around for some 4-5 years.

“The NZSTA Board and Council want to see some action – resolution is now urgent.”

Ray Newport says the National Board and Council considered the implications of the December report by the MOE/stakeholder Reference group.

“The meeting expressed concern that issues identified in the report have yet to be addressed by the government as a matter of priority.

”We expect the government to move quickly to advise NZSTA of the form that the operational funding work will take this year.

“There is a clear expectation that the work programme will be well underway in 2007, and in time for the government’s budget process for the 2008 budget year.”

Ray Newport says the NZSTA is willing and available to play its part in the further work to be undertaken this year.

“We look forward to a fair equitable balance being established between operational grant funding and locally raised funds,” he says.

ENDS

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