Imposed costs on schools from deal unwelcome

Following is a media release from the NZ School Trustees Association.

Media Release

Imposed costs on schools from secondary deal unwelcome, says trustee organisation

While the ratification of the settlement by secondary schools is welcome, the potential imposed additional costs on boards and schools in implementing the settlement is not, says New Zealand School Trustees Association president, Lorraine Kerr.

The settlement of the secondary teachers’ claim commits employing boards to ‘endeavour’ to provide non-contact time for part-time teachers. As well, employers are expected to use ‘reasonable endeavours’ to achieve an average class size of no more than 26 students.

“These provisions are now part of the secondary collective agreement and there will undoubtedly be pressure on employers to deliver, even though there is no resourcing provided to schools to support the changes.

“The use of terms such as ‘endeavour’ and ‘reasonable endeavour’ will do little to lessen the expectation of part-time teachers and individual teachers looking to gain from smaller class sizes.”

Lorraine Kerr says NZSTA is concerned that the first casualties of settlements negotiated by the teachers’ union and the Ministry of Education are invariably the employing boards and principals.

“They are the ones left with the problem of trying to resource some of the effects of negotiated changes.

“The situation where boards and principals are left with the problem of trying to give effect to settlements, that may have significant resourcing and financial implications for the school, is neither fair nor acceptable.

“If commitments, with resourcing implications, are made in the course of the negotiation of teachers’ salary claims, then we would expect that the corresponding resources and costs necessary for implementing those commitments at the school level would also be provided.”

Lorraine Kerr says NZSTA intends to discuss the issue with the Minister of Education within the next week.

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