Tōtika - Balance
Mahia i runga i te rangimārie me te ngākau māhaki

With a peaceful mind and respectful heart,
we will always get the best results
 

Kia ora e te whānau

Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) Allocation

Last weekend the NZPF executive team met and considered the recently announced allocation of the first tranche of LSCs. Like many of you, we have been surprised that so many LSCs have been allocated to Communities of Learning (CoLs) or Kahui Ako. Presumably this is on the basis of the CoL being advanced in the Learning Support Delivery Model which was one of the criteria for selection.  That said, we understand that some who have been allocated LSCs knew nothing about the Learning Support Delivery Model.

NZPF expressed its disappointment in a media release last weekend.  We intend to discuss this matter further with Associate Minister Martin and with the Ministry staff responsible for the allocation.

I will report back to you on this matter in my next pānui.

Māori Achievement Collaboratives (MACs)

Many of you already know of the MAC PLD which has been developing since 2012. About 200 of you are currently engaged with the PLD and some of you have been waiting for an opportunity to be involved.

The NZPF and Te Akatea are pleased to announce expansion of the Māori Achievement Collaboratives (MACS) principal professional learning and development kaupapa. We are calling for expressions of interest to participate as from the beginning of 2020. We hope to provide this kaupapa in regions not currently catered for, including Wellington and Southland/Otago.

Please go to www.mac.ac.nz and complete the expression of interest form. If you would like further information click here or contact hoana@mac.ac.nz phone 021 0664152

MoE - $1,500 one-off payment to NZEI members

In my last pānui I talked about the $1,500 one off payment to teachers, as a negotiated condition of the union’s collective bargaining. We were told that those teachers coded to Bulk Grant (BG) or non-entitlement teachers, who were members of NZEI, would have their $1,500 payment paid by their schools’ operations budget.

I wrote to the Secretary of Education suggesting that BG funded teachers have their $1,500 one-off payment covered by the Ministry and said I would report back to you.

I received a response from a senior Ministry staff member to say that in funding non-entitlement teachers through the bulk grant, Boards are accepting responsibility to fund all associated costs, including collective agreement entitlements. Therefore, the Ministry will not be reimbursing schools the $1,500 payment. Financial advice would be offered to those schools struggling with the payment.

I wrote a second time challenging the Ministry’s response and have since received another letter with the same message as the first.  Schools will have to pay.

I have also sought support from the CEO of Education Payroll to allow schools with BG funded teachers to alter, through NOVO 21, the code to Teacher Salaries (TS). This alteration is normally only made for the previous two pay periods, but I requested an extension, given the extraordinary nature of this payment and because we had not been consulted earlier or been made aware of the consequences.

I also copied my correspondence to the Minister of Education asking that the payments be covered by TS as it is an unbudgeted item and many schools are already struggling financially.

Unfortunately, despite our efforts, this is not a battle we have won.  I have now received confirmation from Education Payroll that the payment of $1,500 to BG teachers has been processed and schools will see the amounts payable in the latest SUE reports. 

Ngā manaakitanga

Whetu Cormick
whetu@nzpf.ac.nz