Welcome relief for budgets in a pandemic:

Since the start of Term 1, NZPF has been advocating for increases in staffing and reliever budgets as COVID continued to erode them. In a Principal Matters poll on June 17, the question was asked “How much of your annual reliever budget have you used so far this year?” The snapshot result showed 18% of respondents had used 100% of their annual reliever budget, 19% of respodents had used between 75% and 100% of their annual reliever budget entitlement and 80% were over budget at the half way point in the year.

At the time, several principals wrote to me saying their relieving costs would be much higher, but they could not find relievers.  These principals have had to take on, in some cases, a full-timeteaching load.  Their own job, as principal, was beginning after 3:00pm. 

There is no compensation for these principals who are regularly losing release time, while doing what is essentially two full-time jobs.  In schools lucky enough to find relievers, principals have been watching budgets rapidly deplete because of COVID on top of the normal winter illnesses.  

The relentless advocacy by NZPF and other PEAK Body groups for additional relief budget allocations paid dividends this week.  

The MoE Bulletin yesterday, announced that additional relief teacher funding has been guaranteed for Terms 3 and 4.  Furthermore, the redesigned system will see funds being paid to schools and kura, where schools’ relief teacher costs have exceeded the relief teacher funding provided in 2022 Operations Grants.  It is a game changer.  In essence, the black hole called ‘the reliever budget’ has now been plugged.  The system to apply for funding has also been simplified, all of which is welcome news for the sector. 

Much done, but more to do:

While many of the issues related to relief teacher funding have been resolved, the ARTF funding package does not address the loss of release time for teaching principals where relievers cannot be found.  It is one thing to cover for a colleague for a day, a week, or even a month.  It is quite another to have to cover for teachers every week, for weeks on end, because there are few or no alternatives.  In our collective agreement, teaching principals’ release time is a condition of employment.  Currently there is no mechanism for principals to be reimbursed for release time they give up to cover classes for sick colleagues – ‘yet’.

We need the MoE to provide teaching principals with a choice of release time compensation or financial compensation for lost release time.

We are in a pandemic.  Covid logistics management continues to be characterised by uncertainty, change, compromise and challenge.  We want to lead our schools, to focus on engaging students in learning, to aim high and achieve as we have watched our Commonweath Games athletes do.  Inclusive thinking that creates equitable opportunities has been achieved at the games.  We need some inclusive thinking to be applied to create a ‘New Normal’ that sees all principals supported.

It is with sadness that I let members know that Ian Payne, Life Member of NZPF, passed away on Monday 11th July.  Ian Payne’ contribution to NZPF was significant because he was instrumental in setting up NZPF in 1982.  In 1981 he visited New York as part of an ASB-APPA Travelling Fellowship.  There he met with members of the New York Principals’ Federation.  He came back to New Zealand determined to support Tom Brown and other colleagues to establish a national organization for all principals of Aotearoa and in August, 1982, NZPF was launched.  An experienced teacher, principal, leader and colleague, Ian’s work through his career made a difference for many students, staff and colleagues.  We extend our sympathy and condolences to Ian’s family and friends.  Larger than life until the end, he will be missed.