Preamble
The parties and the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) note that the same elements of the basic structure of area school principal remuneration have been in place for some time, and that more recent developments, such as the importance of increasing collaboration between schools and the focus on leadership in schools, including struggling schools, suggest it may be timely and important to review the structure overall.
Review Process
The parties, together with NZSTA, agree to review area school principal remuneration and related conditions during the term of this collective agreement.
The purpose of the review is to develop, without prejudice, possible options for amendments or additions to the remuneration structure, and/or other provisions to reflect actual and desirable changes in the area school principal role.
Principles
The principles underpinning the review of remuneration for area school principals include;
- a focus on educational success for every child throughout their learning pathway
- the need for effective resourcing, including the ability to target relevant resources to areas and schools of higher need
- a commitment to our national language te reo Māori and to the bicultural, treaty-based partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand
- consideration of the impact of changes to current models on individual principals to ensure no actual financial disadvantage in terms of diminishing their permanent remuneration at the time of transition to a new model, and assuming at least an equivalent role
- recognition of the uniqueness of local contexts and needs, and allowing the flexibility to respond to changing environments within a self-governing school environment
- the support and promotion of the hauora of learners, teachers and leaders is essential to achieve positive outcomes.
Scope
The scope of the work will include:
- A review of the changes to the role of the area school principal which would justify changes to the remuneration and conditions of some or all area school principals.
- A review of the current remuneration structure to consider the balance between:
- Components that reflect the “size” dimension of schools. The U-Grade, and staffing components are the main such elements; and
- Components that reflect the nature of the leadership challenge. The decile funding payments, Area School High Priority Principals’ Allowance, the Principal Recruitment Allowance and Community of Learning (or Schools) Leadership Payment are the pay components that have been linked to this issue; and
- Components that recognise and encourage the individual professional growth, leadership and contribution of an area school principal. The Career Structure Payments and Community of Learning (or Schools) Leadership Payment Pathways recognise these elements; and
- The need to provide incentives for accepting principal roles in the most challenging schools as well as reflecting the challenges that principals face. The Principal Recruitment Allowance is directed at this issue.
- Other factors the parties may consider relevant such as the specific and complex issues faced by principals of area schools, and kura a rohe, particularly isolated and small ones.
- The outcome of the review may be used to inform the next round of collective bargaining for the ASPCA, or be the basis for a variation in the term of the current agreement, or the parties and NZSTA might agree to undertake further work.
Timeline
The review group will be composed of representatives from each of the parties and NZSTA.
The parties and NZSTA will meet before 30 October 2016 to further scope the review and agree process, meeting and reporting dates.
They may individually consult with other stakeholders in the state or state integrated school sector in the course of the review and may mutually agree to seek written submissions from individuals or other organisations to the review.
A report to the Secretary for Education, Presidents of the PPTA, NZEI and NZSTA will be finalised by 30 July 2017.
Signatures
Signed in Wellington on 30 June 2016
Bella Pardoe
for NZEI Te Riu Roa
Jane Benefield
for PPTA Te Wehengarua
Roanna Chan
for Secretary for Education
Witnessed by:
Rob Gold
for NZSTA