Paid Union Meeting - School Closure

Tuesday 6 September 1.30pm

The Government has announced a proposal to dramatically change the way schools are funded.

If enacted, Principals and Boards of Trustees would receive funding as a “global budget” and potentially then make trade-offs between employing teaching staff and other operating costs.

Teachers unions NZEI and PPTA are very worried that this global budget would lead to:

• fewer teachers and larger class sizes

• less job security for teachers

• lower quality teaching

• fewer hours for teacher aides and support staff

• more complex financial work for Boards of Trustees

NZEI and PPTA have asked all members at our school to attend a meeting in September to hear more about the proposal and help determine the education sector’s response.

The meeting is a paid union meeting, which means that Tahuna Normal Intermediate will be closed on Tuesday 6 September from 1.15pm while staff attend the meeting.

I understand that school closures can be inconvenient but encourage you to arrange for your child to finish at 1.15pm. If this is impossible please contact the school so we can make appropriate supervision arrangements.

Yours sincerely

Tony Hunter

Principal