Principals unite against school board reforms
‘Closing the gap’ hub system seen as a threat to schools’ identity
plan for regional “hubs” to take powers from elected school boards faces a growing backlash, with two groups of schools uniting to fight it.
One, representing a majority of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association is slamming the plan as exacerbating the biggest problem — a critical teacher shortage.
A wider national group calling itself the Community Schools Alliance says the plan threatens the distinctive identity of schools ranging from Ma¯ori iwi schools to conservative Auckland Grammar.
The plan, proposed by a taskforce led by former principal Bali Haque, would set up about 20 regional “hubs” to assume the legal responsibilities and liabilities held by boards of trustees.
It aims to close the divide between rich and poor schools that has developed under the 30-year-old “Tomorrow’s Schools” model by giving the hubs powers to use principals, teachers and resources where most needed.
NZ Principals Federation president Whetu Cormick told his members yesterday principals who have replied to a federation survey so far oppose four key elements of the plan:
● Boards of trustees with diminished responsibilities advising on curriculum and assessment.
● Hubs governed by a board appointed wholly by the minister.
● Five-year contracts for principals.
● Principals and teachers being employed by hubs.
He said most principals wanted to allow each school board to choose whether to stay as they are or accept reduced responsibilities and access services from a hub.
Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association president Richard Dykes, of Glendowie College, said reshuffling the bureaucracy would draw money and staff away from schools at a time of a desperate teacher shortage.
To be effective, the proposed hubs would need significantly more staff than current Ministry of Education regional offices. “Where would this [staff ] come from?”
“The Haque report suggests from schools. This would be great as it draws in the expertise of educators. But it would also draw valuable talent away from schools at a time when we have a chronic shortage of teachers.”
Northcote College principal Vicki Barrie said rearranging the bureaucracy would not solve New Zealand’s “long tail of under-achievement”.
“We have limited time and limited resources.
“We have to do the thing that is going to make the biggest difference,” she said.
“The first thing that needs to happen is a significant pay increase for teachers.”
Ta¯maki College principal Soana Pamaka said hubs would be “removed from your community”. “What works for the Pacific community in Ma¯ngere is not going to work for the Pacific community in Glen Innes,” she said.
The alliance is expected to hold a public launch in the next few days. Auckland Grammar headmaster Tim O’Connor said the main aim was to alert the public to the proposals and encourage submissions before the closing date of April 7.
However, the proposals have been supported at some of the taskforce’s public meetings and even some Auckland secondary principals are backing the proposed hubs.
Albany Senior High School principal Claire Amos said the hubs “have the potential to play a pivotal role in creating what could be a new, more efficient educational ecosystem which will hopefully be given the freedom to respond to schools and the communities as needed.”