Fait accompli
At the Waipawa Kindergarten meeting concerning the reduction in teaching staff, the association representatives stressed that thiswas a ‘consultation’ about a ‘proposal’. They were there to seek our feedback and nothing was final.
It was all about transparency, they said. Yet by the close of the meeting, I had a very different impression— that the proposed restructuring is actually very much a fait accompli and that the association was just going through the motions that organisations feel obliged to be seen to do before implementing major changes (aka spin).
Concerned parents suggested some very practical alternatives, yet all bar one were rejected outright without due consideration. We were assured that the association would take away our suggestions to review them, yet none of the team took many notes regarding our suggestions. Furthermore, the association didn’t offer any timeline for/channels of feedback on our suggestions, so I suspect this was an empty promise.
During the course of the meeting, it became apparent that most of the association teammembers sitting in front of us were new to their roles, in the last six to nine months or so. Which begs the question — have they been specifically recruited for the sole purpose of restructuring the kindergartens in the interests of cost cutting/profit making? And if so, what is this costing the association? How can this be reconciled with cutting down the number and hours of key qualified teachers? If the association can’t afford the teachers, how can they afford the bureaucrats?! And if this is the case, it would then be difficult to take seriously the association members’ reassurances that they ‘will remain true to our core values, feel just as passionately aswe do, share our concerns’, etc, when in truth the very raison d’etre for their roles is a ruthless cull, for which they will be financially rewarded and from which their careers will benefit.
Therewas a resounding request from parents that the consultation period (which was threeweeks ending on March 21) be extended so we could consult with other kindergartens and parent bodies and by now the association will have received an official request from Waipawa parents for such. The association assured us they would be open to this but again, were very vague about when this decision would be made.
If they don’t extend it, can we assume they never intended to because the decision is already made?
The association’s view that Waipawa kindergarten is ‘overstaffed’ because it has more than the absolute minimum needed tomeet government requirements is alarming. It seems to me that what the association is proposing is to tamper with the successful kindergarten model that is serving its community and generating revenue, by stripping it of its greatest assets— its teachers — in order to reallocate that money to other struggling kindergartens. This does not make long-term business sense, and neither does reallocating money to less viable kindergarten models. Apparently this is called ‘future-proofing the organisation’, whereas some might suggest the kindys are being set up to fail. I wonder why? Louise Baker Waipawa
Emotions ran high at ameeting at Waipawa Kindergarten earlier this month to discuss a restructure proposal to reduce staff hours.
The Waipawa Kindergarten is part of the Heretaunga Kindergarten Association, which has sent individualised proposals to all of its 16 centres in Hastings, Havelock North, Flaxmere, Waipawa and Waipukurau.
Association staff attended the meeting in Waipawa on March 9 to discuss the concerns of parents and the wider community about the proposal to reduce two of the current four fulltime teacher positions to part-time (27 hours aweek).
About 30 people attending the meeting claimed that it was a ‘done deal’, and asked why they could not have been asked to come up with solutions before the proposal document was released.
It was acknowledged that Waipawa— running at an $8500 deficit— was in a better financial position than most of the other centres, which caused consternation that Waipawa was propping up the other centres.
“Perhaps Waipawa is doing well because of the current model. Are we risking taking a model that’s working to reallocate funds to less successful kindergartens?” one person asked.
Association general manager Fiona Mason said that it could not be guaranteed with the ebb and flow in rolls and other variables that the deficit would remain at that level, and being part of the association Waipawa did not operate on its own. Other suggestions were raised, such as increasing parent fees or donations, increasing the roll or Waipawa doing its own fundraising to make up the shortfall. Mrs Mason said fees were being investigated as part of the strategy.
“But we are also committed to kindergartens being accessible to all families, and some might not be able to afford it.”
She said there would be extra costs attached to increasing roll numbers, but that they would be open to asking the ministry to meet the extra costs.
Fundraising was a commitment the current parents may be prepared to make, but there was no guarantee parents in the future would be of the same mind. She said the association had been making a loss since 2012, and that changes needed to be made now to ensure the kindergartens were sustainable.
“We have to ensure the association remains financially successful and supports its member kindergartens as much as possible.
“Our aim is to future-proof the association, maintain its fiscal viability and the opportunity for growth and expansion, as well as strengthen our place in early childcare.”
She said that early childcare was becoming very competitive combined with the Government’s push to get parents back to work soon after having children, and that kindergartens needed to carefully consider their strategy carefully for their survival in the long term.
Not all the kindergartens within the association were facing cuts in staff hours.
Some were being extended, depending on the unique circumstances of each centre.
Mrs Mason said the association would consider a request to extend the consultation period, which ended on March 21.