Saturday, 23 June 2007

What You Can Do to Oppose Public School Education Cuts

This is from the Australian Education Union Web Page. I used it to write a bunch of emails and talk to people from these offices. Be persistent and demand a response. Unless sufficient pressure is put on politicians, these cuts will just happen. This will translate directly into a significant reduction in classroom resources, including support staff and other high value programmes. Don't let this happen to your children. Some of this stuff is a bit technical, but I got a good response when I talked to people in the politicians office. The time is now in terms of making a difference. Let politicians know that you are not happy.

Background Information - Cost Cutting and efficiency Dividend Proposals

Workcover - $7m cut
# All sites are levied 1% of total salary starting costs, with a monthly deduction from the site's budget.
# Costs will be met by the site in which the injury occurs.
# Sites to pay the first $100 of any medical treatment.
# Sites to pay the first 4 weeks of lost time from any new Workcover claim; e.g. TRT cover
# $200 late notification fee if exceeding the 2 day period for notification
# A 60% rebate will be provided to sites that make no claims
# A levy/rebate panel will be established to view cases of hardship
# Governing Councils will be wholly responsible for their employees and will be required to register separately and be responsible for compliance

Staffing

DECS acknowledges that there can be no change to staffing arrangements unless by agreement with the AEU because these are secured by industrial agreements.

Their wishlist includes, 45km rule increased to 70km, unlimited tenure for all teaching staff, unlimited right of return.

It should be noted that however some items may not be covered by industrial agreements:
# DECS strategy focuses upon TPT and top ups
# Costs of all surplus teachers transferred to sites
# Introduction of a cost to sites for surplus ancillary staff
# 30 TRT days will be cut each term per 1.0 surplus teaching staff

SASIF accounts
# Applies to all funds in SASIF accounts
# Exempted funds include building, library, OSHC and vacation care, canteen, farm accounts, trusts and scholarships, P&F accounts
# Exempted funds will subject to stricter annual auditing
# DECS examining 5 options.

1) School type
# Specific Limit according to school type
# Preschools $50 000
# Primary $80 000
# Secondary/Area $100 000

2) Enrolment Numbers
# $50 000 up to 100 students
# $80 000 between 101 and 300 students
# $100 000 between 301 and 500 students
# $ 120 000 for 501 and above.

3) Combined enrolment and school type
# Preschools $40 000 - $60 000
# Primary $ 60 000 - $90 000
# Secondary/ Area $90 000 - $120 000

4) Based on 5% RES (2006)

A range between $20 000 and $ 490 000 depending on school size

5) 5% of RES with upper and lower limits
# $40 000 lower to $120 000 upper.

Option 5 favoured by DECS

Energy efficiencies
# 50 sites have met targets
# 550 yet to reach target
# Sustainable Development Grants to be targeted to the 50 biggest energy consumers
# Reduction tied to State Development plan to reduce 2001 consumption rates by 25% - equivalent of $1.8m reduction
# Site redevelopment will include latest energy efficient technology

Water Saving
# Saving of 10% of usage - or $0.7m
# 315 sites have reached target
# ESD funds targeted to top 50 users

Small Programmes/grants

Email links, suggestions and background information to help you get the message through to the state government.

Send an email today telling South Australia's leaders that our schools can't afford their cuts.

  • The Premier Mike Rann
  • The Treasurer Kevin Foley
  • The Minister for Education Jane Lomax Smith


    Suggested message

    Dear ........

    I am appalled that DECS and your Government are making children pay for your government's so called efficiency dividends. Why should public education and student learning again suffer at the hands of politicians and bureaucrats?

    Indeed, why shouldn't our kids share in the prosperity of a booming economy after the years of denial brought about by the financial stringencies that followed the ALP's state bank disaster?

    Make Public Education exempt from your budget cuts and 'efficiency dividends'.

    Shame on this State Labor Government.



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