Secondary principals welcome realistic response

Media Release
4 Dec 2007

Secondary principals welcome realistic response

New Zealand Secondary Principals’ Council chairperson Arthur Graves has welcomed a realistic response from the Ministry to the secondary principals’ collective agreement claim.

“A settlement has been reached, subject to ratification, which we are very happy to take to our members,” he said.

After an initially unacceptable offer, based on what was put to primary principals and secondary teachers, the Ministry returned last week with a much improved offer and a possible settlement was reached later that same day.

“This settlement - which still has to be ratified – goes quite some way to recognising the complexity of secondary schools and the leadership responsibilities that principals’ face in meeting all of the expectations placed on them,” Mr Graves said.

The structure of the proposed settlement includes:

- 4 percent per annum for the duration of the agreement (from November 30 2007 until June 30, 2010) on the basic salary scale, staffing component and decile rates.

- A new Realising Youth Potential Payment (RYPP) for secondary principals of $2000, plus $3 a year for each Year 11 to 15 student, as recognition of the leadership role in developing and implementing actions to increase the retention, engagement and achievement of those students.

- An experience payment of $3000 after three years in the role and satisfactory performance appraisals.

- A one off payment of $1000 and a range of other condition improvements eg: five weeks leave.

“Principals will be very pleased that the important job they do in supporting senior students in their work and training choices is being acknowledged.
“I wish to thank the Ministry at this point for accepting and recognising our key arguments around job complexity and of the difficulties of recruitment and retention of principals for secondary schools,” Mr Graves said.

Principals are due to complete their ratification voting on Friday.

ENDS

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