Commissioner costs each child $900.00!

PRESS RELEASE

Commissioner costs each child $900.00!

Mike Eru, appointed by Minister Parata, has in just the 12 month period from April/May 2012 till April/May 2013, collected $149000.00 in fees and expenses as Commissioner of Moerewa School. That works out at $900 for each child at the school, that’s money that could have been spent on helping them learn, and don’t forget, Mr Eru is still claiming costs and fees since April/May this year!

“It’s incredible, unbelievable. Where is Ministry’s accountability?” said Pat Newman President of Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association. “On top of that, he has claimed a further $56000.00 for similar work in another Otara school, and I understand has been appointed by the Ministry to intervene in yet another Northland School, and continues to hold a full time role in another organisation. He must be unbelievably busy”.

“If I were a parent of children at Moerewa primary I would be so so angry and demanding answers, not only of Mr Eru, but of the Ministry of Education itself,” continued Mr Newman. “It’s a great income if you can get it!”

Mr Eru was appointed mainly to “support parents and whanau to move existing year 11- 13 learners to other schools”, a job that was over basically before he even started.

The other roles he had were normal “nuts and bolts ones, which all Boards of Trustees are required to carry out, and would normally only cost a school about $5000.00 in total Board fees over 12 months.

Mr Newman said, “Unless the Minister and Ministry had some kind of hidden agenda, there is absolutely no legal, or educational reason for Mr Eru to still be claiming an average of over $12000 a month from the community of Moerewa, especially one of his core roles, was to work with an advisory group to prepare for the election of a new Board. 18 months to do this, and it’s not done”. Mr Newman asks, “Who are the members of this advisory group? How often have they met? What documentation exists to support such meetings and their decisions? Why is Mr Eru still there collecting an average of $12000.00 per month?

ENDS 358 words

Pat Newman

President Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association

Hora Hora School

22 Te Mai Rd

Whangarei

ENDS

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