13.1 Staffing Entitlements13.1.1 Classification of Primary SchoolsPersonnel and Employee Relations Directorate determine a school's classification in Term 2 based on Term 1 enrolment data provided by schools at the census date in February of that year. The classification is based on student enrolment patterns. Changes to enrolments may result in:
- a change in the classification of the school
- changes in the entitlement to executive staff and classroom teachers
- changes in the salary level or allowances of the principal's position
In the case of a school with falling enrolments, it may be decided to place an executive position under review for twelve months. Should actual enrolments remain below the enrolment band required to retain that particular position, a recommendation is made by the Classification Committee to the Director of School Staffing. The recommendation will be that the position is to be abolished, is to continue on review or is to be taken off review.
Action Required by Principal
Personnel and Employee Relations Directorate contact all schools outlining requirements for the current year. Principals complete a return which is submitted to the Classification Committee during Term 2.
A sample of a 1997 return is provided as Figure 13.1.
Alternative sample action plans are provided as Figure 13.2 and 13.313.1.2 Primary Executive Staffing Structure
Executive staffing primary school is based on the whole school enrolments. This includes pre-school students and all student support enrolments.
Primary principal positions become non-teaching positions when enrolments reach 160.
Executive release in primary schools is allocated to the appropriate position when enrolments reach the required number viz. Years K-2 (220) Years 3-6 (580).
Table 13.1 indicates entitlements for particular enrolment bands.
Table 13.1: Primary Executive Staffing Structure
13.1.3 Primary Staffing Schedule
Classroom teacher positions, Relief from Face to Face (RFF) allowances, Part-time (P/T) and Teacher Librarian (T/L) support area calculated on enrolment bands. Table 13.2 outlines the allowances against various enrolment bands.
Table 13.2: Primary Staffing Schedule
13.1.4 Primary School Administrative and Support Staff Schedule
School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) entitlements are outlined in Table 13.3.
Table 13.3 - School Administrative and Support Staff
Figure 13.1 Sample of Enrolment Return
NSW DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
CLASSIFICATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR 1998
...................................Public School District: ......................................
Level: P
School 1997 Classification: 5A
Please use the term one historic enrolments at your school to estimate enrolments for 1998/99.
Please indicate any reasons for expecting significant changes in enrolments over the next few years eg new housing estates, changes in employment opportunities etc.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Positions on Review in 1997
Executive Position Name of Substantive incumbent
Please correct any information regarding positions or names of incumbents listed above. If none are listed, no positions are on review.
Figure 13.2: Action Plan - ReturnsFEBRUARY:
- Student Enrolment Return - Primary, Central & High Schools
- SSP Student Enrolment Return
- Teachers Who Do Not Enter On Duty
- Primary Staffing Vacancy Notification Form (including Nominated Reduction Advice)
- Primary Staffing Variations Summary Form
APRIL:
- ESL New Arrivals - Survey 1
MAY:
- Classification of Primary Schools
JUNE:
- Return of Absences (Terms 1 & 2)
- Conveyancy Return
JULY:
- Anticipated Student Enrolment Return - Primary, Central & High Schools
- ESL New Arrivals - Survey 2
AUGUST:
- Mid Year Census - Support Classes
- BST School Report Form
- SSP Student Enrolment for Anticipated Enrolments
- ESL Annual Survey for Primary schools
DECEMBER:
- Conveyancy Return
- Primary School Student Enrolment Return for Anticipated Enrolments
- School Administrative & Support Staff - Staffing Operation
- Staff Return - School Administrative & Support Staff
- Return of Absences (Terms 3 & 4)
- Annual Financial Statement
Term Returns:
- Suspension, Exclusions & Declaration of Place Vacant (End of Term 1, 2, 3 & 4)
- Teachers Assessment Review Schedule
Figure 13.3 Organisation Chart
Date of return:
TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3 TERM 4 AOR (number of students in each grade)
The organisation Return confirms your numbers and hence results in budget and staffing alterations up or down. Due week 3 for Western Region and week four for rest.
Special Education students integrated into regular classes March - Return.
Start collecting information for the Annual Report.
Suspension Return due in last day of each term.
End of June - Return for Absences
Suspension Return due in last day of each term.
August - teacher Assessment Review - Age Grade distribution of Students Return
Start planning for School Renewal and Budget for next year. This planning would include CAP and DSP Programs.
Start writing the Annual Report. Financial Report will be done in December.
Suspension Return due in last day of each term.
1st week in November
AOR (numbers of students). This sets your initial staffing and budget for next year.
End of Nov Return of Absences.
30 November, Oasis Rollover and preparation of Annual Financial Report.
Annual Report due in December.
Management and Organisational Plans are due in first term next year.
Suspension Return due in last day of each term.
13.2 Use of Private Vehicles
1. Where possible, teachers should use departmental vehicles for work related business.
2. If a teacher needs to use their private vehicle for education related work the following checklist may prove useful.
- Approval for use must first be gained from the principal
- A copy of the current comprehensive insurance policy must be attached to the claim.
- Ensure that all passengers who are to travel in the vehicle have access to, and wear, seat belts.
- Rates per kilometre (as of Sept 1997) for the journeys are included here:
Specified journey rate (eg training and development activities)
Engine size:
up to 1600cc
18.7c/Km
between
1600cc - 2700cc
22.2c/Km
greater than
2700cc
23.9c/Km
3. In the event of an accident follow police and/or insurance procedures strictly. Contact principal to inform of the situation.
4. In the event of damage/accident not reported to police (eg windscreen, headlight, animal strike). Contact Legal Branch for advice.
5. In the event of accident reported to police:
i. Complete Damage to Private Vehicle form and obtain principal's signature as soon as possible after the accident.
ii. Complete insurance procedures to effect repairs.Pursue other matters through principal/superintendent
13.2.1 Transporting students in your own car -
Why does the Federation say "NO"?
From time to time, teachers have raised with the Federation the issue of transporting students to and from school activities in their own car. The Federation has always advised against this practice.
This advice is based on a publication of the Federation. It represents the union's current view, and is based on legal advice obtained by the NSW Teachers Federation. The Federation stands by that advice. Members would be aware that the Department does not necessarily agree with our advice, and has indicated that teachers would be covered by the department in most circumstances in the event of anything unforeseen occurring when they were transporting students in their own car.
While it is true that any legal opinion would need to be tested in court, Federation does not believe that any teacher should place themselves in a position where they might be the subject of such a court decision. The trauma faced by a teacher charged with the death or injury of a student due to negligence goes beyond the question of financial liability although that might well be an issue.
The possibility of allegations of child sexual assault has been raised by both the Federation and the department, and lends weight to the Federation's advice that teachers should avoid at all times conveying pupils in their cars. The presence of a second student in the car would not necessarily provide any protection for a teacher who was the subject of a malicious complaint. In fact, the opposite might be the case.
There is an industrial issue to be considered. Teachers are not bus or taxi drivers. They are not paid to transport students. It is not part of their job. The Federation will not advise its members to incur personal expenses or place themselves in any form of legal jeopardy by undertaking activities which go well beyond their required duties.
To accept any of these variations would be yet another example of teachers being asked to do more without any attempt to consider compensation for them. Teachers are teachers and the continuous attempts to add to their teaching load is not acceptable to the Federation.
If there is a need to transport students, it is a need which has to be met by resources provided by the New South Wales Government and the Department, not by putting the professional and industrial rights of teachers at risk.
It is for these reasons that the Federation will continue to advise members against transporting students in their own car, and will continue to support those members who choose to heed this advice.
PLEASE BRING THIS ADVICE TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL STAFF
Authorised by John Hennessy, General Secretary, NSW Teachers Federation, 300 Sussex Street Sydney NSW 2000
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