BOARD MINUTES 28th August 2023

Thank you Jeremy for the Karakia

– Vaiolupe Talakai and Roshni Sidhwa – Ministry of Education
– Pauline reported on the background of the school since she started 10 years ago:
–  10 years ago, our school had 840 students with over 400 students who were out of zone.
–  The school was also having leadership difficulty [ERO reports] and was in serious financial
difficulty – financial advisor, LSM and later a commissioner were appointed.
–  We are now back on track and are well managed financially and have a high quality and stable
Leadership
–  Our out of zone enrolment numbers have decreased every year since 2013. This is able to be
tracked. In 2024 no our of zone enrolments will be taken. IN 2025 we anticipate having 800 [or         more] in zone students.
–  All this is common knowledge. We have been in the papers and MoE has had to support us for a
number of years .. our RTLB service has some of the very best feedback from schools in the            Country.
–  Now when we are being successful the MoE does not seem to provide support.

The Board then presented both Vaiolupe and Roshni with the following questions:
–          We currently are funded for 686 students. Why, in a school that has an equity index of 477,
can we not get updates for operational funding?
–          We have 96 more students that we are not funded for. What will the MoE do now [not in
November] to ensure that we can fund the extra teachers, furniture, classroom resources,
Chromebook and curriculum support needs for this year of students?
–          We currently have 622 in zone students out of 779

Why will the MoE Property not even talk with us about the plan for roll growth facilities when we anticipate having over 800 in-zone students in less than 2 years?
We know any building projects will take more than 2 years to get started, let alone complete.
–          Why did it take from March until after July to be allocated any increased staffing despite
repeated attempts from out school?
–          Why, in a school with both high transience and rapid roll growth, have we been told that every
time a child leaves, the 10 days count for staffing, re-starts, despite obvious roll growth?
–          We were told that Equity funding is allocated to individual students. What happens to the
Equity funding for students moving into our school from other schools?
–          2 of our Severe Behaviour cases have been suspended with one excluded without ever
having seen an Ed Psych – despite referrals and request for support and both cases being
accepted by the MoE.

Why have we not had EdPsyche support when cases have been accepted and we have been told the support will happen?
–          Why do we not have a Learning Support Co-ordinator – when will we get one?
–          Why do most of the schools in this area not have a Learning Support Co-ordinator when
there is such an obvious need?
–          Why was RTLB Cluster 10 not provided a Pasifika RTLB?
–          We have had 25% increases in referrals to RTLB?

We had the highest number of lockdown days in the country [Papatoetoe was locked down for an additional 2 weeks] and the concerns of weather, flooding, shootings and major gang unrest – high trauma ……….
–          Why have we been told that we may have a reduction of 1 or even 2 RTLB in our Cluster
when schools are so desperate for help?
–          How is the MoE listening to the local principals/RTLB/Schools – where is the evidence of
that?
–          How is the MoE helping with staff and recruitment?
–          How is the MoE checking that the Ministry of Health is providing the required Public Health
Nurses and Dental Clinic support to schools?
We have had a Public Health Nurse for just 6 weeks this year and Dental Clinic for just on a term.

–          Tamara [RTLB Cluster Manager] also reported her major concerns.

Vaiolupe and Roshni listened and welcomed the challenge to take all this back to the Ministry.
–          They will report back with any progress.
–          They also advised that they had invited other MoE people to attend [Property and Finance]
and they had declined the offer.

Vaiolupe and Roshni left the meeting at 7.00 p.m.

Pauline reported to the Board on staffing and requested permission to employ a specialist, PE Teacher.
And later in the year [July] we advertise for a specialist science teacher.
–          Staffing – fixed term – Paulette Corbett starting
term 4.
–          New Counsellor appointed for 2 days a week in
2024 to support Sian. He is working voluntary until
the end of 2023.
–          Kahui Ako – Vili Titiuti appointed as an Across
School Teacher. 3 days in our school and 2 days
across schools.

Roll growth – 778 students as of 28^th August 2023.

PC, KP, Carried

If members have any suggestions, please send these to Jeremy and Kimi.

The Board Chair and Principal agreed to carry out the actions outlined in the ‘in-committee’ meeting.