Pittwater Life May 2024 Issue

News
School funding cuts ‘shameful’
The NSW Labor Government
has cut almost
$600,000 in funding to
11 schools across Pittwater –
an act one Parents & Citizens
committee has labelled
“shameful”.
Last month Premier Chris
Minns announced a total $150
million would be slashed from
schools across NSW in 2024.
It follows the Labor Government’s
landmark near-10
per cent pay increase for the
State’s 95,000 teachers, which
commenced last October.
Avalon Public School is the
worst-hit local school – with a
21 per cent funding cut equating
to a $97,639 shortfall this
year.
In a statement provided
to Pittwater Life, the Executive
Committee of the Avalon
P&C said: “To lose over 21
per cent of a budget that is
fundamental in keeping a
school running effectively is
a shameful act by the current
State Government. The impact
will be felt by our students and
teachers immediately.
“To lose almost $100,000
previously set aside to support
the running of our school
is both disappointing and
demoralising. The deepest
impact will be felt by the
students.
“This is a bitter blow for the
families who not only support
Public Education but who also
supported increased wages for
teachers.”
The committee said the State
Government had effectively
taken much-needed funds set
aside for children to cover
wages.
REELING: Avalon Public School
is the most affected by the NSW
Government’s funding cuts.
“The fallout of this cut will
be seen across many facets of
school life,” it warned.
“Both State and Federal Governments
need to better fund
our public schools for the sake
of the teachers, students and
families who choose Public
Education.”
The Minns Government’s
pay rise agreement, endorsed
by the Teachers Federation,
saw teachers’ starting salaries
increase from $75,791 to
$85,000 and salaries for topof-the-scale
teachers go from
$113,042 to $122,100.
State Opposition Leader
Mark Speakman said principals
had been blindsided by
the decision, which will strip
at least $570,000 from Pittwater
schools alone.
“In practice, this will mean
students could be left without
crucial learning support staff,
as well as having wellbeing
programs slashed and school
upgrades cancelled.
“The timing is also concerning
– the school year is well
underway… key decisions have
already been made and people
have already been employed
for specific roles. This is not
good enough and our kids
deserve better.”
Other local schools affected
included Narrabeen Lakes PS
(-17 per cent); Bilgola Plateau
PS and Barrenjoey High School
(-15 per cent each); Narrabeen
Sports High (-14 per cent);
Elanora Heights PS (-13 per
cent); Newport PS (-12 per
cent); Narrabeen North PS (-11
per cent).
Pittwater High will lose
almost $47,000 (-7 per cent),
while Mona Vale PS will lose
just over $40,000 (-6 per cent).
Terrey Hills PS was the only
school to gain funding, with a
$21,000 boost (+14 per cent).
The figures are based on
resource allocation funding
models on the government’s
website.
Member for Pittwater Rory
Amon said it was clear the
Government had broken its
promise that its union deals
would not impact classrooms.
He added Labor’s cuts followed
record additional funding to
Pittwater Schools under the
Coalition of nearly $5 million
in the 2022/2023 Budget.
He said schools could previously
opt to carry over additional
funding and save it for
future projects and programs.
However, the Government’s
cutbacks had resulted in those
carry-over amounts being
frozen and withheld.
“This important funding helps
principals meet the unique
needs of their school including
additional staffing, programs,
capital, and operational projects
which help their students.
School communities are
telling me that these projects
are now at great risk. Where
schools have saved funds from
prior years, they have been
taken by the Government.
“Additional funding to Pittwater
schools has been reduced
from $4.9 million in 2023 to
$4.3 million in 2024. This is
a huge decline given recent
inflationary pressures.
“These cuts will compromise
our kids’ education. And
they defy a rational budgeting
process, with the cuts taking
effect part-way through the
year.”
Secretary of the Narrabeen
Sports High Parents & Citizens
Association Dr Peter McDonald
said: “Although a small cut to
the school’s operating budget,
parents will rightly be concerned
if it negatively impacts
delivery of our student welfare
programs such as mental
health & wellbeing.”
“More broadly, any cutback
in funding required for the
school’s long-overdue infrastructure
upgrade would be of
great concern, as there is still
much to be done. Latest advice
suggests that the next stage
of capital works will be fully
funded.”
Mr Amon said he had written
to Minister for Education
Prue Car demanding to know
the extent of these cuts and
what projects and programs
would need to be cancelled by
schools.
– Nigel Wall
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24 MAY 2024
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