Board of Trustees Update
At our last meeting the Board discussed and agreed to implement the Government's new funding model...
You may have heard recent media on this initiative. The Government have implemented a system of funding that is optional for schools to join, reviewable annually. The system is $150 per student per year for all curriculum related activities.
If the school adopts this model it can no longer request funds from parents for school related activities. This includes educational trips related to learning, sports activities related to school programmes, swimming and software programmes, with camp payments becoming optional. This link is really useful to better understand what is covered:
As a Board we have made the decision to opt into this model for 2020 despite the fact that it is not in our best financial interest. The school will not be better off financially to any great extent, and depending on our programmes, we could be worse off. It will however take the pressure off our families and reduce the workload internally of chasing funds.
We will need to review our programmes, particularly camps, as to the viability of undertaking these going forward. After our review this year we have moved to bi-annual camps and whilst we value these activities we are faced with increasing costs and a drop-off in family support for them. Next year we had already planned not to have camps and will survey the community further on this issue.
We trust we have your support for this initiative and that it will take financial pressure off your family. It is our hope that as a community everyone will get behind our new uniform and really support future fundraising efforts as these will be utilised for improvements to our playgrounds and buildings post the build project.
Warm regards and have a great term 4!
Tony Herring (Chair & Finance), Mike Darnell (Policy), Troy Wheeler (Property), Simon Mullinger (Personnel), Koral Fitzgerald (Personnel), Emma Smith (Staff Rep) and Mr T (Principal)