Parents at Davidson High School in Frenchs Forest have been advocating for upgrades to the school hall, citing issues such as a lack of permanent stage and seating, broken ceiling panels and louvres, and outdated toilets. After attracting media attention, they were promised upgrades, including refurbishing change rooms to accommodate students with additional needs. Similarly, P&C president Sarah Gibbons of St Ives High School stated that they were being asked to fund essential items like shade cloth, textbooks, and buses, in addition to wellbeing programs. P&Cs, which used to be considered the “icing on the cake,” are now seen as crucial to meet fundamental needs of schools.
Teachers were recently granted a historic pay rise of up to $10,000 a year, funded through budget-saving measures such as reducing the number of executive teachers who do not have face-to-face time in classrooms and cutting down on consultants and labour hire. Education Minister Prue Car explained that the savings would largely come from sending executive teachers back into the classroom. However, P&C president David Hope of the Northern Sydney District reported that operating budgets had been cut, resulting in the cancellation of weekly interschool sports due to budget constraints. While supportive of the pay rise for teachers, Hope expressed concerns about the apparent lack of budgeting for the increase.
The management of school maintenance and minor capital works also underwent changes, with the department’s asset management unit taking over the process in July the previous year. Previously outsourced to private contractors, the management of small projects under $30,000 was now handled by the asset management team to reduce principals’ administrative burdens. However, the transition faced some challenges, causing delays in large projects. Charles Gauci, Deputy President of the Secondary Principals’ Council, highlighted the difficulty in finding tradespeople for capital works, leading to increased costs and delays in project completion.
Despite the issues with the new asset management arrangement, a Department of Education spokesperson emphasized the benefits, such as simplified callout processes and direct contracts with local tradespeople for quicker maintenance responses. The spokesperson noted that the new contract significantly reduced callout times and improved response rates to maintenance requests. When questioned about potential budget cuts to cover the teacher pay rise, the department spokesperson highlighted the importance of putting teachers in classrooms to improve student outcomes. With a significant decrease in teacher vacancies at the beginning of the school year, NSW teachers are now among the best-paid in Australia, signaling a commitment to supporting educators and enhancing the quality of education.
In response to concerns raised by P&C presidents and education stakeholders, Education Minister Prue Car emphasized the importance of prioritizing frontline education initiatives and supporting teachers in the classroom. While acknowledging the challenges faced by schools in managing budgets and fulfilling essential needs, the minister assured that efforts were being made to find savings across the board without compromising the quality of education. Despite the financial constraints and operational challenges, parents, teachers, and education leaders continue to advocate for adequate resources and support to ensure that students receive a high-quality education and the necessary facilities for their learning and development. By addressing these issues effectively and collaboratively, the education system can strive to provide the best possible learning environment for students across schools in the Northern Sydney District and beyond.
