Teaching Principals:

The TPRG priorities are aligned with the PPA priorities. Underpinning everything we do as a Reference Group is our vision: to professionally advocate for and support Principals who take on the dual role of Principal and Teacher.

Our three main focus points from Term 1, 2019 are:

Principal Excellence and Wellbeing: Actions from Term 1, 2019 meeting include the collection of 'good news stories' on how Principals who teach are using their additional SBAR funding to support them in their role. Good news stories include:

• Thank you PPA and DoE – actions speak louder than words. These funds are very much needed.
• Thank you PPA and DoE for providing extra funds for TP relief. This means that I am only spending one day at school on the weekend and not two!
• I’m using the additional funding to release myself off class an additional day per week to focus on Instructional Leadership and School Improvement.

* Learning and Quality Teaching: Rural and Remote - Attracting quality permanent and temporary staff to these settings is difficult in some areas (a good supply of casuals is virtually impossible). Accessing expert support from DoE in terms of curriculum for Rural and Remote and student wellbeing continue to be ongoing issues. There seems to be no reprieve from these ongoing issues which are of detriment to the students in our schools.
* Human Resources: There is an ongoing issue with staff who move from 'Western Division' to 'Eastern Division' because of the Eastern and Western School start dates. If a teacher moves from West to East they can't be employed from Day 1 Term 1, unless the Western School completes an early cessation. The teacher then, as a result, misses out on a week's pay. If the teacher is not employed for a full year, they are not eligible for beginning teacher support funds. This is likely to continue to occur given that it is feasible that staff living near the 'imaginary' Western/Eastern border could easily work in both divisions from year to year.

Technology RG and Comms & Engagement:

From both the Technology Reference Group and Comms and Engagement Standing Committee the main points were:

• The DoE has been given feedback about the functionality of the new platform for the School Website Service. While principals understood the need for the quick cutover due to security breaches, and appreciated the reduction in the hours of training needed to manage the new service, it was another example of a rollout that was not immediately functional and useful.
  Principals report concerns about the complexities managing the new platform with simple actions like uploading photos taking many steps (and much time) to complete. Because of the difficulties with accessing training and archived content being uploaded at cutover, concerns have been raised that school websites appear static to communities and that NSW Public Schools aren’t looking very good at the start of a new school year.
• There is a project to develop a mobile portal which will be progressively rolled out with improvements over time starting with principals as first users, followed by students, teachers and community. From the demonstrations to both groups, it looks like a user-friendly and very workable. Members of the Comms and Engagement team are included in a user testing group.
• A completely revised and mobile solution to the AMU, SMU problem was also demonstrated with roll out expected in the second half of the year. The time saving to principals will be huge. User profiles can be customised at school level and users (eg teachers, casual staff etc) can request access to the profile and the principal will only need to approve, not go into multiple applications and tick boxes.

ITD were quick to send out a formal DoE response to the safety of WiFi in a T4 L newsletter. This was requested by the TRG on Friday and the newsletter was emailed the following Monday – very quick response indeed!

Human Resources RG

Working on Principal Classification position paper in order to overcome salary inequities between primary, secondary, central, infants and SSP schools, as well as to provide incentive for promotion to principals currently at P3 level. A salary structure based on a combination of student enrolment numbers and school complexity will be discussed at Term 1 State Council.

Rural Education:

BIggest news this week is that finally the Department is moving to create a Director of Rural Education after sustained pressure from ourselves and the SPC. It would seem that the Director will have a huge role in Rural education and pathways and sit under the umbrella of Teaching & Learning. We have been part of the negotiations around the role statement.

Finance & Admin:

There is recognition that Principals need tools and support to allow them to fully expend their funding. A range of work being undertaken to improve this situation:

• Improvements to eFPT seem to have been well received;
• Face to face training for each school for budget preparation;
• New report in SAP called the "eFPT Allocation Detail Report" provides clearer information about all additional allocations received by the school. All additional funding allocations will be added to this report as the year goes on;
• Coding/descriptions against allocations will be clearer;
• Work being undertaken to give more clarity around additional allocations so Principals can plan more accurately;
• Consultation and work is being undertaken to provide Principals with clearer guidance around the carrying forward of funds in school bank accounts. Need to spend funds allocated in 2019 on 2019 students. No intention to 'take back' 6300 funds.
• New reports in SCOUT to allow 'big picture' tracking of finances.
• WBS/IO solution training being rolled out.

Pre-printed banking bags - There has been an issue with a batch of the pre-printed banking bags which has caused some SAMs a great deal of concern. The seal was damaged during the printing process. The bags will be replaced. If schools have issues with their bags they need to report the issue to EdConnect and they will arrange a new bags.

Leadership Standing Committee:

Leadership Standing committee is busy planning for the final 2 day Principal Credential in May. The focus for the conference will be supporting participants in preparation of their executive summary and evidence based on the Principal Standard. Murat and you Phil will be speaking at the 2 day conference.

Interviews will be conducted this week for our first full time Professional Learning Officer/Director….so watch this exciting space.

Facilitators for the second intake of the Aspiring Principals Leadership Program conducted by the Leadership Institute in partnership with University of Wollongong are being finalised. Applications will be reviewed over the next few weeks to determine the next cohort of participants. NSWPPA has representation on these selection panels.

Principal Support RG:

Principal Support Reference Group was provided with a summary of Phil Riley’s Principal Well Being survey by Wendy Buckley our Professional Officer. The executive raised this survey with the Secretary Mark Scott is discussions last week. The success of the Flourish program as a program specifically designed to meet the needs of our principals was highlighted during this meeting.

Disability Programs RG:

Disability Programs RG have been given an “interim” document re the operation of regional Placement Panels. Vice President Rob Walker is keen to determine how the membership are feeling about the operation of the panels. He will work on a simple survey to determine our position.