We certainly live in interesting times …. The release of a tweaked policy can certainly have a huge impact on us especially when implementation has been hardnosed.

Just to re-iterate, we have been involved in the policy re-tweak of the enrolment policy & procedures….. we had a cap under the previous policy so it didn’t jump out at us as a big issue. The 100 points was often being used by our schools where enrolments were tricky and we didn’t believe the principal not being on the panel was a big deal.

The two biggest issues have been around the accuracy of the enrolment cap and sibling rights and how the DELs have been sometimes difficult, pedantic and sometimes over the top threatening EPAC.

As an executive we have had many a robust conversation to clear up this situation, often using your examples to illustrate the difficulties being faced. We have met with Deputy Secretary Murat, the Minister, The Secretary and 5 of his Deputy Secretaries. Murat has conducted 2 skype sessions with his entire team of Executive Directors and DELs to clarify and advise that DELs should be supporting schools.

We have pushed compassion and the case for our families but also realise that Minister Stokes started this push because of the empire building by some of our colleagues. Financially, NSW can’t afford, or justify, huge infrastructure spends when nearby we have schools with empty classrooms.

We have also seen the release of the “Review into the Functions and Operations of EPAC” just recently. Mark Tedeschi QC has handed down a 177 page report saying:

In order to maintain confidence in EPAC among those who work in the Department and within school communities, it is necessary for EPAC to be seen to act in a fair, impartial, consistent, transparent and timely fashion, and in a manner that respects the procedural rights of those whom it is investigating and disciplining. Over time, criticism has been levelled at EPAC from a variety of sources. Those criticisms have included accusations of: procedural unfairness; lack of timeliness; lack of consistency in decision-making; inadequate investigations; confirmation bias against persons subject of allegations (PSOAs); poor communication with PSOAs, alleged victims (AVs), and school managers; failure to provide support to Principals and Directors Educational Leadership (DELs) in local management of investigations; inadequate resourcing; and a failure to act fairly and impartially in the investigation of allegations of misconduct. (p6)

The upcoming APPA Conference in Adelaide (September 3-6) meant that we had to hold our State Council two weeks earlier than usual. This had an impact on our Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties however thanks to the organisation of our chairpersons most were able to conduct & report on their meetings for Council.

As reported in the last “What’s Hot” the issue of Principal classification is also on the boil. As you are aware we have developed a conceptual model to improve the current system. Currently, the larger staff budgets in High Schools means that our schools (and salaries), often with much bigger enrolments, are disadvantaged. With the large majority of our primary schools in Band 3, it also limits career opportunities. We have taken our model to The Minister, The Secretary and Deputy Secretaries, Deputy Secretary Peter Riordan on a few occasions, Federation President and their IR officer and we have shared it with Angelo Gavrielatos (seeking Federation Presidency). More discussions to happen!