❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Education Minister about the removal of deputy principals due to the independent public schools plan, alleging misuse and financial waste. The Minister acknowledges some removals but disputes the scale and defends the plan's benefits.
AnsweredQoN 67Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS — DEPUTY PRINCIPALS
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the students and staff from Illawarra Primary School, who have obviously just left the public gallery. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the students and staff from Illawarra Primary School, who have obviously just left the public gallery. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr J.M. Francis : They were backing you for the leadership! Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. WYATT : There were many more of them, member! I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
I refer to the government’s rollout of the independent public schools plan. (1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(1) Is it the case that many principals are using this plan to restructure their staffing configurations to remove deputies that they do not like? (2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(2) Is it the case that, thus far, 16 deputies have been removed from their schools and are now being paid for doing no work; and if not 16 deputies, then how many? (3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(3) Is it true that the Department of Education is spending $3 million a year paying for these deputies who no longer have a role in their schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. (1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
(1)–(3) It is certainly the case that in independent public schools, the principals are able to reconfigure the profile of their staffing, and that is one of the things that principals are finding a very useful tool for them in providing what they need in their schools. Therefore, rather than having the central office telling them what they will have—in many cases there are senior high schools with sometimes three, sometimes four, deputy principals—schools can reconfigure that staffing arrangement so that they can have the profile of teachers and staff appropriate to their school. The member for Victoria Park must understand that in some of the larger senior high schools in particular, deputies have been doing a lot of administrative work. In recasting the profile of the staffing in the schools, many of those principals are looking at having a business manager, rather than a third or fourth deputy, to perform those administrative tasks. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Therefore, deputies have been removed. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : Some deputies have. Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : How many? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I do not have those numbers at my fingertips, but I can certainly check them for the member for Victoria Park and let him know what they are. One of the main points of having independent public schools is that they can profile their staff in a way that is appropriate for that school and the students, and that schools have the teachers and others who can teach those courses that the schools want to offer. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Minister, can you confirm that there is a large number—if not 16—of deputies being paid? Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I cannot confirm that there is a large number; I know that there are at least a few and I will get that number for the member for Victoria Park. To my understanding, there is not a large number. I do not believe that it is the case that there are 16 deputies being paid, but I know that there are some people who have moved to other schools and that there are probably two or three—or maybe four or five, I do not have those numbers—deputies who are looking for placement in other schools. That is not unusual; when school sizes change, the number of staff changes and people are redeployed to other positions. It is the beginning of the school year and it is not unusual at this time to have those processes in place. Therefore, I will certainly check that for the member for Victoria Park. It is very interesting to note that in selecting staff, and that is the other great plus of an independent public school, the principal along with members of the school community can select their own staff and that, I believe, 40 redeployees have been selected. There has been a myth that those people are not being selected; they are being selected by independent public schools, and 30 new graduates have also been selected. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have staff appropriate for the courses that they want to teach and that is the main positive of independent public schools.
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