ISEA has decided to not submit on the National Standards.

However we wish to advise members who may wish to submit that the deadline is the 3rd July.

Timeline of the National Standards process

Consultation: from 25 May to 3 July

The Ministry will consult with:
the education sector, about the draft Standards, how they will work and how they will be assessed
Parents, families and whanau, about the information they need from schools about their children's progress against the Standards.

Consultation will happen through workshops, meetings and online submissions.

Taking into account the consultation feedback, the Ministry will provide a report to Government in August, and provide final proposals in September. The final National Standards will be published in October. Schools will use the National Standards from 2010.

ISEA has had a number of enquiries regarding Swine Flu. Some teachers are going overseas in the mid-year break and they have been told that they have to stay off school when they come back.

Teachers and non-teaching staff should be aware of the requirment when considering travelling overseas.

It is important that you check your school's policy before travelling!

The Department of Labour advice is as below:-
"Your employer can require you to stay home during a pandemic if your workplace becomes unsafe, or if you are sick and would pose a health risk at work.

Wages must normally be paid if you are ready and willing to work. However, a pandemic scenario is likely to create some uncertainties as to how long businesses can maintain wage payments if they are closed for a long period.

You must be told on what basis you are being asked to stay home, particularly if you are expected to take any paid or unpaid leave. Your employer can make you use accumulated annual leave if you are given 14 days notice. You can't be forced to take annual leave when given less than 14 days notice.

Some employers may want add provisions to your existing employment agreements as part of their pandemic planning. These changes must be made in good faith, and your response must be made in good faith.

Employees cannot be forced into any unilateral changes to their employment agreements to address a pandemic situation. They are entitled to seek independent advice on any proposed changes, and any changes must meet minimum conditions set out in law."

NB: ISEA Policy is still the same as has been outlined last week. See announcement below

Click here for ISEA's policy on Swine Flu

Any employee who has been advised of the school's policy at least 14 days prior to travel should be aware that they might have to stay home upon their return. With schools, annual leave is taken during school holidays. Employers might require leave after travelling to be taken as unpaid leave or your employer might deduct sick leave. If this happens please contact ISEA.

If you have no symptoms but your school or centre directs you to stay home, then you must be paid as normal, and any associated costs are borne by the employer.

The Ministry of Health now expects those that are sick to stay in home isolation in order not to spread the virus, but contacts who are well will not be expected to put themselves into quarantine.

"Now that the H1N1 virus is in our communities, we will be treating this illness in much the same way we treat seasonal influenza.

In simple terms, people need to expect to look after themselves, and most won’t need medical care. Our aim is to make sure hospitals can look after those who develop a more severe illness, get complications or have other medical needs.

We expect many New Zealanders will become ill with this virus over the coming months and for the vast majority it will feel like seasonal influenza. We will be providing advice and information for the majority of people through primary care, the web and media and in some areas, flu centres to manage high numbers."

Click here for the Ministry of Health's latest advice on Swine Flu

ISEA has confirmed its policy for members required to be absent from work through cases of or suspected cases of H1N1 flu.

ISEA policy is similar to that agreed between The Ministry of Education, NZSTA, PPTA and NZEI who met earlier this week to clarify issues.
These concerns were raised by the circulars of the 2nd and 5th June with respect to the pay status of teachers who are absent from school because of H1N1 flu (commonly called Swine flu) concerns.

ISEA will be taking the below position.

Please contact ISEA immediately if you face any difficulties with your employer over this situation.

Jill Brookes

P O Box 95-143 Swanson, Waitakere 0653, Phone 09 833 9796, Fax 09 833 9800

admin@isea.org.nz

The situation which is agreed to by the PPTA, NZEI, NZSTA and the Ministry is as below and will be in effect for ISEA members at this time, and until further notice, is as follows.
1 Sick teachers absent from school will be on sick leave.
2 There is no directive from the Ministry of Health for any teacher who is free from symptoms to absent themselves from school.
3 If a teacher is advised by their doctor, or by an official health authority or by their employer to isolate themselves and chooses to follow that advice, this will be a charge against their sick leave.
4 Employers are not required by either the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education to direct employees to remain at home.
5 If an employer directs a teacher to stay at home it is on pay and the cost must be met from the school’s budget. It must not be a charge against the teacher's sick leave.

Possible Changes.

Members might have seen the recent news releases about Regency. ISEA has been advised that 'it is business as usual until August 09". A recent company acquisition has affected our Regency Benefit offering to ISEA members. Nuance and James Richardson jointly announced that negotiations have been completed for the acquisition by James Richardson, trading as JR Duty Free, of all Nuance's business operations in New Zealand. This transaction is effective from 1st July 2009 and includes the duty free business at Wellington Airport under the Regency brand, Regency Internet Sales, Discover NZ specialty stores at Wellington and Christchurch Airports, and Regency's Wholesale business. It also includes Regency's duty free business at Auckland Airport until the 3rd August when JR Duty Free becomes the second operator.
The acquisition is as a consequence of the appointment of James Richardson as the second duty free operator at Auckland Airport in April this year. I have been informed that JR Duty Free will probably have their own scheme and ISEA will make enquiries about that.

Picture. Dr. Peter Lind, Director, Teachers Council.

• A new 'late' fee of $50.00 (including GST) will be introduced for teachers employed in teaching positions who fail to renew or reapply for their practising certificates by the due date. This is additional to the cost of the practising certificate fee of $120.

• The Limited Authority to Teach fee is to be increased from $40.00 to $55.00 per year (including GST) to cover current administration costs.

• A new fee of $80.00 (including GST) will be introduced for applicants who have not been registered in New Zealand and who have either completed their teacher education programme overseas or who are applying through the Council’s discretionary pathway. This is additional to the cost of the practising certificate fee of $120 and is to cover additional administration costs.

Private schools are hiring debt collectors to chase unpaid fees as the recession bites.
Baycorp general manager Joe Nel said his agency had about 300 private and state schools on its books, slightly up on last year, with an average of $650 a debt.
Graeme Byers, managing director of Guardian Credit Service, is chasing about $40,000 worth of debt for 15 private schools on his books. .

A revision of the Holidays Act which could allow annual leave to be traded for cash has met mixed reviews.
A working group has been appointed to review the act, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said yesterday.
She said the act had been widely criticised for its complexity and the significant compliance costs it created .

Council of Trade Unions vice-president Richard Wagstaff said the option of trading holidays for cash could see workers "pressured to sell holidays". Low-paid workers, or those with a heavy workload, were likely to feel under pressure from their employer and "will not truly have a free choice". "We also know that holidays add to the quality of life in this country." .

Independent School Interview,'Nine to Noon', Radio NZ on Budget 2009.

Independent School Interview, Radio NZ on Budget 2009, 29th May 2009.

Today's budget dealt a blow to independent schools seeking some relief from tough economic times.

Click here for the Full Budget 2009

The amount of EREL available at each school is determined by ISEA membership at that school.