Cash shortfall hits learning: schools

Chris Broadhurst, Omokoroa No1 School principal, with Ella Jackson, 5, with iPads paid for by donations. Photo/John Borren.

Level of donations below 50pc, many Western Bay principals say.

School donations are sitting well below 50 per cent at many Western Bay schools, and principals say without the voluntary payments the books do not balance and the students miss out.

Principal of Otumoetai College Dave Randell said at the end of April, 30 per cent of his 1930 students had paid their $120 school fees (or $180 per family) in full.

A further 3 per cent had begun making part contributions.

Some parents at the decile eight school refused to pay on the basis that it was a donation and "they paid their taxes", others could not afford it and many paid without question, he said.

Donations generated about $100,000 a year for the college and gave students "equity of opportunity" at the city's largest school, Mr Randell said.

Prior to the recession, Mr Randell said schools used all sorts of methods to attract donations, including Otumoetai, which subsidised the school magazine for those who had paid their fees.

"You're actually creating a class of kids," he said.

There was no legal way a school could demand donations be paid and raffles for those who paid their donations - something Mr Randell knew happened in Tauranga schools - were solicited gifts that could attract GST.

Parents who could not afford to make a donation sometimes found other ways to help the school - donating uniforms, coaching sports teams or helping at school camps.

At Brookfield School, which is decile four, principal Robert Hyndman said only 12 per cent of parents had either paid in full or started paying the $45 fee for the year.

He expected fewer than half would pay in full by the end of the year.

We have to fundraise $50,000 a year just to do things the Ministry expects us to do but don't give us money for.

Chris Broadhurst

The funds were used to buy sports and technology equipment and fewer donations meant less new equipment, he said.

The school also relied heavily on gaming charity First Sovereign Trust to take students to camp and new technology was funded by the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust.

Omokoroa No1 School principal Chris Broadhurst said his school - one of three decile 10 schools in Tauranga - relied on school donations and the fundraising efforts of its school community.

"We have to fundraise $50,000 a year just to do things the Ministry expects us to do but don't give us money for."

This included spending $20,000 keeping the school pool going.

The school raised about $40,000 from its annual Ride-on Mower Race Day.

By the end of the year, 87 to 90 per cent of the school's 275 students had usually paid, raising about $27,000 for the school.

The school recently raised its donation guideline from $100 to $125 and the number of parents who paid was unchanged, Mr Broadhurst said.

Principal of Tauranga Adventist School Ross Bishop said without students at the state-integrated school paying a $360 donation, they would have to stop running the school bus, upgrading or replacing technology or paying for the same range of camps and field trips.

Eighty five per cent of the 106 students had already paid a donation to the school - some selecting the level they were able to pay.

Principal of decile three school, Te Puke Primary Shane Cunliffe said the families of his 320 students were not asked for a school donation, nor was one expected.

However, they were asked to pay for students' uniforms, stationery and one learning experience outside the classroom per term.

"All students participate regardless of costs and for the bigger experiences fundraising is put in place," Mr Cunliffe said.

I see the parent donation as an investment in their child's education. The consequences of parents not paying their donations is that we simply do not have the financial resources to meet every child's learning needs

Russell Gordon

Mount Maunganui College principal Russell Gordon said the 1324 students at the college were asked to pay $95 per student or $140 for a family.

So far this year 27 per cent of families had paid a donation and on average the school received around $50,000 a year.

Funds at the decile five high school were used to help pay for technology such as iPads, as well as upgrading classrooms and grounds.

"I see the parent donation as an investment in their child's education. The consequences of parents not paying their donations is that we simply do not have the financial resources to meet every child's learning needs."

Te Matai School - a Maori immersion school in Te Puke- suggested each whanau contribute $60 per year.

Principal Angie Wihapi said about 20 per cent had paid in part or full and the school budgeted for about 60 per cent paying by the end of the year.

"Donation money is used to help towards paying for children's stationery. There is no cost for families to pay this. We ask for payment about twice per term in the newsletter but not a lot of pressure is placed on whanau.

"Some of our whanau struggle already and those who cannot pay come in to help the school in other ways. It might be helping out with grounds work and doing the odd jobs when required."

All 11 principals who responded said they used only gentle reminders in newsletters or at school events to encourage donations, and there were no consequences for the children whose families did not pay.