Janelle Saffin concerned by Murwillumbah school merger staff loss

“Everything they’ve said, nothing has been delivered on”: NSW Government further criticised on merger of four public schools.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has reiterated calls for better consultation after the Education Minister confirmed in parliament 23 jobs would be lost in the future after four schools merge in Murwillumbah.

The state government is pushing ahead with plans for the Murwillumbah Education Campus.

It is planned for the existing Murwillumbah High School site and to combine that facility with Wollumbin High School, Murwillumbah Public School and Murwillumbah East Public School.

The education department has previously said permanent staff levels would be maintained during the merger but that agreement would only be in effect until 2026.

When queried by Upper House Labor MP Mick Veitch this week, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell shed more light on the staffing plans for the mega-school.

Tweed MP Geoff Provest, Murwillumbah Primary School Les Daley, Murwillumbah High school principal Peter Howes, Murwillumbah East Primary School principal Joanne Henderson, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, Wollumbin High School's Guy Wright, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Ben Franklin MLC with school principals at the 2020 announcement of a four-year $100 million plan to merge four Murwillumbah schools. Photo: Jessica Lamb

Mr Veitch said Ms Mitchell last year there would be “no permanent job losses as a result of the establishment of the new campus at Murwillumbah” and asked her to respond to “parental concerns that teaching staff will be reduced by 20”.

Again Ms Mitchell initially said there would be no permanent staff lost.

“No permanent staff member will lose employment as a result of the establishment of the new education campus,” she said.

“Following a transition period, where staffing entitlement will be maintained at a minimum of 2020 entitlements across the four sites, the permanent teacher staffing entitlement at Murwillumbah Education Campus will be managed in accordance with the relevant award and statewide staffing formula agreed to with the NSW Teachers Federation.”

Ms Mitchell said the campus’ executive structure “will be determined within the formula in consultation with the NSW Teachers Federation”.

“Staffing projections based on 2020 enrolment numbers indicate that, when combined, there would be 3.42 fewer teaching service positions and 1.262 fewer school administrative and support staff positions in the primary school, and 15.5 fewer teaching service positions and 3.082 fewer SASS positions in the secondary setting,” she said.

That equates to 23.3 jobs across the schools to be merged, including about 19 teaching jobs.

Ms Saffin said the Minister had “promised no loss of jobs” and the government “should deliver on that promise”.

She said the department had meanwhile touted a “fantastic performing arts” facility.

“I’ve looked at the plans,” Ms Saffin said.

“There’s no stand-alone performing arts centre in their plans.

“I feel disappointed because everything they've said, nothing has been delivered on.”

Murwillumbah High School year seven students Eva Tiffen, 12, and Jazmin Harris, 13, with Ben Franklin MLC and education Minister Sarah Mitchell. Photo: Jessica Lamb

The merger was initially announced before any broad community consultation.

Ms Saffin said she’s still pushing for “proper consultation” and she wants that to involve a consultation team, not School Infrastructure.

“(They should) go back to the drawing board, consult with the community,” she said.

“Persuade them if you believe it, Minister, that it’s educationally best for the children.”

Ms Saffin said she was concerned about what the staffing plans would mean for student-teacher ratios as well as the impact of the loss of support staff.

“If you want this to be the best educational outcome, staff it well,” she said.

“24 jobs out of Murwillumbah, that’s pretty big, it’s a big hit to the local economy.”

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Richmond MP Justine Elliot, councillor Reece Byrnes, opposition leader Anthony Albanese, students and community stakeholders outside Murwillumbah East Public School last November protesting the State Government's plan for the schools. Photo: Jessica Lamb

In her parliamentary response, the Minister expanded more on the staffing situation.

“All staffing appointments are as a result of student numbers and needs,” Ms Mitchell said.

“During the transition period any vacancies in duplicate positions that occur due to retirement, promotion or transfer will be filled on a temporary basis. That will minimise the need for reduction of permanent staffing in 2026.

“However — and this is a pertinent point — experience at other schools, including Ballina and Armidale, is that enrolments increase due to the new education facilities.”

She said any excess permanent staff entitlements after the transition would result in impacted staff being “managed as a nominated transfer in accordance with standard school workforce processes to take effect from the 2026 school year”.