By Lucy Carroll
An eastern suburbs public school has asked its parents to contribute $80,000 to fund an extra teacher in a bid to cut class sizes and reduce composite classrooms.
Bondi Public School’s Parents and Citizens’ Association sent a message to families last week saying the school had requested the P&C “part-fund the STEM teacher” for next year.
“The request is for $80,000. This is due to the current [enrolment] numbers at the school next year only allowing for 19 classes where 20 would be better,” the message from the P&C said. “As this is such a big request, we want to involve the community and will present more details.”
Bondi Public School’s P&C told parents about the request to help fund an extra teacher. Credit: Danielle Smith
Bondi Public’s P&C said the school’s request for the contribution was “so they can fund an extra class, offer our kids smaller class sizes and less composites”. The P&C is expected to vote on the matter next week.
Parent groups at public schools regularly raise funds for extra school resources, including library books, technology, new classroom equipment and playground upgrades.
P&C Federation president Yvonne Hilsz said: “Teacher salaries should be funded by the NSW Education Department” and P&C resources should go to “equipment and facilities”.
Bondi Public’s P&C regularly raises funds for the school’s canteen, uniform shop and playground equipment.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“When principals and P&Cs come together to respond to community interest and need, the results are inspiring,” Hilsz said. “We’re working closely with all stakeholders to continue fostering this positive co-operation in public schools.”
A spokesperson for the NSW Education Department said a school can employ teachers above their allocation “to support particular programs or parental expectations”, or if they have the funds available in their budget or support from their parents.
Public school P&Cs have been under increasing pressure to cover financial shortfalls after budgets were slashed by $125 million in April and schools’ unspent discretionary funds were frozen. Some parent associations have financed teacher aides and support staff by renting out school halls, grounds or facilities at weekends.
Many schools rely on P&C donations, but parents also stump up hundreds of dollars in fees as part of public school voluntary school contributions each year. Before first term, NSW Education Department secretary Murat Dizdar urged schools to stop slugging parents for school supplies as cost-of-living pressures hit families.
Bondi Public’s P&C runs major fundraising drives every year, with its Halloween fete in October raising $62,000, while the previous year’s raised $95,000.
In the quarter to March, the P&C paid $43,000 to the school, which was allocated to playground equipment, bins and a storage container.
The school also has a STEM teacher, a creative arts teacher and, for a decade, has employed a philosophy teacher. It runs a canteen and a kitchen garden program too.
One Bondi Public parent, who spoke anonymously to talk freely on the matter, said they were concerned about how money raised by the P&C was being used.
“Our dedicated P&C members and school community help raise the extra funds needed,” the parent said. “But basic educational needs must be met by the school, and P&C funds should not be used to make up shortfalls in the school budget.”
While schools in wealthy areas can raise tens of thousands of dollars a year, others struggle to make any money or don’t have a P&C. Bondi Public P&C’s total revenue last year was $497,000.
At a meeting in late November, Bondi Public School’s executive requested the P&C “part-fund” a teacher for next year. It is understood that, at the same meeting, the school presented slides to parents with different scenarios for class sizes and composites based on predicted enrolments.
Staff allocations at state schools are based on a formula determined by the annual enrolment figure for a school. Composite classes, in which children from two different year levels are combined, can be used to manage uneven or shrinking enrolments, or where mixing ages would be beneficial.
Central Coast Council of P&Cs president Sharryn Brownlee said the funding of teaching staff by parent groups raised significant equity issues and could lead to parents feeling “locked into a cycle” of subsidising wages.
“If parents can purchase extra teaching resources and reduce class sizes, it becomes a slippery slope where it can set a precedent,” she said.
“It’s not reasonable to expect a P&C to hand over large sums of money in the belief their children will be disadvantaged through class sizes or curriculum delivery if they don’t.”
The department spokesperson said: “Decisions around additional offerings that may be supported by voluntary contributions are a matter for the school and its parent community. The school is still consulting with the Bondi Public Parents & Citizens’ Association and will ensure parents understand there is no obligation to fund programs at the school.”
Enrolments at public primary schools have fallen over the past five years. Sydney’s east and north have recorded the fastest growth in composite classes, rising by 35 classes between 2019 and 2022.
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