Concerns over principal plan

The draft statement of duties issued to all principals over the past few weeks and yesterday includes points that each will receive direction from their respective Principal Network Leader.

The $4.2 million federally-funded Principal Network Leader program began in schools at the start of the year. The leaders will report back to their respective Learning Services general manager.

Principals have also raised concerns about losing their position after being transferred to another school for a period longer than 12 months.

Australian Education Union state president Terry Polglase said the union had already spoken with the Education Department and was hopeful that it would address these matters.

``As it stands it actually puts a whole different slant on what it means to be a Principal Network Leader when you are supposed to be working with principals,'' Mr Polglase said.

``Are they just another person to keep a check on principals, tick boxes and ask them if they've done this or that?

``All this is is just another level of bureaucracy.''

Mr Polglase said school communities wanted to know their principal was the one in charge of decision making.

Opposition Education spokesman Michael Ferguson said principals should not be micromanaged.

``This $4.2 million in funding would have been far better spent on reinstating school resources, literacy programs and on children with special needs, all of which have been slashed due to Nick McKim's callous budget cuts,'' Mr Ferguson said.

Department deputy secretary Andrew Finch said it is still consulting with principals and the union on the statement of duties.

``The proposed SODs are still in draft and will reflect the support principals will receive from the Principal Network Leaders,'' Mr Finch said.

He said following further consultation with principals, the union will conduct a ballot to gauge their support.