Big payout to Correspondence School staff

Four senior Correspondence School staff have received more than $428,000 in redundancy payouts.

The managers of the Wellington-based school's early childhood, primary, secondary and specialist services divisions left last year as part of restructuring at New Zealand's biggest school.

It is understood up to 120 staff could lose their jobs in the next two years, though chairman Ian McKinnon said no decisions had been made.

"The biggest cost component is salaries. It would be unlikely if some jobs don't go, but they may well go through attrition," Mr McKinnon said.

A teacher sacked for serious misconduct and another for poor performance did not get severance pay, figures issued under the Official Information Act show.

The four senior staff were replaced with new managers who had education and corporate management expertise, Mr McKinnon said.

The payouts totalling $428,211 were defined in their contracts and there was no room for negotiation.

The school has 22,000 pupils and 500 staff at its four Wellington sites.

- NZPA