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A verbal stoush has erupted between the Education Minister and the largest school in the country over the principal's $185,000-plus pay packet.
Chris Carter accused Rangitoto College principal David Hodge of getting $18,000 extra from the Auckland school's operations grant, on top of his $185,000 salary.
Carter told the Herald on Sunday: "It's a bit surprising when we hear so much bleating about the operations grant. A 5 per cent rise in the operations grant was greeted with howls of `not enough'.
Two billion in the budget [for education] and we still get moans and groans."
Carter made the criticisms after being contacted by the Herald on Sunday for an article on changes to school camps.
Carter opposed schools using the operations grant to fund trips.
He also said principals complaining about a lack of Government funding "gripes me" when they recently received a 17 per cent pay rise.
But Hodge has labelled the comments "crude and cruel" and said they were a personal attack on himself.
"I am very surprised that the Minister would talk about the salary of an individual. Frankly, I don't care."
Hodge said the extra $18,000 was approved by the board of trustees for "additional duties", including overseas trips to scout for foreign students which brings in $2.5 million to the school each year.
Carter's comments came just days after Hodge labelled the Government's levy for international students, in which schools pay the Government $900 for each foreign student, a "rort".
The stoush between the Education Minister and the principal dates back to May, when Hodge claimed the Government "overinflated" figures and was "dishonest" in an announcement about increased school funding.
"I do object to the minister using Rangitoto College figures where _ how can I put this nicely? _ his mathematics simply just don't add up," Hodge said at the time.
Carter said the figures in the pre-Budget announcement were correct.
"It would be quite nice, wouldn't it, if we got a thank you from the school for the increase."
The minister's office declined to comment on Hodge's claim the minister had personally attacked him.
A spokesman said Carter was reluctant to get involved in matters that are the responsibility of school board of trustees.
He also added that Carter "was surprised to learn that some schools which have been so vocal about the inadequate funding of school operation grants should see fit to use some of that grant to enhance their principal's salary".
"Especially as school principals have just received, on average, a 17 per cent salary increase from the Government."
Hodge said his salary was negotiated by the Ministry of Education and the Post Primary Teachers Association.
"Obviously they believe that's what it's worth to run a school that has over 3000 students, a $23 million budget and 260 staff," said Hodge.
"If the minister doesn't like the level of salary that principals earn then he has the power through the negotiation process to adjust that."
Professor Wayne Cutfield, chairman of the Rangitoto College Board of Trustees, said that Carter's behaviour was "disappointing" and an attempt to divert attention away from the issues surrounding the operations grant funding.
Peter Gall, president of the Secondary Principals Association, said the minister could comment on the pay rates of principals, as the figures were in the public domain, but added there were "proper channels to go through".
Gall, the principal of Papatoetoe High School in Auckland, expected that the principal of the country's largest school would be paid more than other principals.
