Reduced fees let parents choose costs

Paeroa College is one of only two schools in the Herald survey that has decided to lower the amount of money it asks parents for.

Last year the voluntary contribution was $85, but this year it will be just $25.

Deputy principal Rod Coe said the school was adopting a "user-pays" philosophy so that families did not pay for something they would not receive.

"We used to subsidise things like the school magazine and an annual ski trip, but now everything is itemised," Mr Coe said. "Parents can choose what they get or don't get, whether they're involved or not involved."

He said it was the fairest way to deal with the difficulties of funding at the decile two school.

"We've got a Minister of Education who says you don't have to pay donations, but who won't fund schools to the level needed."

Bruce Devine is another who believes the Government needs to take more responsibility for funding schools.

The Bay of Islands College principal will not ask for any donations this year because of what he sees as the injustice of some struggling and others refusing to pay.

"Either you have a Government compulsion to pay, or you have none at all."

Mr Devine said his decile two school, with about 540 on its roll, would love extra specialist literacy support at a cost of about $20,000 a year - but he would not penalise parents to get it.

"We may be down on the money a bit, but we are fair."

Bay of Islands College was one of just a handful in the Herald survey that did not ask for a voluntary donation.

Another was decile one Tamaki College, where principal David Hodge said it meant running a tight ship. Students were asked to pay for take-home components for courses such as technology and woodwork, but it still meant the school had to ensure not a dollar was wasted.