Where Has Katrina Spencer Been?

The Statement

A quote from Executive member and Primary Principal Katrina Spencer which has infiltrated Principal Association chat-lines: “Ensuring better representation for leaders was begun by the formation of the Band 3 Committee but still needs active support by leaders at the Executive level. In my years with Band 3 and now on Exec I am still to see a regular report from Band 3 presented or their recommendations forwarded to Exec and then tabled for action.”

Reports from Committees to Executive?

Executive hears reports from Principal Officers from committees on a needs basis. In fact, the President’s report, to which the Vice Presidents contribute, usually comprises the bulk of Executive meetings. “Regular” reports do not exist at Executive from any committee, although reports covering issues of the day from Principal Officers are comprehensive.

The Inconvenient Truth - Executive Consideration of Band 3 Issues

Katrina has insinuated that the Band 3 Committee and Principal Officer of this committee has not brought issues pertaining to Band 3 members to the attention and discussion of Executive.

Here’s a trail of items raised at Executive by Principal Officer Marcus Knill on behalf of this committee:
13/02/06 - Watervale Trial
08/05/06 - Band 3 Classifications
14/08/06 - Band 3 Classifications
11/09/06 - Principal Classifications – Operational Guidelines
23/10/06 - Student Reports: Advice to Principals
13/11/06 - Implementation of the New SACE
27/11/06 - Part-Time Principal Arrangements
11/12/06 - Part-time Principal Arrangements
12/02/07 - Open Advertisement of Leadership Positions
26/02/07 - Open Advertisement of Leadership Positions
25/06/07 - Watervale Project

President Andrew Gohl has also raised a number of Band 3 issues. The Band 3 CC was also highly influential in supporting the defeat of the BTIT model as presented by DECS in mid-06.

Katrina has been an Executive member for the past two years. The question needs to be asked, “Where has she been?”

Why now?

It is troubling that an Executive member would choose to air personal frustrations of the AEU Band 3 Consultative Committee and its Principal Officer, via a Principal Association chat-line, right in the smack of an AEU election. Katrina has had two years as an Executive member to raise these concerns, either at Executive, with Marcus Knill as Vice President directly, or with Ray Marino as Chair of the Committee.