New Zealand

School 'supports parents' during hard times

16:18 pm on 23 August 2009

A Christchurch school has dropped its request for an annual donation due to the recession, a move the School Trustees Association says more schools may follow.

Templeton Primary School principal Pete Bradley says parents have always supported the school and, now that times are harder, it has decided to support parents.

He says the school has budgeted for the expected drop in income. "We've got some astute people on our board of trustees who know what they're doing and we'll make sure the children don't miss out on any activities that we've planned for them," he says

School Trustees Association president Lorraine Kerr does not know of any other school that has made a similar move, but points out that not all schools rely on donations.

Mrs Kerr says if schools can afford to do without the donation in the short term, others are likely to follow Templeton's lead.