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Attendance in New Zealand schools 2011
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2503/attendance-in-new-zealand-schools-2011 
25/12/2012
All the best for Christmas and New Year to all you faithful Officers out there.
Update
I have a Lawyer checking through the new 'Roll over' MoE Agreement especially in regard to the 'Environmental Scan'.
The query is.
*Who is the owner of our Operation's Manuals?
Answer: 
The owners of then operation manuals is the DTS. The MoE are only the funders
*Have the MoE the right to ask for this? especially when they have tagged it as an addition to our agreement?
Answer:
Not really. There seems to be NO goodwill here as the MoE are NOT guaranteeing employment of the officers who have designed the services.
Please pass on this information to as many (DTS, NETS) services as you can.
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15th December 2011 (CTDTS & STDTS)
Have you received your DTS Agreement 2012?
These are a month late but........ well no comment!
What do you feel about 'output 3. Environmental scan'?
If you sign this agreement you will be giving the MoE all of your operating data to give to an unknown organisation to use in which way they want as they have a guaranteed agreement, BUT!! we dont.
Isnt this a little like saying. 
I have a contract with Telecom. I might NOT use them in the next round BUT!! I want all of their operating information to give to the next provider of whom I will guarantee a position in the next service??
If I am reading this right. This document it totally unethical.
Can I have some feedback on this please
Oh we received ours when the school was up and gone. 
So nothing will be signed until 2012.
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Letter sent to MoE 07/12/2011 - Concerns....sd
Greetings (MoE Person)
Thank you for the response letter.
I still do have very real concerns about the design of the proposed 'Integrated Attendance Service' and still have unanswered question which I feel are paramount to an Attendance Service in New Zealand (NZ).
The MoE continues to quote that the New Service is to:
1. Provide a service that is responsive to the needs of Maori and Pasifika learners and their Families/Whanau
2. Manage and coordinate the service at a regional level.
The concern to me is the first point. (1)
The District Truancy Service's (DTS) in NZoperate under section 31 Education Act 1989 and implement s20. s24. s29 of the Act.
The DTS in NZ, under section 20 of the Act provides for ALL NZ CITIZENS. (s20)
What you are saying here is that we will be targeting a specific group.
This contravenes the Act (s20)
This could also be seen as prejudice and belittling to Maori/Pasifika by targeting a specific group.
It could also be seen as a breach of the Human Rights Act 1993 #82: 31 (1), (2).
The DTS's I operate work closely under the Act as this protects the DTS Officers and those they work with.
Once an Officer is working with a family it is the first part of a Legal Process. 
This appears on any mail I send to Caregivers/Whanu and is explained verbally and is shown on our pamphlets. 
This service does realise that Maori/Pasifka will be 'over represented' but as the Act says, we work with NZ Citizens and do NOT prejudice a particular 'group'
So again the question is.
1. Will the New Integrated Service be working under the Act?and if not. 
2.What Act will they be working under?
Another point:
Why is the MoE not using its current expertise to form a 'group' of DTS/NETS front-line Officers  to cater for the needs of an already successful operating group, the current DTS and NETS?
Long term Officers in NZ are well aware of the problems that exist within their own areas.
This New Service could be operated by a selected group of Officers throughout NZ to meet at certain points during the year to set protocols, benchmarks, goals etc for the service.
The proposed Integrated Attendance Service that the MoE is developing is just another 'Goliath' that will use funds allocated for the Truancy problem in NZ. 
We used to meet most years and discuss the problems in our areas, this was reported to the MoE but I think it went to deaf ears?
I remain the sole member (Secretary) of the Central (NZ)  Truancy Conference Committee and still have some funds for conferences. 
These meetings were well represented and looked forward to by most Officers. The last was at Tatum Park Levin. So long ago I cant remember the date. All information was passed on to the MoE and that's where it all stopped I guess?
One main point that continued to become apparent, was the need for a 'National Data Base' this was prior to ENROL. 
And congruence of services throughout NZ.
These meetings stopped due to lack of support from the MoE. This led to DTS believing that they were undervalued hence the report 2009. The rest is history.
Many services throughout NZ think the same as I have conveyed here but are very couscous on comment as they do NOT want to jeopardize their chance for a roll in the New Service. 
These are very dedicated people, most have held the position of DTS/NETS as part-time workers propping  it with other work for the continuance of a successful service in this country.
Their reward should be, 'to be listened to' and I am NOT suggesting the committees here.
I am talking about the 'frontline' workers who work at the cold-face who understand their communities and those that live in them. They deserve that respect.

I trust this explains my concerns.

Kind Regards
Stephan P Dyer. Senior Officer - Central Taranaki DTS, South Taranaki DTS.
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Our Statement as a SERVICE PROVIDER of District Truancy Services.
We as a Truancy Service will continue to do what we do best.
*Continue with providing excellent  District Truancy Service's. 
*Wait on the MoE to inform us of our new 'Lead Agency'. 
*Evaluate the change when it happens.
*Challenge and Respond to any unproductive changes. 
The end of the year is in site. Time for a rest. Make sure you get one, because term three of next 2012 could be somewhat .....interesting......sd
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November 2011 - I have spoken to:
Hamilton, North Taranaki, South Taranaki, Central Taranaki, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Invercargill, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Wainuiomata, Napier, Levin and a few more.
None of these DTServices understand why there is to be a change when they are operating successful services and have done for some years now.
Why fix something that isn't broken!
(their words NOT mine)
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Historic
Gisborne DTS closed 2010 to allow for pilot. Officers (2) were not informed of this until prior to Christmas.
Levin DTS to close in 2012. Officer 9 years position 17 hrs/week. Link to expectations for 2012
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What the Ministry of Education say they want in an Attendance service in  (CLICK on Link)
MoE extended timeframe for DTS & NETS into 2012 (CLICK on Link)
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This is an old Truancy site set up in 2006 from our last conference in Levin...It still has some relevance  ttp://truancynz.tripod.com/
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Central Taranaki District Truancy Service survey to the Ministry of Education


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