Cost of Jewish Day School education slashed in Auckland
The New Zealand Government is to to integrate Auckland’s Kahimah School into the country’s education system, slashing the costs to families of a Jewish education for their children.
Kadimah School
In a statement issued by Jenni Raynich, the community has learned that the fees at Kadima have dropped from NZ$11,400 to around $500 annually.
The Kadimah School will be State Integrated from 1 January 2011
Jenni Raynish, chairperson of the Goldwater Trust which runs the school, said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Minister of Education has approved the integration of Kadimah School from 1 January 2011. I know we have all been anxiously waiting for this exciting news – which will ensure the school can continue to provide quality Jewish and secular education to the children of our community today and tomorrow – just as it has for the past 40 years.
Please join me in thanking the Auckland Hebrew Congregation Trust Board, particularly Michael Stiassny, Chair of the Board. Without his personal endorsement and the support of his board, achieving state integration for Kadimah would not have been possible. The funding provided by the AHCTB has been vital in keeping the school going through this lengthy integration process.
The whole community is also indebted to Sarah Katz, Chair of the Raye Freedman Trust, who has personally dedicated hours of time and effort to the integration process. The Raye Freedman Trust has been a key supporter of the school for many years and has recently taken over the funding of the school.
Thanks also to Robert Minahan, Principal of Kadimah School and all teaching and support staff for their dedication throughout the uncertainty of the past 12 months.
To celebrate this extraordinary and long hoped for outcome, the Friedlander Foundation will be sponsoring a community integration celebration from 5pm – 7pm on Sunday 14 November 2011, in the AA hall.”
Anne Tolley, the Minister of Education and key officials are expected join the celebration.
Raynish explained the benefits of integration:
How integration will benefit the community
This is a significant and momentous decision that will bring immeasurable benefits to parents, grandparents and the entire Jewish community of New Zealand.
For Jewish children, parents and grandparents (of today and tomorrow):
The Jewish character and Hebrew and Jewish Studies teachings at the school for the past 40 years will continue – unchanged and enshrined in perpetuity.
Jewish education in Auckland will be affordable to all parents who want this for their children as attendance fees from 1 January 2011 will cost around $500 per year per child – instead of $11,400 per year. This is a saving of almost $90,000 per family per child over the 8 years they would attend the school, based on the current school fees. For most families who have 3 children at the school this amounts to around $270,000 saved.
For Kadimah School:
The Ministry of Education will pay up to $1 million a year of teaching salaries and operating costs every year – ensuring the school can continue to deliver the same very high quality of Jewish education and secular studies as it has done for the past 40 years.
For Jewish education throughout the community:
A further $175,000 will be available for Hebrew and Jewish Studies educators when we reach the maximum role – which can go towards the salaries of the Rabbi and other religious education involved in the school and the community.
For the Auckland Hebrew Congregation Trust Board – owners of the Greys Avenue site on behalf of the community:
$100,000 of the Ministry of Education’s money will be paid every year for building maintenance and up-keep – lifting a considerable burden off the AHC and the wider community.From 1 January 2011, Kadimah will have $50,000 to contribute towards paying off the debt on the Greys Ave site – increasing to $175,000 per year as the school roll grows to its maximum.
The AHCTB will continue to appoint 6 of the 7 Goldwater Trust Board members who will continue to be the Proprietors of Kadimah.
If new buildings are required, the Ministry of Education can fund these, as it has done for many other integrated schools. Ownership of these buildings stays with the community.
For Jewish community groups including the AHC synagogue, the Chevra, the Zionist Federation, the Jewish Council and B’nai Brith
The $600,000 per year which is currently paid by parents in school fees for their children to attend Kadimah, will now become available to be contributed to other Jewish community causes including synagogue membership.
We look forward to celebrating this historic outcome.
Stephen Goodman, President of the Auckland Jewish Council welcomed the news. He told J-Wire: “The Auckland Jewish Council is pleased that all the effort put in to achieving integration has produced this desired outcome. It will build upon the successes of Kadimah and enhance Jewish Education in Auckland.”
