In this issue:

1. Parents Requesting Removal of Other Parent Details in SACS
2. Business Services Training
3. School Executive Officer Familiarisation Day
4. SAIP Meeting Information
5. Using the Subject Field in Emails

1.  Parents Requesting Removal of Other Parent Details in SACS

In May 2005, schools were advised that, when updating/validating parent/guardian details in SACS, it was acceptable to delete details of one parent/guardian solely on the authority of the other. On legal advice, following changes to the Family Law Act, this advice has now been changed to the following:

When validating or updating Parent/Guardian details in SACS, be aware that a parent/guardian cannot normally authorise the deletion of another parent/guardian without the authority of that other parent/guardian.

It is possible, however to delete the details of one parent under one of the following conditions:

a) Family Court or Federal Court Orders to the effect that one parent is not to have contact, have been supplied. (An Affidavit is not sufficient).

b) In relation to a parent (rather than a guardian), a birth certificate confirming that the person to be deleted is not in fact a parent, or, in respect of a guardian, an Order showing that the person is not a legally appointed guardian, is supplied.

c) The parent has confirmed that they wish to be deleted.

An adoptive parent can only be removed under condition a) or condition c).

People such as step-parents and grandparents do not have any legally sanctioned right to be named as parent/guardians on the enrolment or information validation form unless they have court-appointed guardian status, and can be removed if requested by a legal parent (natural or adoptive), who has the ultimate say.

Schools should retain details of natural/previous parents or guardians in SACS, even if they do not receive mail/newsletters etc. concerning the student. This can be done in the Family notes field, Anecdotal Comments (bearing in mind that these are not transitioned to other schools) or, preferably, Parent/Guardian Exception address fields. If they are to be an emergency contact, this should also be recorded separately.

In the case of Orders, it may be important for the school to keep copies of documents that define or imply actions schools may need to take to safeguard the conditions of the Order.

2.  Business Services Training
Learning Partners currently provides training and assessment services to a number of school office staff within the Department of Education, Tasmania.

Learning Partners can offer you a strong foundation upon which to develop or improve your current knowledge and skills in an environment where the focus is on you the learner in context of your work environment.

The qualifications include:

• BSB30201 – Certificate III in Business Administration
• BSB40201 – Certificate IV in Business Administration
• BSB41001 – Certificate IV in Business (Frontline Management)
• BSB50201 – Diploma of Business Administration

For more information please contact Cheryl Hogarth at Learning Partners on (03) 6327 6666.

3.  School Executive Officer Familiarisation Day

Expressions of interest are being called from individuals who are new to the role of School Executive Officer in 2005 or 2006. If you are new then you are eligible to nominate to participate in a Central Office Familiarisation Day.

Where: Hobart (location to be confirmed)
When: 29th June 2006
Time: 8.45 am – 3.45 pm

The SEO Familiarisation Day is an opportunity to visit the Department of Educations Central Office and:

• take a tour to see what some of the key areas do and where they are located
• meet and hear from some of the people who work in the various areas of the Department
• meet and talk face to face with some of the people that you will come in contact with often by phone or email
• meet and network with other SEO's throughout the day

Interested?
Then please contact your Branch HR Coordinator by email and let them know you would like to nominate to participate before the 1st June 2006.
Please note that places are limited to 30 only.

4.  SAIP Meeting Information

The following information was distributed after the last SAIP meeting:

• Minutes from meeting on 10 April 2006
• Agenda for meeting on 30 May 2006
• Directions to Somercotes, location for meeting
• SAIP Budget
• SALRF Progress Report March 2006

5.  Using the Subject Field in Emails

Have you ever sent out an email and received no reply?  Or maybe you found out that you missed an important email you didn't know had been sent to you.

It could be that the email you sent or received had no text in the subject field.  Not only is it common courtesy to fill this important bit of information, it also helps for the recipient to sort, locate and reply to emails.  It can be incredibly frustrating to sort through dozens of "nameless" emails to find the right one!

If you receive an email with no subject, you can add your own:

More handy hints on email use can be found on the web:  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/admin/ict/faq/HintsAndTips/office2002/Outlook/sendingandreceiving/default.htm

Past BSS Banters

Want to have a quick look over some of the recent Banter articles?