Emergency Staffing Scheme (ESS)

NZSTA, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, administers the Emergency Staffing Scheme (ESS), which provides last resort help for school boards of state and state integrated schools who are unable to attract Principals/Deputy Principals. 

To qualify for an ESS pool member, a board must be able to demonstrate that:

-    An “acting up” appointment is not possible or practicable within the school
-    Advertising locally for a reliever has been unsuccessful
-    All reasonable efforts are being/have been made to use normal avenues for appointing a permanent principal where
     applicable
-    The need is otherwise consistent with emergency staffing
-    The need is temporary {not more than 10 weeks}
-    The need is to provide for last resort coverage for a situation the board cannot control, e.g.  the  principal/deputy principal 
      has another position
-    The request is not to provide  for day-to-day casual relief.

Boards who need ESS assistance should contact the National ESS Coordination team (not the Ministry of Education) who will make the connection between the board and pool member.

It is expected an ESS pool member would be available within 24 hours notice or at the outside, the appointment would be taken up within a maximum five day period.

ESS pool members are not "change agents", nor are they available to resolve possible conflicts between the community and the board.  They are only available to fill last resort vacancies, for a maximum of one term.

Sample letter of appointment

For a copy of the sample letter of appointment, please click here

If you require further assistance, please contact the ESS Coordinator (click on the appropriate link below).

ESS Regional Coordinators

ESS Coordinator
National ESS Manager