Brent Jenkin, of Wakaaranga School in Farm Cove, says the board of trustees took due diligence when exploring alternatives.
Mr Jenkin contacted the Times following Thursday’s article, in which Partha Roop raised his concerns about the cost and supply of school uniforms.
Mr Roop’s main concern is a lack of competition in the supply of school uniforms and he said, “as consumers we should have the right to choose the quality of uniforms we can afford and we do not have that right”.
Mr Jenkin says the school community did a lot of work when changing the uniform.
“We formed a sub-committee, did the work, produced a table of costs to the board meeting, it was fully discussed and the decision made,” he says.
The school’s website had pictures of the new uniform and it was displayed in the office.
Parents were consulted and asked for feedback but Mr Jenkin says the one thing the school cannot control is the cost.
He encourages parents to approach the school if they are concerned about uniforms.
“In 1998, when I came to the school, we sold our own uniforms but in 1999 we changed the uniform and just last year we changed it again, so it had had 10 years,” says Mr Jenkin.
“As I understand it, the costs are similar to what they were with the old uniform.”
He says the girls’ pinafore has not changed in seven or eight years, and the price is almost the same as it was four or five years ago.
Manufacturing quality was an important factor during the decision-making process.
“At the same time we did the maths and we had in excess of between $40 and $50,000 in uniform stock.
“Plus we had to employ someone and we had to have a uniform stock room to sell it from. There was no money to be made at all.
“We honestly believe – our board, our staff and administrative staff – that Government money is for teaching and learning not tied up in uniform stock.”
When the school changed to selling uniforms through Howick retailer John Russell Menswear, Mr Russell assisted Wakaaranga School by buying the school’s stock, some of which had not sold for many years.
As a primary school, a wide range of sizes are needed to cater for children from Year 1 to 6.
Mr Jenkin says unless the school could find a volunteer to sell and order uniforms, and a place in someone’s home because they don’t have space at school, the cost saving of selling uniforms at school would be about $4 per item.
“Overall there is no huge saving to be made.”
When the Times asked Mr Jenkin if there is a place for more generic uniforms in primary schools, he said: “There are 43 schools in the Howick and Pakuranga area. You would have everyone in the same [uniform].
“The point of uniform is to be able to separate your children out from other children. [They] would be in much the same clothing.”
Mr Jenkin says he has received no correspondence from Pakuranga MP Maurice Williamson regarding the supply of uniforms.
