"...Minister Peter Garrett responded by calling the claim a Coalition scare campaign.
"The fact is that the government's contribution to school funding is indexed," he said.
"So as costs rise, funding to schools is increased."" ----------------- So where does that money come from? You and me, the tax payer!
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"STRUGGLING schools will be hit by an annual $200 million rise in power bills - costing about $57 per student - under the carbon tax. Parents will have to foot the bill by paying more in voluntary contributions or less money will go into vital teaching resources.
Federal opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne said the carbon tax would add 10 per cent to electricity bills and 9 per cent to gas bills.
With schools already struggling with rising power costs due to the digital education revolution, which has meant classrooms become increasingly reliant on computers and digital technology, the NSW Department of Education has told them they will not automatically be given supplementary funding once they exceed their budget for utility bills.
Mr Pyne said yesterday: "There are only two places schools can get the money: they can either increase their fees, or in the case of government schools, it can come out of the state government coffers."We all know the state governments aren't flush with funds so that is going to be difficult for them to find those funds."
School Education Minister Peter Garrett responded by calling the claim a Coalition scare campaign.
"The fact is that the government's contribution to school funding is indexed," he said.
"So as costs rise, funding to schools is increased."
However, a memo late last week from the NSW Education Department called on public school principals to "identify and develop strategies" to help reduce the money spent on casual teachers and utilities.
"In 2008, schools sought supplementation for $13 million to cover the costs of short-term casual relief and utilities," the memo said.
"Last year that number doubled to $26 million. This is a 100 per cent increase for roughly the same numbers of students, teaching staff and teaching spaces. It means that we have less money to spend on other teaching and learning programs."
President of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW Helen Walton said parents were continually being called upon to support basic programs because schools' money was going on bills.
"The computers and whiteboards that come with the digital education revolution are great teaching resources but they come at great expense," Ms Walton said.
She said many P&Cs paid for air- conditioning and heating units but their use was adding to schools' bills.
Premier Barry O'Farrell said the power bill rises would cost parents. "The impact of Labor's carbon tax reaches into every corner of life and schools will be adversely affected," he said.
"It will push up costs for schools and for parents. The NSW Government is seeking talks with the Prime Minister to discuss the impact of her carbon tax, and schools will be included in that.
"We are deeply concerned (about) the impact it will have on schools."
Mr Pyne has also written to Mr Garrett to ask if there would be compensation and what other costs of schooling would rise under the carbon tax. "There are many costs related to a school's operations that could potentially increase as a result of the tax, including increases in electricity and gas," he wrote."
