Another issue that was raised was the suggestion of the creation of a president's fund, and whether Shoman will have to be paid using money from the union's funds. The suggestion is that unlike past presidents who are seconded and paid by their school managements or the government as they would while they are teachers - that model may not work in this case. Smith said that the council will have to meet and discuss those issues.
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"We have to look at how the union is growing and how the union is changing and we have to look at what will be the purpose of that so the purpose would then depend on why we need to have a fund or whether the membership would approve a fund. So again, I don't want to be looking at matters that have just been suggestions and have not been approved because I don't know whether those will be approved and whether membership would agree and would add anything to what we are suggesting."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is it true that since she is not with any school management she will have to be paid using union funds?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"That's a matter that the council will have to determine. Again, it's not something that one person decides, it's something that the council will determine, if that is what has to happen, that is what the council will decide."
