How does the board of trustees work?

Boards of Trustees provide strategic leadership and direction to their school. The board works in partnership with the community, leader of learning-principal, teachers, support staff and the government to ensure the best possible outcomes for all students. The importance of the partnership between the school and its community are vital. Trustees should encourage parental involvement in the school system wherever possible. Trustees represent the community. 

What skills do trustees need?

Trustees need to work well in a team, ask questions and have good communication skills. Boards need a balance of skills and experiences to ensure effective processes for planning, monitoring, reporting and reviewing our school’s performance.

Who can become a trustee?

Parents, caregivers and people from the wider community can be nominated for election to our school board.
Nominations will be open in April 2019.

How do I become a Trustee?

If you want to find out about standing for election, nominating someone else and voting please visit

http://www.trustee-election.co.nz/becoming-a-trustee

Who is on a board of trustees?

A board of trustees is made up of

• 5 elected parent representatives
• the leader of learning-principal
• a staff representative

All trustees have equal voice, equal vote, equal accountability and equal standing.

What are the roles within the Board?

Parent Representatives:

• Represent the aspirations of the community
• Ensure the best possible outcomes for all students at Te Uho o Te Nikau
• Does not necessarily need to be a parent but they must be nominated by a current parent of Te Uho o Te Nikau

Board Chair:

• Cannot be the leader of learning-principal or staff representative
• Leads the board
• Chairs the meetings
• Works closely with the leader of learning-principal to ensure seamless communication between governance and management

Leader of Learning-Principal:

• Is a full member of the board
• Is the educational professional leader of the school
• Is the CEO and the BOT’s chief adviser

Staff Representative:

• Is elected by the teaching and non teaching staff
• Is not a staff advocate (they must make decisions in the best interests of all the students at Te Uho o Te Nikau

Co-opted Trustee:

• Provides the board with specific expertise eg: finance, strategy, gender or ethnic balance and are co-opted as required.

How do the leader of learning-principal and board work together?

The board of trustees are the governors of the school. The leader of learning- principal is responsible for the management of the school.
Governance and management work in partnership.

Governance determines:

• the what-designing the future
• the ends- the outcomes to be achieved
• policies –statements of what is expected

Management determines:

• the how-designing how to get there
• the means-strategies to achieve the ends
• procedures-steps to meet expectations

How is a board elected?

The school staff and parents elect boards of trustees every three years. The trustee elections are the biggest democratic event in NZ. Schools around the country seek approx. 12,000 parent representatives. All parents of student enrolled full time in a state school can and should vote for parent representatives.

What help do school trustees get?

NZ School Trustees Association provides free advice and support through their governance and employment advisory services and professional development workshops. The current establishment board will provide an induction and handover for new trustees. 

Who implements an election?

A Returning officer is appointed to this role by the current BOT.

What happens if a board does not receive enough nominations?

If there are insufficient nominations to form a board the returning officer has to promptly contact the Ministry of Education office for further advice.