Our community needs a great board to help build a great school.

Trustees are active leaders in our school and we need more people willing to use their skills and experiences for the benefit of students.

Trustees have an important role supporting strong professional leadership and effective teaching for all students through informed governance.

 What is a school board of trustees? Every state and state-integrated school in New Zealand has a board of trustees. Boards bring families, communities and schools together to work for a quality education for our children. The board of trustees is a Crown entity.  It is the employer of all school staff and sets the school’s overall strategic direction.  The school’s principal is the board’s ‘chief executive’ and manages the school operation in line with the board’s policies. The membership of the school board includes elected parent representatives, an elected staff representative and the principal.   What do trustees do? School trustees have a very important role in making sure every child achieves their potential at school. Here are some of the things they do: 

• Work with the principal and consult with staff, students and the community

• Set the educational goals and strategic direction of the school

• Monitor progress and let parents know how the school is progressing against its annual targets and how well students are achieving

• Decide how the school’s funding will be spent

• Select the school’s principal and support the development of all staff

• Oversee the management of staff, property, finances, curriculum and administration.

 What sort of skills do Trustees need? Trustees are active leaders in the school and need a balance of skills and experiences.  They need to work well in a team, be able to put plans in place for the school’s future, ask challenging questions and have good communications skills.  It helps to have an understanding of financial matters and experience in managing people. Who can become a trustee? Parents, caregivers and people from the wider community can be nominated for election to a school board. 

You can make things happen – we need strong leaders to lead our school

Board of trustees can get a lot of help in these important roles.  There are professional development courses, local support services and the New Zealand School Trustees Association who provide free advice and support through their helpdesk advisory service If you are interested in contributing to your child’s education at Waiheke Primary School in a positive and effective way then please consider standing for the Board of Trustees.  Please attend the next Board Meeting on Tuesday 23 March for your opportunity to meet the existing team, ask questions and obtain an insight into the decisions made and topics discussed at board level. Nominations for Trustees will be called from 15 March 2010.For more information www.trustee-election.co.nz