Amesbury Digest - 13 March 2019

Kia ora koutou

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our two students, Sonia and Javien, who won awesome awards for their Lantern-making and for mobilising friends and families to vote for them. We were particularly thrilled to receive $1000 for art supplies because of their success. Our students are now enjoying the opportunity to put in their wish list for how the money should be spent.

I wish to give an important reminder to you about the Board of Trustees Triennial Elections that are coming up early in June this year. The Board of Trustees plays the important role of providing governance to the school's operations. It has the overall responsibility for the school. Section 75 of the Education Act says that the board's most important responsibility is for student achievement. This means that the board is responsible for making sure that all students are getting a high quality education that will prepare them to survive and thrive in the world by the time they leave school. To achieve this, the board is also legally responsible for the curriculum (what is taught), property, personnel, finance and health and safety.

The board must be able to provide leadership for its local community and its principal and staff. At the same time, the board is elected by the community to ensure that the community has a voice in how their school operates. An effective board needs to be able to balance these two responsibilities. The board is also responsible for acting as a good employer to all the staff in the school.

It is important to understand the difference between management and governance. The Board achieves the school’s goals and vision for education through the principal and staff who manage the school and its operations.

Please do consider whether you would like to contribute to your local community and school by standing for election to the Amesbury School Board of Trustees. We do have at least one Board member who will be standing down. Please be aware that at the moment the Triennial Elections seem a long way off, but with the holidays in April, the time to have nominations in will be here before you know it. Please start thinking quite seriously now about whether you are willing to stand.

If you would like to find out more, there are several opportunities to do so. The following meetings are being held:

Wednesday, 27th March, 7pm, Amesbury School Library – a panel made up of current Board members will be available to answer your questions and share their experiences

Tuesday, 2 April, 6pm, Crofton Downs School. This programme, Kōrari, organised by the New Zealand School Trustees Association is designed to share the experience of existing trustees with potential new trustees and help them find out what it really means to serve on a school board.

Some dates to be aware of in relation to the Triennial Election:

Nominations close: 24 May 2019

Meet the Nominees session: 29 May 2019

Voting closes: Midday 7 June

Being a trustee is an important way to serve your community. Please give some serious thought to whether you might stand.

Nga mihi nui

Lesley