School Board
Role of the School Board
The role of the School Board is prescribed by the School Education Act 1999 and the School Education Regulations 2000 as follows:
Take part in
- establishing and reviewing from time to time, the school’s objectives, priorities, and general policy directions
- planning financial arrangements necessary to fund those objectives, priorities, and directions
- evaluating the school’s performance in achieving those objectives, priorities, and directions
- formulating codes of conduct for students at the school
- take part in the selection of, but not the appointment of, the school principal or any other member of the teaching staff if prior approval is given by the relevant Director of Education
Approve
- a charge or contribution determined by the principal for the provision of materials, services and facilities
- the costs determined by the principal to be paid for participation in an extra cost optional component of the school’s educational program
- the items determined by the principal to be supplied by a student for the student’s personal use in the school’s educational program
- an agreement or arrangement for advertising or sponsorship in relation to a government school.
Determine
- in consultation with students, their parents and staff of the school, a dress code for students when they are attending or representing the school.
- Provide advice to the principal of the school
- on a general policy concerning the use in school activities of prayers, songs and material based on religious, spiritual or moral values being used in a school activity as part of religious education on allowing time for the special religious education of students in the school, up to a total of 40 hours in a year.
Promote
- the school in the community
Responsibility of the School Board
- comply with the council or board’s terms of reference (constitution for incorporated bodies), the Department of Education’s Councils and Boards in Public Schools policy and procedures, the School Education Act 1999 and the School Education Regulations 2000
- liaise with other groups/committees associated with the school (e.g. the Parents and Citizens’ Association)
- hold an annual public meeting at least once in every calendar year that is open to the public. An annual report will be presented at the meeting to advise the school community of the performance of the council or board in the last year
- hold at least two (2) ordinary meetings per year
- hold meetings that are generally open to the public.
The School Board does not:
- manage the day to day running of the school (for example, staff management, and student assignment to classes)
- discuss individual issues relating to teachers, staff, students or parents
- represent specific interest groups, or permit special interests to dominate the agenda of the council or board
- intervene in the control or management of the school – either directly or indirectly
- intervene in the educational instruction of students
- borrow money or obtain credit
- purchase property
- exercise authority over teaching staff or other persons employed at the school
- performance manage the principal or any other Department of Education employee.
Role of School Board members:
- parent members of council or boards bring their perspective as a parent at the school, as well as context of the wider school community.
- student members of council or boards bring their experience as students at the school.
- community members may bring expertise such as business skills that the council or board is looking for at that time.
- department employees bring their educational expertise.