School Trustees’ Job Vital

26 February 2001

The Education Review Office encourages parents and others to stand in board of trustees elections in March because of the vital role school boards play in education and local communities.

Acting Chief Review Officer Karen Sewell says a wide variety of candidates will give voters a real choice in electing a board which represents children’s best interests.

“Trustees bring community knowledge and understanding as well as highly desirable skills to their boards. Skills such as good organisation, logical thinking, financial, employment and management experience and the ability to work hard are invaluable.

“Serving on a board is a great opportunity to serve your community and to contribute to the quality of the education of our children. The benefits to many trustees are three years of interesting and useful experience in employment and industrial relations issues, human relations, financial management and committee work.

Karen Sewell says that boards of trustees typically include people who are dedicated not only to the interests of their own children, but who are also concerned about the educational well-being of all the young people in the school.

“One particular focus for boards is to consider how students’ learning and progress is assessed and reported to parents. Finding out how well their children are doing is a central issue for parents.”

Karen Sewell emphasises that a successful school is one where there is high quality professional leadership and teaching.

“The key to this is having an energetic and committed board of trustees.”

(For further information on standing for a board, please contact your local school.)
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