NZSTA pleased with endorsement of trusteeship

Media Release

NZSTA pleased with independent endorsement of trusteeship

The New Zealand School Trustees Association is backing new research calling for greater support of boards of trustees in their critical governance role.

And NZSTA President Lorraine Kerr says it is no surprise that the New Zealand Council for Educational Research report into trusteeship also supports the continuation of boards of trustees.

“NZSTA knows the current trusteeship model is a sound one. We also recognise that as with any “model” of governance, there is always the opportunity to fine tune aspects to make things even better.

NZSTA is pleased that the NZCER research has identified the need for greater support of boards of trustees.

“We look forward to the opportunity to discuss with the government how this additional support can be best achieved, while recognising that school governance and local decision making, the strengths of the current system, must continue to reside at the school level.”

Lorraine Kerr says it is also no surprise to NZSTA that funding issues continue to be of major concern to boards and principals as this is an issue which NZSTA has been pursuing for some years now on behalf of member boards. It is the subject of a report of the MOE/Sector Reference Group Report issued in December 2006.

NZSTA has confirmed that the completion of the schools’operations funding review is a key issue and priority in 2007, she says.

Lorraine Kerr says the support of the trusteeship model through independent research is timely given that nominations for the 2007 triennial elections closed late last week.

The 2007 triennial elections campaign, which the NZSTA has been contracted by the Ministry of Education to promote and support nationally, has been very successful.

“A recent survey of school trustees where 96.5% of those surveyed said they would recommend being a trustee to others shows the huge support for the current model of trusteeship,” Lorraine Kerr says.

ENDS

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