Welcome to new and returning school trustees

Following is a media release from the New Zealand School Trustees Association.

Media Release

Warm welcome to thousands of new and returning school trustees

The New Zealand School Trustees Association sends congratulations and a very warm welcome to the thousands of trustees who have successfully gained a place on their local school boards.

The voting process for schools following the common election date which ended at midday today, Thursday March 29, is the culmination of a nine month project undertaken by NZSTA, under contract to the Ministry of Education, to provide for the national promotion of the school trustees triennial elections.

NZSTA President Lorraine Kerr says the 2007 triennial elections process has been a major success to date. “Our elections project manager Janet Kelly has again been a major part in achieving that success.”

All but a handful of schools have now completed the election process, with almost all schools having a board of trustees to carry them through the next three years.

Statistical data regarding the number standing, and the number of schools having to undertake a voting election will not be available for some time.

However, Lorraine Kerr says there has been a real sense that the whole election process has matured and that the number of voting elections may well have increased over that for 2004.

“Certainly, the overall interest in school trusteeship has been higher, reflecting the good job done by many schools in raising awareness throughout their communities.” It also reflects the particular emphasis given to succession planning and schools being more focused around targeting particular skills and experience that will add value to the board of trustees.

Lorraine Kerr says it is now important that these newly elected trustees be comprehensively inducted into the board, and that professional development be an early priority to ensure that they up to speed on their critical role as soon as possible.

“There is a tendency for people to suggest that school trustees are simply volunteers, or laypeople but this is far from the truth.”

School trustees are expected to undertake their trusteeship role with a high degree of professionalism, and in addition they are responsible for million dollar enterprises, as well as being directly accountable to the Government and the community for the educational outcomes of the students in the school, she says.

“School trusteeship is a very important and worthy role, and I have total admiration for those who have responded to the challenge.”

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