Kia ora koutou katoa
Our final board report for the year for 2017! As you may be aware we had two board of trustees positions up for nomination and election. No new nominations were received by the closing date of 17th November, so we are delighted that our current trustees who were nominated for the positions (Mr Garry Good and Mrs Nikki Simpson-Tukapua) will be able to continue their service on the board. The next Board of Trustees election will be held mid 2019 and all five trustee positions will come up for election then as the Board returns to the standard three year election cycle.
At our last meeting our Librarian, Carole Brunger and Careers Advisor, Whaea Pani Kerehoma came and presented reports on the library and Gateway programmes respectively. The Board has really enjoyed meeting many of the school staff this year. Having staff report on progress at the beginning of our Board meetings gives trustees an opportunity to meet staff, ask questions and find out about the learning opportunities in the school. It also enables staff to bring their insights and perspectives and provides a foundation for discussions on how we can best support the different faculties and learning programmes in the school. We shall continue to do this in 2018.
At the meeting, Mr Congdon presented a draft of the school charter which has been created with input from the parent surveys administered at parent interviews, the online school survey and in consultation with staff. When the charter is finalised we will put this up on the website. Each year the Board, in conjunction with management produce annual goals which derive from the broader strategic goals contained in the charter. It is these annual goals that form the basis for reporting on progress at each board meeting as the school year progresses. Thanks to Leanne Phillips the school’s executive officer and the Board’s finance committee, the formulation of the 2018 budget is also well underway. At our final meeting of 2017 we will pass the budget and also ratify the draft of the school charter we have been developing. The charter and strategic goals help specify funding priorities which it is why will be good to have both signed off and ready to go for the New Year before we break for Christmas.
As a board we realise the significant contributions that parents and caregivers make in giving practical, emotional and financial support to our students. Thank you for partnering with us again this year to grow successful young men and women. We look forward to our learning journey together as a school in 2018, and wish all our staff, students and whanau a happy and blessed Christmas and New Year.
Ka kite anō
Juliana Mansvelt (BOT Chair)