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School Boards

The Education Act 2004 (the Act) requires that a school board be established for each public school. The Act describes the functions of school boards, including their role in principal selection, the constitution of school boards, the proceedings of board meetings, and the responsibilities associated with financial and reporting requirements.

The board is responsible for the school’s strategic direction. Operational matters are the responsibility of the principal.

School boards must observe Directorate directions and ACT Government priorities and all legislative obligations.

The School Board Framework (240kb) is an overview document to provide information about the functions of school boards to directorate staff and the community.

School Board Manual 2010 (2.3Mb)
School Board Operational Manual Appendices - Forms (519kb)

The School Board Manual is a valuable tool for principals, school board members, assistant returning officers, and business managers providing information about school boards and their functions. The forms in the manual have been provided in word version to assist Assistant Returning Officers to manage the school board election process.

School Board Handbook (466kb) – template

The School Board Handbook has been developed as an optional tool for school boards to provide personalised information about their school’s board to their school board and local community. The handbook has been developed in accordance with the information provided in the School Board Manual 2010.

The hand book provides school board members and local communities with an overview of:

details of the school board members and their appointed roles
legislative responsibilities of the school board
the role of the school board
school board operations, and
an explanation of the meeting agenda

Role of the School Board

The school board is a formal mechanism for parents, carers, staff and students to participate in school decision-making.

The following link details the functions of the school board and who is eligible to be on a school board. Functions and Compositions of a School Board (58kb).

Board appointed member

The school board may appoint no more than two people as board appointed members of the school board for a term (not longer than 12 months) decided by the school board. Board appointed members are non-voting members.

The school board may wish to appoint particular members of the school community as board appointed members (e.g. a school with an interest or specialisation in the arts may have a representative from a local theatre group or university) to ensure that the unique features of the school are represented.

Board appointed members should create balance to the school board and should not be used to provide additional representation from a particular element of the school community.

As board appointed members are non-voting members of the school board, they are not eligible for election as chairperson or deputy chairperson of the school board.

Appointed member

The Act provides for the Returning Officer to appoint a member to each school board, known as the appointed member. This role is to present an independent view to the school board, not to act as the agent of the Directorate. The appointed member is appointed without election. The appointed member does not have reporting responsibilities to the Directorate.

In accordance with recommendation eight from the Review of School Based Management, the appointed member should be selected, where possible, to complement the school board’s existing skill mix, and broaden the governance capacity of the board.

Consultation with individual principals regarding the skills and interests of the potential appointed member takes place prior to appointment. The principal may seek to appoint a member of the broader community with a particular skill set (e.g. financial management) to enhance and improve the operation of the school board. This process ensures that the requirements of the school board are met.

The appointed member is usually external to the school community. The appointed member’s term is for the prescribed period (no longer than 24 months). An appointed member may be eligible for reappointment following consultation with the principal regarding skills required by the school board.

The appointed member may be elected as chairperson or deputy chairperson of the school board.

Expressions of interest for the role of appointed member are sought from a wide range of private and public sector organisations for allocation to school boards.

The following form is used for appointed member nominations: Expression of Interest - Appointed Member of an ACT Public School Board (56kb).

School Board Elections

The Act states that board members are to be appointed. Before appointments can occur, some positions will require an election. All appointments to school boards (except board appointed members) are made by the Returning Officer.

School board elections – what are they and why do we need them?
A school board election is an approved process for the selection of representatives to the school board. School board elections are based on best practice election principles to ensure fair and democratic processes are followed.

Assistant Returning Officer (ARO)
Each year in November and December, Planning and Performance branch conducts training sessions at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Fremantle Drive, Stirling, for Assistant Returning Officers.

Training for 2012 will be announced later in the year.

For Assistant Returning Officers who were unable to attend training Planning and Performance branch has made available an alternative training package:

Assistant Returning Officer Training for 2012 elections (6Mb)

Election Forms
The following forms are used for school board elections.

Election Timeline with dates for 2012 (64kb)
Nomination form (59kb)
Ballot Paper Introduction (66kb)
Ballot Paper (171kb)
Ballot Paper envelope (61kb)
Scrutineer Appointment form (69kb)
Tallying the votes guide (28kb)
Return form - Electoral Results and Casual Vacancy form (96kb)

Planning and Performance branch can provide support and advice to schools conducting elections.

Casual Vacancy
A casual vacancy occurs when an appointed member resigns from the school board before the completion of their term of appointment e.g. no longer have a child at the school if a parents and citizen member on the school board. The filling of a casual vacancy is for the remainder of the term of office that has been vacated only.

More information about Casual Vacancy is in the school board manual.

Return Form - Electoral Results and Casual Vacancy form (96kb) - Planning and Performance branch can provide support and advice to schools filling casual vacancies.

Acting Appointments
An Acting Appointment may be required if:

an elected member of a board is absent, or is expected to be absent from the ACT
a person is unable through illness or other cause to attend meetings of the board, or
a person ceases to hold office as an elected member of a board three months or less before the end of his or her term of office.
Acting Appointment form (83kb) - Planning and Performance branch can provide support and advice to schools processing acting appointments.

School Board Member Training

Each year in May, Planning and Performance branch conducts training sessions at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Fremantle Drive, Stirling, for appointed school board members.

For members who are unable to attend training Planning and Performance branch has made available an alternative training package:

School Board Member Training 2011 (2mb)
School Board Chair Training 2011 (460kb)

If you would like information about training sessions please email us at DETGovernance@act.gov.au

School Board Network

All School Board Chairs (or a representative) and Principals are invited to attend School Board Network meetings. Meetings are held once a term (in terms 3 and 4) at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Fremantle Drive, Stirling.

Meetings for 2012 will be announced later in the Year

If you would like information about the School Board Network please email us at DETGovernance@act.gov.au

School Board Operations

Planning and Performance branch ch is available to assist with school board operations.

Liability

School board members are protected from liability under section 49A of the Act if they perform their functions honestly. Considering the context in which Directorate staff perform their duties, may assist board members.

The Directorate is guided in decision- making by a range of legislation which sets out the need for efficient administration, transparency, accountability and recognises the expectations and rights of students, parents and carers, and community members. Legislation includes that relating to privacy, freedom of information, financial accountability and ethical conduct.

Board members can seek advice from the principal of their school in the first instance. The Principal may then seek advice from the relevant area of the Directorate.

Conflicts of Interest

The following link explains conflicts of interest and how to manage them on a school board Disclosure of Interest fact sheet (30kb)

The following forms are used for declaring conflicts of interest

Conflict of Interest form (68kb)
Disclosure of Interest Statement (66kb)

Frequently Asked Questions

Governance branch is frequently asked how often and when does a school board meet? How long is a term of appointment on the school board?

Answers to these questions and more are provided at the following link.

FAQ’s (29kb)

Contact and support

All School Board requests and queries should be directed to:

Planning and Performance branch
Education and Training Directorate
GPO Box 158
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone (02) 6205 8229
Fax (02) 6205 8353
Email: DETGovernance@act.gov.au