Governance/Policies

The Discovery School policies cover different areas of school management. Any questions related to these policies can be discussed with the principal or through the Board of trustees chairperson.

The board of trustees of Discovery School is focused on the ongoing improvement of student progress and achievement within an environment that provides inclusive education.

To ensure effective school performance, the board is committed to maintaining a strong and effective governance framework that incorporates legislative requirements and good practice.

The following are the board’s agreed governance and management definitions which form the basis upon which both the working relationship and the board’s policies are developed.

What is Governance?

The board acts in a stewardship role and is entrusted to work on behalf of all stakeholders. It is accountable to the Ministry of Education and our school community for the school’s performance, emphasises strategic leadership, sets the vision for the school and ensures compliance with legal and policy requirements.

Board policies are at a governance level and outline clear delegations to the principal. The board and principal form the leadership team with the role of each documented and understood. The principal reports to the board with committees used sparingly and only when a need is identified to contribute to board work.

The board is proactive rather than reactive in its operations and decision making and does not involve itself in the administrative details of the day to day running of the school. The ongoing improvement of student progress and achievement is the board’s focus.

Management of the School

The board delegates all authority and accountability for the day-to-day operational organisation of the school to the principal who must ensure compliance with both the board’s policy framework and the law of New Zealand. [For detail see Operational Policies]

In developing the above definitions for Discovery School the board was mindful of the following excerpts from the Education Act 1989:

Responsibilities under the Education Act 1989, Sections 65, 75 & 76

The legal responsibility of boards of trustees is determined by Section 75 of the Education Act 1989:

s.75 Boards to control management of schools –

Except to the extent that any enactment or the general law of New Zealand provides otherwise, a school’s board has complete discretion to control the management of the school as it thinks fit.

s.76 Principals –

(1) A school’s principal is the board’s chief executive in relation to the school’s control and management.

(2) Except to the extent that any enactment or the general law of New Zealand provides otherwise, the principal –

(a) Shall comply with the board’s general policy directions; and

(b) Subject to paragraph (a), has complete discretion to manage as the principal thinks fit the school’s day to day administration.

s.65

A board may from time to time, in accordance with the State Sector Act 1988, appoint, suspend, or dismiss staff.

To carry out effective governance of the school the board has developed the policy framework contained in this document.