Take part in:

• Establishing and reviewing from time to time, the school’s objectives, priorities and general policy directions;
• Planning financial arrangements necessary to fund those objectives, priorities and directions;
• Evaluating the school’s performance in achieving those objectives, priorities and directions;
• Formulating codes of conduct for students at the school; and
• The selection of, but not the appointment of, the school principal or any other member of the teaching staff if prior approval is given.

Approve of:

• A charge or contribution determined by the principal for the provision of materials, services and facilities;
• The costs determined by the principal to be paid for participation in an extra cost optional component of the school’s educational program;
• The items determined by the principal to be supplied by a student for the student’s personal use in the school’s educational program; and
• An agreement or arrangement for advertising or sponsorship in relation to a government school.

Determine:

• In consultation with students, their parents and staff of the school, a dress code for students when they are attending or representing the school.

Provide advice to the principal of the school:

• On a general policy concerning the use in school activities of prayers, songs and material based on religious, spiritual or moral values being used in a school activity as part of religious education; and
• On allowing time for the special religious education of students in the school, up to a total of 40 hours in a year.

Promote:

• The school in the Community.

The responsibilities of a Board are to:

• Comply with the Board’s terms of reference.
• Liaise with other committees within the school e.g. the Parents and Citizens’ Association;
• Hold an annual public meeting once in every calendar year that is open to the public. An annual report will be presented at the meeting to advise the school community of the performance of the Board in the last year; and
• Hold meetings that are generally open to the public.

A Board does not:

• Manage the day to day running of the school (for example, staff management, and student assignment to classes);
• Discuss individual issues relating to teachers, staff or parents;
• Represent specific interest groups, or permit special interests to dominate the agenda of the Board;
• Intervene in the educational instruction of students; borrow money or obtain funds; purchase property; or
• Performance manage the principal or any other Department of Education employee.

Role of Board members

• Parent members of Boards bring their experience as parents at the school, and the views and context of the wider school community;
• Community members may bring expertise such as business, or accounting skills that the Board is looking for at that time; and
• Department of Education employees bring their educational expertise.