Responsibilities of the principal

Outcome statement

Authority and accountability for the day-to-day running/operation of the school is delegated to the principal.

Scoping

The principal is the professional leader of the school and the board’s chief executive working in partnership with the board of trustees. The board is responsible for the governance of the school, including setting the policies by which the school is to be controlled and managed. The principal is responsible for the implementation of these policies including the charter/strategic plan.

The relationship between the board and principal is based on mutual respect, trust, integrity and support with both parties working to ensure no surprises.

Delegations

Authority and accountability for the day-to-day running of the school is delegated to the principal. Reference in documentation to the school, management and staff is to be read as “principal” for responsibility for implementation.

Only decisions made by the board acting as a board are binding on the principal unless specific delegations to the  presiding member, individual board members, committee chairs or committees of the board are in place.

The presiding member/personnel committee has responsibility for the principal’s performance review.

Expectations and limitations

The principal shall not cause or allow any practice, activity or decision that is unethical, unlawful or imprudent or that violates the board’s expressed values, its charter/strategic plan or commonly held professional ethic.

The responsibilities of the principal are set out in the board’s operational policies and include the following:

·       Meet the requirements of their current job description and employment agreement including the four areas of practice from the Professional Standards for Primary/Secondary Principals.

·       Participate in the development and implementation of their annual performance agreement and participate in their annual review process.

·       Act as the educational leader and day-to-day manager of the school within the law and in line with board policies.

·       Develop, seek board approval for and implement an annual plan that is aligned with the board’s strategic plan, meets legislative requirements and gives priority to improved student progress and achievement.

·       Use resources efficiently and effectively and preserve assets (financial and property).

·       Operate within the board’s approved annual budget.

·       Give effect to good employer policies and practices through effective procedures, instructions or guidelines.

·       Employ, deploy and terminate staff positions in line with board policy and legislative requirements.

·       Communicate with the community on operational matters as and where appropriate.

·       Refrain from unauthorised public statements about the official position of the board on social, political and/or educational issues that are or have the potential to be controversial.

·       Keep the board informed of all information relevant to its governance role and report this in accordance with the requirements set out under Monitoring below.

·       Act as protected disclosures officer and ensure procedures are in place to meet the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act 2000.

·       Appoint, on behalf of the board, the privacy officer and EEO officer.

·       Ensure school procedures meet the legislative statutes and regulations as set down in the appropriate Acts, Ministry of Education circulars and Education Gazette.

·       Ensure systems are developed and implemented to support the smooth running of the school in regards to surrender and retention of property and searches of students. Written records and storage of items must be consistent with legislative requirements and associated rules and guidelines.

The principal is not restricted from using the expert knowledge of individual board members acting as community experts.

Procedures/supporting documentation

Board’s governance and management definitions

Principal’s job description

Principal’s employment agreement including relevant Principal Professional Standards 

Principal’s performance agreement and review report

Annual implementation plan and budget

Personnel-related policy and procedures including appointments and performance management

Monitoring

The board will review the principal’s performance in line with its policy on principal performance review.

Evidence gathered for the review will include principal reporting to the board in line with the board’s annual workplan and that addresses all matters having real or potential legal considerations and risk for the school including significant trends, implications of board decisions, issues or risk to policy compliance or changes to the basis upon which the board’s strategic aims have been developed.

The principal will prepare (or, where appropriate, delegate, coordinate and approve) a report for every board meeting that:

·       is timely, accurate and presents information in an understandable form that is not too complex or lengthy

·       includes data and analysis on curriculum delivery, student progress and achievement

·       tracks progress and variance towards strategic aims and key performance indicators

·       informs the board of any significant changes in staffing, programmes, plans or processes that are under consideration

·       outlines financial income and expenditure and explains any variance against budget

·       summarises and highlights any risks associated with the fortnightly staff usage and expenditure (SUE) report

·       identifies the number of stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions during the period and highlights trends over time

·       identifies the instances of physical restraint

·       includes information of any actual or potential risks to health and safety

·       specifies current roll numbers and explains any roll variance against year levels

·       recommends changes in board policies when the need for them becomes known

·       highlights areas of possible adverse publicity or community dissatisfaction

·       addresses any other matter requested by the board within a reasonable, specified timeframe.

Legislative compliance

Education Act 1989

Privacy Act 1993

Protected Disclosures Act 2000

Collective Employment Agreement for Principals

 Reviewed Term1, 2021