Presiding member role description policy

Outcome statement

The board is effectively led.

Scoping

The presiding member is the leader of the board and works on behalf of the board with the principal on a day-to day basis. 

The presiding member establishes and nurtures a positive professional working relationship with the principal.

The presiding member represents the board to the broader community and works in partnership with the principal to safeguard the integrity of the board’s processes.

The presiding member often represents the board to the school and wider community and agencies such as the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office and carries a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the board.

The presiding member presides over board meetings and ensures that each member has a full and fair opportunity to be heard and understood by the other members of the board and that decisions that are in the best interest of the school, its students and staff are reached.

Delegations

The board delegates management of the relationship between the board and the principal to the presiding member.

The presiding member sits directly on the following committees:

Community Liaison

Health and Safety

Expectations and limitations

The presiding member:

·       is appointed by election at the first board meeting of the year except in a triennial election year where it shall be at the first meeting of the board*

·       acts within board policy and delegations at all times and not independently of the board

·       leads the board members and develops them as a cohesive and effective team

·       welcomes new members, ensures that disclosure of any conflicts of interest is made and the code of behaviour is understood (and signed) and leads new board members' inductions

·       assists board members’ understanding of their role, responsibilities and accountability, including the need to comply with the trustee code of behaviour policy

·       ensures the work of the board is completed

·       sets the board’s agenda and ensures that all board members have the required information for informed discussion of the agenda items

·       ensures the meeting agenda content is only about those issues that, according to board policy, clearly belong to the board to decide

·       effectively organises and presides over board meetings, ensuring that such meetings are conducted in accordance with the Education Act 1989, the relevant sections of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987* and any board protocols and policies

·       ensures interactive participation by all board members

·       represents the board to external parties as an official spokesperson for the school except for those matters where this has been delegated to another person

·       is the official signatory for the board, including for annual accounts*

·       is responsible for promoting effective communication between the board and wider community, including communicating appropriate board decisions

·       establishes and maintains a productive working relationship with the principal

·       ensures the principal’s performance agreement and review are completed on an annual basis

·       ensures concerns and complaints are dealt with according to the school’s concerns and complaints procedures

·       ensures any potential or real risk to the school or its name is communicated to the board. This includes any concern or complaint.

* Legislative requirement

Procedures/supporting documentation

Governance policies

Legislative compliance

Education Act 1989 Schedule 6

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

Reviewed: July 2023

Next review: Month prior to meeting when presiding member is elected