School Board Information - Getting Started

1
School Board Information - Getting Started

• Setting the Agenda
• Headteacher/Chairman
• Content
• Responsibility
• Whats on the Agenda

2
SPEAKING AT MEETINGS

• Board Members
• Local Councillor(s)
• Director of Education (representative)
• Parents and others at the discretion of the
  Chairman - items should be raised with the Chair
  before the start of the meeting.

3
MINUTE OF THE MEETING

• Checking of minutes
• Draft minutes on the notice board
• Agreed minutes on the notice board
• Minutes circulated
• Members of the Board
• Headteacher
• Councillor(s)
• Education Department/libraries

4
Communicating with parents

• THE SCHOOL BOARD
• regular newsletter
• minutes
• questionnaire
• parents evenings
• social events in co-operation with PTA

5
Communicating with Parents

• HEADTEACHER
• changes to the school day
• homework policy
• state of the school building
• school uniform
• discipline/anti-bullying policy
• attendance and absence problems

6
Communicating with Parents

• RESPONSE TO QUESTIONNAIRE
• Remember to let the parents, teachers, pupils,
  Councillors, the local authority and the
  community know the result of any questionnaire or
  communication asking for their opinion.

7
SSBA newsletter to members

• Membership renewal
• Executive Board nominations
• School Board Handbook
• Training for members
• SSBA Website
• Teachers pay and conditions
• Fund raising ideas
• PTA Insurance

• Safe School Travel
• Safe School Trips
• Conferences
• Questionnaires on - How good is
• our school,
• School Board and
• local authority
• Celebrating partnerships
• SSBA member responses

8
Communicating with Parents

• EDUCATION AUTHORITY
• letting policy with regard to accommodation
• authority policies on uniform
• authority policies on discipline
• authority policies on anti-bullying
• school provision review

9
Communicating with Parents

• SCHOOL BOARD RESPONSE
• Remember to let the parents, teachers,
  Councillors and the local authority the result of
  any communication with parents.

10
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• These are -
• report to Parents at least once per year
• meeting with parents where sufficient number of
  parents request this
• public and parents have right of access to
  meetings and to documentation
• encourage and support the formation of a PTA

11
Effective Communication

• KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE
• PREPARE CAREFULLY
• BE RELEVANT
• CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE
• What is likely to concern them?
• What style is likely to appeal to them?
• Is there a need for translation?
• Involve your audience - tear off slips, etc

12
School Board Annual Report

• membership and committees of Board
• Chairmans thanks to members, etc.
• how many meetings held in the year
• main business, development plan, budget
• main aim for year ahead (questionnaire)
• summary of Headteacher report to Board
• Board view of progress made by the school

13
Questions for consideration

• How representative is your Board
• Is there a strong sense of partnership
• School Board/PTA partnership
• How often do you attempt to reach parents
• How often do you talk with the teachers
• Do parents know about Board meetings
• Do parents/teachers attend meetings

14
Membership of the Board

• Parents and staff members
• - nominations and election
• Co-opted members
• Co-opted parent members
• Advisers
• Terms of office
• Quorum

15
School Board Business

• Approval of Headteachers plans for budget
• Managed use of school buildings
• Occasional holidays
• Appointment committees
• Promote relations between home/school
• Report to parents at least once per year
• Seek formal delegation of other functions

16
Recommended Budget

• Clerk fees - 300
• School Board Training - 300
• Administration - 180 35p per pupil
• Travel - 300
• Any funds left can be transferred to school
  capitation at the end of the year
• the director of education must consult you before
  the budget is agreed - legislation!

17
School Board Information -Getting started

• Setting the Agenda
• Who sets the Agenda -
• Headteacher or Chairman ?
• Content
• Responsibility
• Whats on the Agenda

18
SSBA newsletter to members

• SSBA membership renewals
• SSBA Executive Board nomination forms
• School Board Handbook
• School Board Training
• SSBA Website
• Safe School Travel and Safe School Trips
• Teachers Pay and Conditions

19
SSBA newsletter to members

• Conferences
• For example
• New Lanark Investing in
  Parents
• Glasgow International
  Parents Conference

20
SSBA newsletter to members

• Questionnaires on
• How good is our school
• How good is our School Board
• How good is our local authority

21
SSBA newsletter to members

• Fund raising ideas
• PTA Insurance
• Celebrating Partnerships with parents
• Grapevine
• SSBA responses to Government documents

22
The End

• Thank you for your interest in SSBA.
• (click again to restart presentation)