Pupils have stake in their school’s board of trustees

Press, 12 April 1989, Page 16

Pupils have stake in their school’s board of trustees

Boards of trustees will take up their jobs in early June, replacing school committees, boards of governors and other management committees. They will be responsible for making sure the school is run reasonably with the money given to it by the Government. The board will develop a charter for its school saying what the school will do for its students and how. After October 1 this year it will also employ all staff, including the principal, and approve future appointments. It will decide how money is spent, and arrange for the school’s buildings, grounds, and equipment to be looked after. The board must also ensure that parents and the community know what is going on at the school and have a real say in what it does. Each board of trustees at primary and secondary level will consist of five members nominated and

elected by the parents or guardians of students, the principal, one staff member, and a student for those schools which have secondary school students. The board can also ask other people to join it. Trustees will probably be expected to attend about 10 meetings each year.

The general manager of the Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Council, Malcolm Richards, said there was no legal provision for the exclusion of student members, unless the discussion involved the member personally. It was up to each board to decide on how it wished to approach such issues.

Mr Richards said the council was not surprised at the large number of student nominations at some Christchurch secondary schools. “They have a large body of students who have an interest in the running of the school. Larger schools generally have more nominations.”

IWITWcB

Stars and Stripes disco The Y.M.C.A. is holding one of its popular “Stars and Stripes” discos this Friday. The event is for eight to 14-y ear-olds and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Y.M.C.A.’s Hereford Street gymnasium. The cost is $4 per person and tickets are on sale at the city and Bryndwr Y.M.C.A.S. The disco will be supervised by staff and voluntary leaders, with police in attendance. Youth Card ID Scheme The Youth Card ID Scheme, run by the Christchurch Youth Council, is underway again for 1989. Youth Card is the only ID card specifically for high school students that is available to all high schools in Christchurch. As well as providing details of the student’s school, date of birth, and signature, discounts from local businesses are also offered in a new pocket-

sized discount book. Profits from the scheme are used by the Youth Council to sponsor projects and activities for young people. Orders are now being .taken at high schools. The price of a new card is $2.50. For further inquiries, phone the Youth Resource Centre, phone 652-390. Scouts Scouts, venturers and rovers will be taking part in the Fuller Flier Flag competition at Darfield this Sunday. The event is run in conjunction with the local fire brigade and is a chance for participants to brush up on their fire prevention skills. A group of venturers will be spending the week-end learning skills of a different kind at a parachute school at Pudding Hill. On April 24, venturers and leaders will mark St George’s Day with a service at the Cathedral Grammar. Money raised from the service wijl go to the scout universal 'fund.