Wanted! Parent representative for our Board of Governors ( see Christine at office if interested)

Becoming a school governor
Every school is managed by a Board of Governors. They work with the school principal to meet the educational needs of the school pupils in a secure and safe environment. Parents, teachers and people over 18 years old can apply to be a school governor.

WE CURRENTLY NEED A PARENT REPRESENTATIVE! COMPLETED APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BEFORE 3PM ON MONDAY 28TH JANUARY.

School governors
The Board of Governors includes:
1. parents and teachers who are elected by the parents and teachers associated with the school
2. members of the general public with an interest in education appointed by the Department of Education or the Education Authority (EA) in your region

You have to complete an application form (see Christine at the school office). You don't need any special qualifications as full training will be provided. You will need another parent to nominate you on your application form.
What school governors do
The role of the Board of Governors is to make sure that the school provides pupils with a good education. The Board of Governors:
sets the school's plans and policies
employs the school staff
manages how the school spends budget

A governor is appointed in a voluntary unpaid capacity for four years. They can resign at any time. The Board of Governors meets as often as its business requires, which may be once a month, depending on the size of the school.
The Board of Governors has members with different skills, knowledge and experience. The business of the school is progressed by the whole Board of Governors working together in the best interests of the school children.
Every governor is expected to contribute to the conduct of school business and every governor can expect to learn something new. This is an important role as your experience as a parent in the school will help ensure the perspective of the parent is consulted in decisions and policies.

Now for the official bit - Don't let it put you off as full training will be provided.

Arrangements for the Election of Parent Members of the Board of Governors
the following statutory position regarding elected Parent Governors may be useful:

a) A parent elected as a member of the Board of Governors of one or more than one school shall not by reason only of ceasing to be a parent of a pupil attending the school or one of the schools cease to hold office as a member of the Board of Governors (Para 6 DENI Circular 1997/24).
b) A Parent Governor is elected by parents of pupils attending the school or schools from amongst the parents of such pupils.
c) The Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 provides that election arrangements must have the Department’s approval and any vote taken for the purpose for any such elections must be by secret ballot.
d) Where (a) one or more vacancies for parent members are required to be filled by election; and (b) the number of parents standing for election as parent members is less than the number of vacancies, the required number of parent members shall be made up by persons appointed by the voting members of the Board of Governors of the school.

Parents
1) Parents will be entitled to nominate candidates, to vote, and to stand for election.
2) Voting is by a parent of pupils attending the school(s) at the time.
3) ‘Parent’ includes a guardian and every person who has actual custody of the pupil attending the school.
4) An elected parent continues in office even if ceasing to be a parent of pupil(s) attending the school.
5) A teacher in the school, who also happens to be a parent in the school may not be elected as a Parent Representative to the Board of Governors of that school.

Clerk of Elections
5) The Board of Governors shall appoint from its membership a clerk for the elections.
6) The Clerk shall not be a parent as defined in 2 above.
7) The Clerk shall write to parents explaining the procedure for nominating and for voting.
8) Voting forms shall be prepared by the Clerk and handed directly to parents at a meeting or posted to them.
9) The Clerk shall call a meeting at such time and place as shall be convenient for most parents, (unless voting is by postal ballot).
10) The Clerk shall act as chairperson if the election takes place at a meeting of parents.
11) The Clerk shall minute the proceedings of that meeting and forward these along with the name(s) of the elected parent(s) to the Diocesan Office as soon as possible.
12) The Clerk’s decision on matters of procedure shall be final.

Candidates
13) Candidates must be nominated by at least one other parent and seconded by another.
14) The right to nominate, to vote and to stand for election is not limited to one parent per family.
15) Only those entitled to vote may propose and second nominations.
16) Candidates may vote.
17) Persons nominated should confirm that they are prepared to stand for election.

Procedures
18) The Board of Governors should determine that a quorum exists.
19) Voting may not be by proxy.
20) A simple majority should determine the successful candidate(s).
21) In the event of a tie a second ballot should be held - only candidates with the same number of votes should be involved in this ballot.
22) If the further ballot also produces a tie, the result may be determined by lot.
23) If the number of nominees is equal to or fewer than the number of vacancies, all candidates will be deemed to have been duly elected without the need for a vote and if applicable any remaining vacancies filled by appointment by the voting members of the Board of Governors.