BOT Newsletter November 2011

This particular BOT meeting agenda covered the standard topics including, pre-BOT parent feedback, strategic vision, governance, Principal’s report, finance and property. 

Pre-BOT parent feedback: This discussion centred on the new Hall plans, special character status, classroom audio system, school charter, and fundraising.

·        The BOT moved to clarify the hall situation/status during the next property meeting (see property item below).

·        In regards to Special Character Status, the BOT agreed that parents could form a group to champion this cause.  Those interested in working on this issue should contact the Principal, who will in turn put parents in contact with each other.  It would be ideal to have at least one parent from each rōpū in this group.

·        A ‘Classroom Audio System’ (microphone and speaker) will be researched further.

·        All Trustees agreed the Charter should be adjusted to include reference to “Te Tiriti o Waitangi”.

·        The Math-a-thon fundraiser was very successful and children got a lot out of the exercise.  However, the Principal acknowledged that there needs to be another way found so that we don’t need to fundraise because of a loss from trips/activities. 

BOT Succession Planning: In this discussion and it was noted that the recently co-opted Mua i Malae’s BOT member’s tenure would end 31^st December, so in line with the new Charter parent stakeholder representation guideline, the BOT are ideally looking to co-opt a parent from within MiM next year and possibly in addition draw from the wider parent talent at RRS depending on needs.

Governance: The BOT completed another section of an ERO self-review checklist.

The Principal’s Report: included:

·   L’Archipel is the first ‘section’ in the world to receive “labellisation” (accreditation) recognition by the French education authorities, for teaching the national curriculum in French.

·   Staff appointments for 2012 were discussed.  Interviews are underway and appointments will be ratified at the next BOT meeting.

·   2012 school camp for Year 5 & 6 was approved at Chosen Valley, Ararimu.

·   A letter from a parent requesting employment as a music teacher was discussed and referred to the finance committee for budget consideration. 

Finance: This discussion was brief and the school’s cash expenditure position was largely as planned.

Property Update: Most of the BOT met the following day at a property meeting to discuss the Hall project. By mid-February 2012 the BOT wants to issue a request for proposals from building contractors, based on the hall design, with kitchen, created by the existing RRS architect, and receive Design & Build proposals from other construction companies based on their own designs for BOT consideration.  There is a realistic chance that the hall could be completed by the end of 2012 as long as we raise sufficient funds.