Information about our School Board
Celebrating Diversity. Celebrating Achievement.
Nau Mai Tauti Mai, Afio Mai, Mālō e lava mai, Kia Orana, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, ਸਵਾਗਤ ਹੈ, स्वागत हे, مرحب خوش آمدی, خوش آمدید, សូមស្វាគមន៍, добро пожаловать!, Добре дошли, Welkom, እንኳን ደህና መጣህ, Bem-vinda, Witamy, Kamusta, Chào mừng, Konnichi Wa,ようこそ, 欢迎, 歡迎, 환영 , ยินดีต้อนรับ, स्वागत, ស្វាគមន៍ , સ્વાગત છે, Bienvenido, සාදරයෙන් පිළිගනිමු, స్వాగతం, Bi xêr hatî, Добродошли, Bem-vindo, സ്വാഗതം, Vitajte, Bienvenu, Willkommen, Benvenuto, Welcome & Greetings to all!
“He aha te mea nui o te ao – he tangata, he tangata, he tangata! – What is the most important thing in the world – it is people, it is people, it is people! (Māori proverb)
The School Board
The board is a legal and crown entity. A board remains constant, but its membership changes. A board must act as one. A board works in partnership with its school community and the government to ensure the best possible outcome for all ākonga (students), their whānau, and the staff employed by the board.
All state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand (like Wigram Primary School) have a school board, which has overall responsibility and accountability for the school/kura. The school board’s legal responsibilities are determined by the Education and Training Act 2020.
School boards have a stewardship role that involves planning for, and acting in, the interests of the school and its community. Student learning, wellbeing, achievement and progress are the board’s main concerns.
The board is guardian of the school’s values. It is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school and overseeing the management of personnel, property, finance and administration.
It’s important to note that the board is NOT responsible for the day-to-day running of the school — that’s the job of the principal.
Who is on the Board?
- Parents are elected as Board Members by the parent community.
- A staff member is elected to the Board by the school staff.
- The principal is automatically a member of the Board.
- In certain situations, additional members can be asked to join the board (co-opted) for a set period.
- School board elections are held every three years, with optional mid-term elections after 18 months as needed.
What skills do Board Members need?
Board members (they used to be called ‘trustees’ or ‘the Board of Trustees’) are active leaders in the kura/school. People often think board members need to have a legal or business background, but that’s not the case at all. The most valuable skills parents or whānau can bring to the board table are:
- Working well as part of a team
- Not afraid to ask challenging questions
- Having good communication skills
- Being connected to their community
Our Current Board Members
Presiding Member: Lusila Tahaafe ltahaafe.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Principal: Heather Walkinshaw principal@wigramprimary.school.nz |
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Staff Representative: Shyla Cooper scooper@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Parent Member: Ritchie Bath rbath.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Parent Member: Duncan Jones djones.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Co-opted Member: Bailey Peterson bpeterson.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Parent Member: Cha Herewini cherewini.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
Parent Member: Zeba Alam zalam.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz |
TO CONTACT THE PRESIDING MEMBER (CHAIRPERSON)
Please email: ltahaafe.bot@wigramprimary.school.nz