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School Board

Welcome to the St Benedict’s School Board page. Here you’ll find essential information about our board, its composition, responsibilities, and key functions.

The St Benedict’s School Board comprises parent representatives, proprietor’s representatives, a teacher representative, and the Principal. We are stewards of the school during our tenure, and work collectively to oversee the governance and management of the school.

Our board is a mix of elected and appointed members. Five parent representatives are elected in triennial elections, with staggered elections occurring mid-term for continuity. The four proprietors appointees are appointed by the Bishop. The one teacher representative is elected in the usual triennial board cycle . In case of vacancies we may appoint individuals with expertise beneficial to the school community, or co-opt people with particular skillsets needed at a certain time (eg engineering when the school is undergoing major works). Each year the board nominates one of its members to be presiding chair (or a presiding chair and deputy).

The board’s job is to ensure proper management of school finances, property, personnel, and adherence to legal obligations and special character requirements. We collaborate with the Principal to set strategic direction and long-term plans for the school. Over the year we work proactively to:

  • monitor measures of school performance against goals; 
  • monitor student achievement;
  • oversee staff and curriculum management;
  • ensure our special character is maintained; and 
  • check that government policy is being met. 

We also respond to issues as they arise, including  ideas, queries or concerns from our parent and family community and education policy developments. 

We monitor five key areas through sub-committees: Catholic Character, Excellence, Communication, Environment, and Health & Safety.

Before each board meeting we receive regular reports about these focus areas so we can ask questions and note trends and developments over time.

Some areas of school governance require more attention than is possible in our regular meetings. To that end we operate five subcommittees that focus on key areas of our governance responsibility. The subcommittees have a convenor and work together as necessary to consider the following  key areas in depth:

  • Catholic Character subcommittee  focuses on how the school teaches and demonstrates the Catholic values
  • Communications aims to ensure the school has an effective communications strategy.  Its purpose is to provide clear, accessible information for students and their families, and also ensuring a strong profile in the church and local community. 
  • Environment Committee is responsible for ensuring that St Benedict’s School buildings and surrounds are safe and fit for purpose.
  • Finance Committee oversees the school’s budget, administrative and audit controls within the school.
  • Personnel Committee is responsible for selecting senior school appointments e.g. School Principal, oversees certain position appointments. It also handles all employment and human resource issues as required in a discreet way.

 

The Subcommittees each have a terms of reference, a convenor and report their activity back to the board. 

We follow a three-year strategic plan with annual implementation plans in alignment with Ministry guidelines. The most recent strategic plan is for the 2024-2025 period and has been extended to 2026 as we await new Ministry of Education guidelines. 

Annual Reports

Strategic Plans

The board meets eight times a year, with sub-committee meetings held as necessary.

2026 Meeting Dates:

25 February
25 March
20 May
24 June
12 August
9 September
28 October
2 December

 

Recent Board Meeting Minutes: All signed hard copies of Confirmed Minutes are kept in the school office for public access.

Audited Accounts

Who We Are

Johanna Reidy
PresidingChair@st-benedicts.school.nz
Presiding Member, Parents representative
Personnel, Catholic Character

Lucy Woolaston
Proprietor’s Representative Communications, Personnel

Jools Munn
Proprietor’s Representative Environment

Lisa McGregor
Proprietor’s Representative Catholic Character, Communications

Michelle Bowmaker
Parent Representative

Clare Short
Teacher Representative Environment,

Tania Savage
Principal All sub-committees

Albie Calope
Parent Representative

Campbell Featherstone
Parent Representative

Juan Rubio
Parent Representative

Developing our Children's Minds,
Guiding our Children's Hearts