Purpose of the School Board

School Boards within the Broken Bay Diocese are boards of pastoral governance.  A model of discernment called ‘sharing wisdom’ has been adopted as the most appropriate form of school governance within the diocese.  The School Board listens to the wisdom of members of their community and their own board membership in order to know how to best lead and serve them.

 

The purpose of the School Board is to build, strengthen and nourish the school as part of the parish(es).  The School Board is a structure intended to facilitate members of the school and faith community to share responsibility for the well being of the whole school within the beliefs and values, teachings and traditions of the Church, lived our and witnessed within the community of disciples.

 

The role of the Board is one of stewardship – developing the school in all its facets ‘in trust’ for the faith community.  As steward, the Board is called, through the Spirit to serve the faith community by caring for and developing its school community.  In this role, members of the Board are called to servant leadership, collectively accepting accountability for the school’s well being.

 

The School Board is accountable to the Bishop through the Director of Schools.  Membership of the School Board is discerned by the local faith community and commissioned by the Bishop.  The authority of the Board is not so much dependent upon a legal definition but rather on its understanding and practice of leadership and ministry in the context of Shared Wisdom.  However, all involved with school boards need to develop an understanding of their scope of responsibilities within Diocesan and Parish structures, functions and aspirations.

 

Accepting membership of the School Board is acceptance of a call to the ministry of service within and for the educational enterprise of the Diocese.  This ministry calls and requires the Board to fulfil key responsibilities, focussing on the following:

  • Mission and Vision
  • Policy Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Support of the School’s Educational Leadership
  • Collaboration and Communication
  • Building of Relationships
  • Board Sustainability.