Obligations of the Board of Management
Last updated: Sun, Jun 28th, 2015 6:50:41 pm
The general responsibilities of a Board of Management include a responsibility for the creation of a working environment which promotes the learning and welfare of students and which facilitates the professional development and welfare of school personnel. In practice, this responsibility is delegated to the Principal of the school under the direction of the Board of Management.
Matters of policy regarding personnel management are a matter for the Board of Management while the Principal's task in this regard is an executive one.
The Principal is primarily responsible for the creation of an environment where teaching and learning can flourish and where students and school personnel are encouraged to reach their full potential. This can only be achieved through the co-operation of all the partners in the school and through the effective delegation of responsibility from the Board of Management to the Principal and from the Principal to school personnel and to the students where possible.
The Welfare of Staff
The Education Act, 1998, requires Boards of Management, to promote equality of opportunity for all staff in the school and to:
"ensure that the needs of personnel involved in management functions and staff development needs generally in the school are identified and provided for" (Section 9).
The Act also requires the Principal, inter alia, to give "guidance and direction to the teachers and other staff of the school", to "provide leadership to the teachers and other staff ..." and to create "...a school environment which promotes the professional development of the teachers" (Section 23)
The issue of the welfare of teachers should be addressed by the Board of Management in consultation with the teachers, and a clear policy on staff welfare and development should be drawn up.
Consultation with Teachers
Teachers are entitled to be consulted on all matters related to the organisation and curriculum of the school. The Education Act, 1998, Section 23 puts the onus on the Principal to consult the teaching staff in the determination of objectives for the school and in the monitoring of the achievement of these objectives.
Section 21 of the Act specifies that:
A board shall, as soon as may be after its appointment, make arrangements for the preparation of a plan (in this section referred to as the "school plan") and shall ensure that the plan is regularly reviewed and updated.
It is also implicit that detailed discussion with the teaching staff is essential in the preparation of the School Plan. Current school planning requires the implementation of DES recommendations regarding:
School Self Evaluation
Junior Cycle reform
Literacy and Numeracy