The National Trustee Forum
Last updated: Mon, Jan 27th, 2020 3:44:26 pm
The Education Act of 1998 defined a clear and important role for the patron/trustees of all schools. This role includes:
Being the vested owners of all land and property associated with the school
Being responsible for the definition and the preservation of the school ethos
Being responsible for the appointment of the Board of Management in accordance with the schools Articles of Management
Being responsible for the nomination of teaching staff selection committees for appointments and promotions
The interrelationship between Trustees, Board of Management, the Principal and Staff is crucial to the proper and effective governance of any school. Community and Comprehensive schools are governed by a unique form of joint Trusteeship. There is a clear need to develop protocols and procedures for the proper exercise of this joint Trusteeship.
In June of 2001 the ACCS Executive established a sub-committee to consider this matter. The work of this sub-committee led to the publication in March of 2004 of 'Guidelines on the Role of Trustees in Community Schools'. This document contains within it a comprehensive summary of the tasks required of Trustees in discharging their duties and of the responsibilities of Boards of Managements in their relationships with their Trustees in Community Schools.
One of the key recommendations of the Guidelines was the establishment of a National Trustee Forum to co-ordinate the views of Trustee interests in Community and Comprehensive schools and to communicate with the Department of Education and Skills on their behalf. This forum has now been established and has held its inaugural meeting in ACCS Head Office. Its founding members were Monsignor Jim Cassin representing the Episcopal Commission for Education, Rev. Canon John McCullagh representing the Church of Ireland Board of Education, Sr. Mary O'Connor representing the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools and Mr. Pat O'Connor representing the Irish Vocational Education Association.
Although ACCS has been to the fore in facilitating its establishment and will provide it with secretarial and administrative services, the National Trustee Forum is an independent body. It is neither part of, nor answerable to, ACCS. The NTF communicates directly to the ACCS executive by means of an agreed report following its meetings. It deals with issues pertaining to Trusteeship in Community and Comprehensive schools and is the body with which the DES will consult in relation to such issues. ACCS will be kept informed of developments and concerns as they occur.