Board of Trustees

 Elections 2013

The Matakana School Board of Trustees elections will be held on Thursday 30th May, 2013. The newly-elected trustees will take office on Thursday 6th June.

Three of the existing Board will not be running for re-election, as they will no longer have children at Matakana School.  

Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available.

For more information about elections or becoming a trustee, please visit the sites below:

• NZ School Trustee Association
• Ministry of Education - Boards

All of New Zealand's state schools have a board of trustees (BOT). The BOT is the Crown entity responsible for the governance and the control of the management of the school, and are accountable for the school’s performance.

The BOT is responsible for determining the strategic direction in which the school is heading (in consultation with parents, staff and students). The board must also ensure that its school provides a safe environment and quality education for all its students.  Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance and administration.

The Principal is the board's chief executive in relation to the school's control and management. The Principal is required to comply with the board's general policy directions; but has complete discretion to manage the school on a day to day basis.

Who is on the BOT?

At Matakana School, our Board is made up of:

• The Principal of the school
• One elected staff representative
• Five parent elected trustees
• Co-opted trustees (as needed)

Trustees are elected by the parent community and staff members.  Elections for parent and staff trustees are held every three years (next elections in 2013).  A by-election can occur at any stage in the 3 year election cycle if an elected trustee resigns from the board and thereby creates a casual vacancy.

What does the BOT do?

Every Board must prepare and maintain a School Charter. The purpose of a School Charter is to establish the mission, aims, objectives, directions, and targets of the Board in relation to the Government’s national education guidelines (NEGs), national administration guidelines (NAGs) and the Board’s local priorities.

The school board has the overall responsibility for the school, including meeting certain legal obligations, responsibility for property, personnel, financial management, reporting to the Ministry and school community, and meeting national requirements set by the Ministry of Education.

The BOT makes decisions that the Principal and staff then put in place. It must also monitor and report annually on its progress towards those goals.

BOT Meetings...

Boards typically meet once a month between February and December. Meetings are open to the public, however, they are not public meetings where everyone has the right to speak. Speaking rights can be granted in advance by the Board Chair. Sometimes parts of Board meetings are closed to the public when the board is discussing confidential matters. BOT members are also involved in Board sub-committees which meet as required to discuss issues. Recommendations from these meetings are presented to the full board for approval.

Can I get involved?

Standing for the BOT is a great way to get involved in your child’s education. Training and support are available to make carrying out this responsibility easier.

Elections are run every three years and in order to stand for the board you must confirm that to the best of your knowledge you are eligible to be a school trustee. The website of the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) has and excellent website with lots of great information for current or potential trustees. www.nzsta.org.nz

If you are interested in standing for election, a good idea is to talk to a current BOT member. You may also like attend a couple of BOT meetings to get a better idea of what goes on at the meetings and about the responsibility involved.

Matakana School Board of Trustees

Introducing the Board of Trustees  

Lisa Bindon - Chairperson

I grew up in Matakana, and attended Matakana School when it was a little country school of 90 kids. 11 years ago my husband Greg and I decided that Matakana was where we wanted to raise our children, so we moved back into the area - the best move we ever made! We have 3 children, Nicole and Jacob are at Mahu College in Year 10 and Year 8, and Alex is in Year 5. My official training is as a landscape designer, but for the past 12 years I have worked as a self-employed artist. I am very fortunate to have the time and flexibility to actively involve myself in many school activities, and carry out the often time-consuming work involved in being part of the Board. I have been a parent rep on the Board for the past 5 years. My role on the Board at the moment is as Board Chair, which involves liaising with the Principal, and checking that Board work is getting done. I am also a member of the Finance committee, and the Policy Review committee. Like most parents in the area, my children’s education and their opportunities to learn are one of my top priorities. I want my children to be excited about learning, and to achieve their full potential. I believe that Matakana School fosters this by providing our children with an amazing range of learning experiences, and I look forward to embracing the new ideas that unfold under the leadership of our Senior Management Team.

Karen Davies - SecretaryOriginally from California, I met my husband while traveling around Europe and after living in a variety of places, we've been in Leigh for the last 12 years. I have one daughter who is Year 8 at Mahurangi College and one daughter Kate in her last year here at Matakana School. I joined the Board of Trustees on a bi-election in 2009 then decided in 2010 to run for the three year term. I love our little school and am really passionate about giving kids as many opportunities and choices as possible, whether it be on the sporting field or in the classroom. It’s a really exciting time for our school and I’m so pleased to be part of developing the future for our kids. I look forward to working with the great team on the Board and all the wonderful staff at Matakana School over the reminder of my time on the BOT.

Craig Dawson - Treasurer
Craig moved to the Matakana region from Auckland 10 years ago following the sale of his business interests in the investment and finance industry. Craig and wife Rachel are strong believers in the principle that it takes a good community to raise a child well. Having grown up in a semi-rural environment, Craig felt that Matakana would be an ideal place to start and raise a family. They have two girls at Matakana School. The proximity of Matakana to the coast and islands of the Hauraki Gulf was also a huge attraction for Craig, given his favourite pastimes are diving and fishing. 

Graeme Smith - Property Trustee
I’m 52 years old and married to Christine Hill. I’m a registered land surveyor working for a small consultancy in Warkworth. One of our two children, Maia (9), is currently in year 5 at Matakana School. Our eldest, Logan (11), is now at Mahurangi College. We live in Matakana having moved to this area over six years ago. 
 
Christine and I have been very happy with the standard of education that our two have enjoyed at Matakana School. I've enjoyed the experience of being a Board member for the past two years; in particular my role on the Property Sub-committee. It's been personally rewarding to see the positive changes we've been able to help bring about. There's been a real vibrancy at Matakana School in recent years and it's been exciting to be in the thick of it.

Grant Clifton - Trustee

We moved into the Matakana area from Auckland in October 2011. My Wife Yvonne and I have two daughters attending Matakana School Alexa (5) is in year one and Madison (8) is in year 4. We have spent quite a few years coming to the Matakana Coast to a family Bach and love the area. Last year we decided that we would like to make the place home and purchased a small lifestyle property where Yvonne has set up a small business at home. I have worked in banking and finance for 22 years and presently sit on the board of an Auckland based property finance company and run the sales and marketing functions for the firm. We love living in Matakana for the vibe the place has, for all the recreational facilities it has close by and most importantly the great friendly people that live here. I enjoy seeing children thrive not only in education but in sporting and recreational activities as well, I believe Matakana offers a great place for this to happen. In my spare time I enjoy surfing and getting out on the water fishing. I am very passionate about rugby having played from age 5 to 19 and try to get to as many All Black games as possible! I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees of Matakana School and being able to contribute for sound running and betterment of the school.   

Rachel O'Malley - Trustee

My family and I have lived in the Matakana area for the last 3 years and have loved experiencing the change in lifestyle and priorities that we sought when deciding to move from the city.  We are all involved in outdoor activities and as a family enjoy all there is to offer from this amazing part of the country.

I have a background in Food and Marketing and have spent most of my career working in various marketing roles for food companies, ranging from small boutique manufacturers to large corporates. I currently work part time as a marketing consultant for various small businesses. Being a consultant allows me to spend more time on my main priority of parenting.

My husband Ryan and I have 3 kids; Noah (7), Ari (5) and Matai (3). We are both interested in ensuring that our children have every opportunity to develop as well rounded kids in an outdoor environment. We love Matakana school and all that it has to offer, our children are so lucky to experience being at a school that has a ‘magic’ quality. We also love the people and families that are a part of everything that happens at school and in the community. For us being involved in the school and all that is endeavouring to achieve is a privilege. 

 Claire Allen - Staff Trustee - My name is Claire Allen. I am a teacher at Matakana School and have recently taken on the role of BOT staff rep. I have been teaching since 2001. I started my career in Auckland having taught in a couple of different schools working with various age groups ranging from Year 5 through to Year 8. I moved to the Warkworth area and began teaching at Matakana School in 2007. I became the senior syndicate team leader in 2009. I really enjoy working at Matakana School and am looking forward to my new role as staff rep.   Darrel Goosen - Principal  -New Zealand became my home in the last century after spending the first part of my life in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. I have never been happier than to call New Zealand home! I taught at several outstanding schools in Auckland before coming to Matakana.

Teaching and learning are my passion and I look forward to coming to work each day to see children and teachers interacting.  To be able to lead this quality school as the Principal is just magic!

There is an old Hebrew saying that I hold very close to my heart ‘Confine not your children to your own understanding, for they were born in a different time’. That’s what makes understanding children’s learning so important to me.
 
My wife, Janet is a teacher and my son, Selkirk and daughter, Erynne are both at University. I love friends, family, fishing, tramping, reading, movies and gastronomic delights!

  To contact a member of the Board of Trustees, please email bot@matakana.school.nz or write care of the school office.  Emails will be directed to the Board Chair.  You may also leave a message at the office on 422 7309.