Our People

Meet the Team

Board of Trustees

What does the Board of Trustees actually do?

There are many questions we, as the Board, often get asked.  One of the main ones being “What is it you actually do?” -   it seems like “the board of trustees” is shrouded in an air of mystery! We also get asked where our school funding comes from?  Why do we need to fundraise? And how are locally raised funds used?

In a nutshell, one of our main roles as a Board of Trustees is to, within a positive governance structure, support Jude and her team with the governance aspects of the school.  We leave the day to day stuff to Jude and the team, they have the right mix of character strengths and education for those roles!  We help develop and review strategic plans. Give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  We work sustainably aiming for success for our tamariki today, and those to come in the future. We know that what we focus on flourishes, as a Board we want to know that we are focusing on the right things.  We do this by providing the ‘checks and balances’ around achievement data, setting the annual budget, reviewing finances, evaluating progress against achievement targets and reviewing property reports, health and safety and making sure we’re meeting the government priorities and aligning with what makes us special! This oversight supports a safe and inclusive environment where all our children can succeed. 

Next comes funding. Let’s start with where our funding comes from. School funding is broken into the following broad areas: staffing, operational funding, property maintenance funding from the Ministry of Education and locally raised funds.

Staffing: Teachers and Principal salaries are provided by the Ministry of Education.  It is simply a calculation of numbers, the more students you have the more funding you have for teachers.

Operational funding covers pretty much everything else, from office staff, power, rates, being audited, financial services, rubbish collection, broken windows, art supplies and learning resources.  The equity index is a measure used by the Ministry of Education to target additional funding and resources.  We have an equity index of 351 which means we’re not eligible for any extra government funding. We receive a base amount for ICT, Kiwisport, risk management, support for inclusion, and vandalism, this is all on a per pupil basis, but this is not enough!   It is a balancing act and the Board is responsible for ensuring finances are managed in a sustainable way, following national educational guidelines and complying with all legislative and contractual requirements. 

Property: Every 5 years, the Ministry grants schools a lump sum to be used for property maintenance. It is then up to the school to budget the use of the funds over the 5 years.  The programme requires Ministry approval and covers all the normal repairs and maintenance that you would expect.  However, because of our local environment and the age of our buildings, we have reasonably significant repair and maintenance costs.  The Ministry property grant doesn’t take all of this into account, as such the Board carefully manages the property budget and there are always things on the wish list! 

There are 2 parts to Locally Raised Funds - voluntary contributions and community fundraising efforts, for example, quiz nights, weekly sausages, pizza lunches and the fair.  

Every year the Board prepares a detailed budget and sets a target for locally raised funds. We are grateful for the voluntary contributions from whānau and the incredible energy to support community fundraising opportunities.  

Why do we need to fundraise? And how are these funds used?

In short we don’t get what we need from the Ministry to run our school the way we want. 

The board has chosen to invest locally raised funds in more staffing.  In order to support all learners achieve success, we need staffing, because we don’t get what we need from the Ministry we need to fund this ourselves.  Directing locally raised funds into extra resourcing of teachers and Learning Assistants enables the adult: pupil ratio to be smaller and children are able to receive more individualised support, in a variety of ways, within an inclusive and diverse environment. 

Our community values the arts, kapa haka and access to a school library.  The Board has responded to this community feedback and pays for experts in teaching of music/orchestra, kapa haka and advancing our library learning and collection.  This isn’t covered by the Ministry.  The Board chooses to invest locally raised funds in these aspects of our program, focusing resources on things we value and providing a rich diverse curriculum. 

We look to invest our locally raised funds in a balanced way. Part of our fiscal responsibility means we need to have reserves in the bank, for example our boiler breaks or we needed relievers if there was an illness amongst staff. Requests to the Ministry are not actioned quickly, reserves would enable a smooth transition in the event of any unforeseen circumstances and that the school could remain operational for our tamariki. 

It is a complex and delicate balancing act, ensuring we are focusing on the right things.The Board has to take all of this into account, and the teaching team, when undertaking strategic planning, annual planning and then setting the budget for the coming year.  Ultimately, the Board is responsible for the financial sustainability and well being of the school. 

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of the role of the Board of Trustees, where our funding comes from, why we fundraise and how we choose to spend it. We celebrate our unique local environment, the history of our place and our principles.  We strive for excellence in teaching and learning through valuing the whole child, encouraging collaboration and knowledge building and inquiry to create a strong foundation. 

Also see:

• WBS Infographic Balancing Books 3.2.16

• Worser Bay School Infographic Budget Drivers 3.2.16

• Worser Bay School ERO External Evaluation Report 2018