1.1 The National Trustee Forum
A National Trustee Forum (NTF) representing the Trustees of Community and Comprehensive schools has been established and has held its inaugural meeting in August 2007.
The Forum members are:
i. Monsignor Jim Cassin representing the Episcopal Commission for Education
ii. Dr. Ken Fennelly representing the Church of Ireland Board of Education
iii. Br. Anthony Mark McDonnell representing the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools
iv. Mr. Pat O’Connor representing the Irish Vocational Education Association
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. In Comprehensive schools this Trusteeship is exercised by the local Bishop and the Minister for Education and Science and in Community Schools by Religious Order(s) and/or the local Bishop and the local Vocational Education Committee. 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 valuable 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. The Articles of Management for Comprehensive Schools were, at that time, under review by the DES. This review is now complete and the guidelines will require appropriate revision to incorporate the Trusteeship of Comprehensive 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 Science on their behalf. This forum has now been established and has held its inaugural meeting in ACCS Head Office. Its members are 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. Monsignor Cassin has undertaken the role of Chairman of the forum for the coming year.
The initial tasks of the forum will include:
· The establishment of terms of reference and a modus operandi for the forum
· To define its relationship with ACCS
· The establishment of a database of Trustee interests in Community and Comprehensive schools
· The facilitation of a national meeting or Conference of Trustees from Community and Comprehensive schools
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.
Last updated February 2011