Navigating their first 10 months: A message from the board
As I settle further into my first year at Kaipara College, I thought it was a good moment to ask our School Board members about their experience over the last ten months: what has stood out, what they’ve prioritised, and what they’re looking forward to.
Here’s what they had to say. For board member Christine, the biggest shift has been understanding the difference between governance and management, and everything that comes with it: the responsibilities, the accountability, the legislation. “It’s been a journey with a very sharp learning curve, that hasn’t stopped and will continue into the future,” she says. What has stood out most for her, though, is the people. “It’s been wonderful meeting the other board members with the common goal of wanting the best for our students and our community. There’s amazing talent, skills, enthusiasm and energy around the table.”
By far the biggest task facing the new board was one it had to tackle almost immediately: appointing a new principal. As board member Tom puts it, “the most important decision a school board has to make, by far, is the appointment of a new school principal,” and the board faced that exact challenge within weeks of being formed. After a thorough recruitment process, I was appointed, coming across from Waitakere College, and started in time for the beginning of the new school year. I’m grateful for how welcoming the board, staff and community have been as I’ve settled in, and for the trust they’ve shown me. That recruitment process also gave the board an early and valuable window into the community’s hopes for the college. As Tom says, “the board was able to use the community consultation performed around the principal appointment as a real accelerator.” Feedback from parents, students and the wider community helped the board understand what people wanted to see, and where the opportunities for improvement lay.
With a principal now in place, our attention has shifted toward attendance and academic performance, and to getting a clearer picture of the school’s finances, policy and governance. That groundwork is now feeding into a five-year Strategic Plan, which the board and I are developing closely together. It will draw on the community consultation already carried out, alongside further input from students, teachers and whanau, and will set out our priorities and the actions we’ll take to reach our goal: making Kaipara College the school of choice for families in the area once again.
Looking ahead, board members are looking forward to steadier waters and to being present for the moments that make up college life. Christine reflects that the road may not always be smooth, “there are bound to be rough seas and tough times,” but at the heart of it, the board is simply made up of parents trying to do their best for our students and community.
Tom looks forward to seeing the board out and about supporting students beyond the boardroom, from the Powhiri and prize-givings to the sidelines of rugby and football, the netball and basketball courts, exhibitions, drama performances, Waka Ama, and cheering on the bands at Smokefree Rockquest. Fellow board member James was quick to add one more to the list: “don’t forget the surf team!” James says Tom’s reflections sum things up well, and that what has stood out most for him has simply been the challenges and learning that come with being on the board, and getting to know the people on it, in the school, and across the community. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with a board so committed to our students and our community, and to sharing more as our Strategic Plan takes shape. Facebook: facebook.com/KaiparaCollegeHelensville Instagram:
