The role of the presiding member
Every school board must always have someone appointed to preside over its meetings.
This role used to be called “board chair” but is now “presiding member” – a change made official in the Education and Training Act 2020.
Principals, staff representatives, and student representatives cannot be presiding members.
Regulation 11 of the Education (School Boards) Regulations 2020open_in_new covers the role of the presiding member, but we’re unpacking it in this article.
What does a presiding member do?
A presiding member’s role is to ensure that the board is effectively led.
They preside over board meetings, ensuring each member has a fair opportunity to be heard and understood, and that decisions are made in the best interest of the school, its students, and staff.
To achieve this, boards need to delegate key responsibilities to presiding members, such as:
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Working with the principal to set meeting agendas
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Leading their board to work as a team and ensuring that the work of the board is done
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Developing an effective and professional working relationship with the principal
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Inducting new board members
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Promoting clear communication between the board and the wider community
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Speaking for the board in public and/or to the media.
What authority does the presiding member have?
Everyone on the board has ōritetanga – equal standing, voice, vote, and accountability. The presiding member does not have more authority than anyone else unless the board has explicitly delegated it.
It’s essential that your board is clear about what the presiding member can and cannot do. These delegations should be agreed upon collectively, documented in board policy, and recorded in your delegations register for transparency and easy review.
The only additional power the presiding member has by default is a casting vote. This can be used to break the tie on an issue with equal votes on each side. However, the casting vote is generally expected to maintain the status quo, rather than push through change without majority support.
Why is a role description important?
A role description is a great way to document the responsibilities of a role.
It is especially useful for new presiding members, so they know what is expected of them.
It also makes it clear to the board, presiding member, principal, staff, and the community.
We recommend reviewing your role description for the presiding memberopen_in_new at the beginning of each year, making sure that all board members understand the role and any delegations.
As this role carries the mana or reputation of your school, it’s important that the role description guides your presiding member to uphold your school’s values and tikanga in everything they do.
What skills or qualities should a presiding member have?
Your board must appoint the right person to the role of presiding member. They play a crucial role in supporting the success of your board.
When considering potential candidates, here are some things you can look for:
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The ability to lead strategically and think critically
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The capacity to commit adequate time to the role
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Experience in public speaking is a bonus.
To ensure your board makes decisions in the best interest of all students and staff, it’s also important that the presiding member encourages diversity of thought.
They need to recognise that their own views are just one perspective and be mindful of how their opinions or bias might impact the way they lead.
Their role is to encourage every board member to share their viewpoint, not to persuade board members of theirs.
Strong people skills make all the difference.
A great presiding member:
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Creates a safe space
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Listens thoughtfully
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Asks questions that help others explore ideas more deeply
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Works well with a range of personalities around the table.
Reflection is another key part of the role.
Building in opportunities for feedback and evaluation helps your board improve, and it ensures that board members who may be in the minority (whether that’s by gender representation, ethnicity, knowledge area, or experience) have a voice.
What does a good working relationship with the principal look like?
A positive, productive working relationship between the principal and the presiding member is vital.
Their relationship should be based on trust, integrity, and mutual respect.
They act as a sounding board for each other and must work together to benefit the school’s students and staff.
Each party should be clear about their roles, responsibilities, and expectations in this relationship.
We recommend having discussions about how the principal and presiding member will work together.
It’s important to remember that the principal is the board’s employee.
The relationship between the presiding member and the principal is key to ensuring that the principal is supported to succeed in their role.
Read our article on board and principal employment relationship to learn more.
Questions your board could ask
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Do we understand the role of our presiding member?
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Does our presiding member understand their role?
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Do our presiding member and principal have a good working relationship?
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Do we have a presiding member role description?
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Do we evaluate the performance of our presiding member throughout the year and provide feedback?
Templates, resources, and references
Click on the link(s) below to access this topic’s templates, resources, and references.
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Links from us
- Appointing a presiding member
- Board and principal employment relationship
- Presiding Member Role Descriptionopen_in_new
Education (School Boards) Regulations 2020