Understanding governance issues for school councils

By Joanna Andrew, Corporate governance lawyer and Partner at Mellor Olsson.

So, your kids are back to school, holidays are done and you are looking for something to fill the gaping empty hole.

Scrawling through the mass of emails on different platforms from the school, one pops out and grabs your attention: “We need parents to volunteer their time on the school governing council!!”

Seems simple and easy enough. You’ve attended school, right? Had a few sessions in the canteen and tried to exercise patience at listening to other people’s kids read and realised why you are not a member of the teaching profession? You’ve got this. 

Before you embark on your corporate board career on the school’s governing council, there are some tips and trips to look out for:

• Identify your skill set that will benefit the council and seek external advice when it comes to financial or legal issues. Just because you are not a lawyer or accountant (and well done to you for that career decision) does not mean that you cannot be an effective council member. Asking questions, listening and learning is part of being a valued member. Knowing when to reach out and get external advice is key. Remember there is no such thing as a dumb question.
   
• Identify the risk factors facing your school community and support the executive staff to establish a compliance program. Areas such as child protection, work health safety, financial reporting and insurances are areas of risk and need internal and external policies and procedures in place. These policies and procedures are part of the overall due diligence culture of compliance to minimise risk and are the best way to protect yourself. Generally the school’s insurance policy covers the governing council but this may not be the case all the time. Checking the contents of the policy to ensure the council has protection is good due diligence before you accept a role. 
   
• Understand the word governance in “governing council” and what that means. Governance is the act or process of overseeing an organisation to ensure accountability and compliance. The governing council is a custodian to look after and support management in their operations and guide the strategy. It is not management nor is it to be involved in the day to day operations of running the school as a general rule. 
   
• If something doesn’t look or feel right it probably isn’t. Voice all your concerns. Remember the standard you walk past is the standard you accept. 
   
• Understand what a conflict of interest is. Obviously, your child benefits from the services provided by the school. Remember to always put your council “hat” on when making decisions at council level and not your parent “hat”. That also means when discussing the contentious issue of raising school fees!! 
   
• The level of tolerance we are expected to demonstrate when wrangling our kids is the same as when we have to deal with an individual who means well but does not understand their role and obligations whilst sitting on the council. The art of diplomacy goes along way. Whilst I am not talking UN levels, but being able to listen and gently guide the discussion to remain in keeping with the agenda, pointing out the difference between governing and operating and having the strategy at the forefront of your mind, will have those around thanking you for your commonsense approach. 
   
• Governing councils can be a great beginning point if you have an aspiration to ultimately serve on a board on day. Eventually some training may be a good idea and there are a variety of different training options for you to consider if this is the path you would like to explore. 

Being a member of your school’s governing council can be a valuable and fulfilling way to be a part of your school’s community. It holds a high level of responsibility and accountability. Done well, it can enhance the school, its reputation and levels of success not to mention friendships you make along the way.