Board of Trustees Meetings and Minutes
The Westland High School Board of Trustees meet 10 times a year, the meeting schedule can be found on the Westland High School website. Agenda for meetings can be requested from the school office, agenda will also be made available for attendees at the meeting. In respect of meetings of the board of trustees or committees of the board, members of the public are:
- entitled to know in advance when and where meetings are to be held
- entitled to copies of the agenda in advance of the meeting (this includes copies of all written reports and other documents that are relevant to matters to be discussed in open meeting)
- entitled to attend the meeting to watch and listen
- entitled to take notes
- not entitled to take part in the meeting by word or action (the board can resolve to grant a member of the public speaking rights)
- required to leave the meeting if the chairperson believes, on reasonable grounds, that the member of the public’s behaviour is likely to prejudice the orderly conduct of the meeting
- likely to be removed by a constable at the request of the chair if they are disruptive and do not comply with the chair’s instructions when an effort is being made to maintain order in the meeting room
- not entitled to communicate with trustees during the meeting unless the trustee leaves the meeting (and preferably the room to cause the minimum disruption to the meeting)
required to leave the meeting room when the meeting goes “in committee”; and - entitled to return to the room when the meeting comes “out of committee”
15.1 Public Attending Board Meetings Policy
The Board of Trustees welcomes public presence at board meetings and hopes that members of the public enjoy their time observing board meetings.
In order that members of the public understand the rules that apply to when attending board meetings these procedures will be provided and followed unless otherwise authorised by the board.
- Board meetings are not public meetings but meetings held in public.
- If the meeting moves to exclude the public (usually this is to protect the privacy of individuals) then you will be asked to leave the meeting until this aspect of business has been concluded.
- Members of the public may request speaking rights on a particular subject that is on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Preferably this request has been made in advance. Public participation is at the discretion of the board.
- Speakers shall be restricted to a maximum of 3 minutes each per subject, with a time limit of fifteen minutes per interest group.
- No more than three speakers on any one topic.
- Speakers are not to question the board and must speak to the topic.
- Board members will not address questions or statements to speakers or members of the public gallery.
- Speakers shall not be disrespectful, offensive, or make malicious statements or claims.
- If the chair believes that any of these have occurred or the speaker has gone over time they will be asked to finish.
Please note: Members of the public include staff, students and parents of the school who are not trustees on the board.
2024 Agenda