Board of Management

Current Members of the Board of Managment

• Jonathan Saint (Chairperson, Community Nominee) 

• Gillian Maxwell (Treasurer)

• Anthea Seager (Nominee of the Patron)

• John Appleby (Nominee of the Patron)

• David O'Sullivan (Principal)

•  Emma Baskin (Teacher Nominee)

• Sinéad O'Brien  (Parent Nominee)

• Gregor Toohey (Parent Nominee)

Boards of Management are appointed for a four year term.  The current term commenced in November 2023.

Role of the Board of Management

 The Board manages the school.  Among other things:

• It has responsibility for drawing up the school plan and for ensuring that it is implemented.

• It appoints the principal, the teachers and other staff.

• It must ensure that the school fulfils its functions as set out in the Education Act 1998.

• It must promote contact between the school, the parents and the community and must facilitate and give all reasonable help to the Parent Teachers Association and its activities.

• It has overall responsibility for the school's finances.  It must keep proper accounts, which may be audited by the Department of Education.  Its annual accounts must be available to the patron and the school community.

• The Board is appointed by the Patron with the exception of the Parents Nominees. They are nominated and voted for by the Parents once every four years.

Board members are not delegates of their electorates.  They may bring matters to the attention of the Board on behalf of their electorates, but they have no obligation to either report back to their electors or to take instruction from them on how to vote at Board meetings. There is a separate and specific procedure for complaints, as detailed separately in the Parents’ Handbook.

Individual members of the Board are required to keep confidential the matters discussed at meetings unless otherwise agreed by the Board. 

In a true spirit of partnership the Board endeavours to communicate as openly and inclusively as possible.  This is usually through the conduit of the Parent Teacher Association with whom it works closely.

Meetings of the Board of Management

The Board usually meets every 6-8 weeks, and more frequently when matters require.   For example, where deadlines have to be met in relation to a project funded by the Department of Education then it may be necessary to meet frequently and briefly to agree and approve steps.

Meetings are usually on mid-week evenings, and the duration is approximately 1½ to 2 hours.

Since Board Members are actively involved in the management and decisions of the school, this often necessitates additional time and effort outside of the meetings themselves in order to assist with tasks, help maintain school facilities, obtain information for the board for various projects, and other similar activities.  

The Patron 

The Patron has ultimate responsibility for the school.  In the case of Lindsay Road National School, this is made up of representatives of the Presbyterian churches which established the school and is called the 'School Committee'. The Education Act 1998 sets out the duty of the Patron to appoint a Board of Management.  The board has a duty to consult with the patron in regard to procedures and must follow the directions of the patron when appropriate.