NAME
Synod shall appoint for the management and control of all Secondary Schools established under its jurisdiction, a Board of Management which shall be known as The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education.
DUTIES
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Educa¬tion shall be directly accountable to Synod for all matters pertaining to the welfare/maintenance, and development of Secondary Education of the Schools under its jurisdiction.
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education shall advise its Principals on matters affecting the estab¬lishment and maintenance of highest possible standards in the efficient management of the Secondary Schools under its jurisdiction.
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education shall exercise such powers and perform such duties with regard to the control and management of assisted Second¬ary Schools by the Education Act/Ordinance and the regulations made under the Act/Ordinance, including the twenty percent (20%) intake as a result of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Examination, or by any other method used to govern the intake of pupils into Secondary schools under the jurisdiction of Synod. The Principal (if unable to attend) or the Vice Principal, together with two members appointed by the Board, shall select such pupils for these schools, based upon applications received by each School through Sessions.
The Board shall make recommendations to Synodical Council for its approval with respect to the appointment, transfer, discipline, suspension, dismissal, resignation and retirement of Principals and Vice Principals of Assisted Secondary Schools. Such recommendations, if approved by Synodical Council, shall be referred to the Board for necessary action. For this purpose all Principals and Vice Principals must be Presbyterians in good standing, i.e. active communicant members for at least fifteen consecutive years.
If, in the event that a recommendation is not yet approved by the Teaching Service Commission because of any irregularity, then the Synodical Council, through the Board, has the right to recall the recommendation and review its decision.
All other appointments with respect to other staff in Secondary Schools shall be recommended to the Teach¬ing Service Commission by the Board. In all such cases, all things being equal, qualified Presbyterians in good standing shall be preferred.
Sessions shall submit reports on a candidate's church activities, church support, moral and spiritual standing etc.; an appropriate questionnaire will be pre¬pared and supplied by the Board of Education for Secondary Schools.
MEMBERSHIP
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education shall comprise one representative from each Pastoral Region either Lay or Ministerial, elected from among the members of the Session by secret ballot, and there shall be two Principals elected by the Synod on a rotation basis for one term, two (2) years.
Each Session of a Region shall elect an alternate to its representative from the membership of the Session. Alternates may attend meetings and, in the absence of the permanent representatives, will then have the status of full membership for that meeting only.
Sessions shall have the power to recall either their permanent representative, or alternate, at a duly consti¬tuted meeting of the Session on a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting. Mem¬bers of the Sessions shall be informed at a previous meeting of a notice of motion for such a recall. This shall be circulated at least two (2) weeks in advance and included on the Agenda of the meeting in which the decision is to be taken.
ELECTIONS
The Moderator shall convene and preside at the first meeting of the Board to conduct the election of Officers.
OFFICERS
The Board, at its first meeting under the convenorship of the Moderator, who shall also conduct the elections, shall elect the following Officers:
- Chairperson
- Deputy Chairperson
- General Secretary
- Recording Secretary
- Treasurer
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
- The Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Board and shall have a casting vote only.
- The Deputy Chairperson shall be a regular member of the Board, but shall carry out the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence and shall have the powers of the Chairperson for that meeting only.
- The General Secretary shall see that all decisions of the Board are carried out promptly, to follow up on all ap¬pointments, promotions, transfers and all matters decided upon by the Board.
- The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all matters discussed or agreed to at all meetings of the Board in a bound book and ensure that a summary of the business of meetings is submitted to the General Secretary for circulation to members of the Board.
- The Treasurer shall keep a proper account of all monies collected and disbursed by the Board. He/she shall be the Financial Officer of the Board and shall be accountable to the Board and/or Synod, on financial matters. He/she shall submit audited Financial Statements as prescribed by this Constitution and the Constitution of the Church.
QUORUM
One-third (1/3) of the membership of the Board shall form a quorum.
MEETINGS
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education shall meet at the Headquarters of the Board on the first Saturday of every month (Statutory Meeting) and on such other occasions as may be necessary for the transactions of the business of the Board.
HEADQUARTERS
The Headquarters shall be at an Office designated by Synod.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
Every Secondary School shall have an Administrative Committee. This Committee shall not be a Standing Committee of Synod.
DUTIES
The Administrative Committee shall be a sub-committee of the Board and shall be responsible for the maintenance of the property of the school and the development of the facilities attached thereto.
ELECTIONS
The Principal shall convene the first meeting of the Administrative Committee within fourteen (14) days after he/she is presented with the list of members. He/she shall preside over this meeting and conduct the election of Officers.
MEMBERSHIP
Every Administrative Committee shall comprise seven (7) members, as follows:
- The Principal - Ex Officio
- The Vice Principal - Ex Officio
- Four (4) members appointed by Synod from among its membership
- Three (3) members of Presbytery appointed by the Presbytery from among its membership.
TERM OF OFFICE
With the exception of the Principal and Vice Principal, members shall be appointed for a two year term and shall be eligible for re-election at the end of the term, but these members shall not serve for more than four consecutive years.
OFFICERS
At its first meeting the Administrative Committee shall elect a Chairperson and Treasurer who shall be members of the Presbyterian Church in good standing. The Princi¬pal shall be the Secretary of the Committee and the Vice Principal shall be the Recording Secretary.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The Administrative Committee shall not undertake any projects in excess of $25,000.00 without the prior ap¬proval of the Board - save and except for salaries to staff and approved projects.
The Administrative Committee shall present to the Pres¬byterian Secondary Schools Board of Education, before the end of February of each year, a report on its work for the preceding year, together with a Financial Report.
SIGNING OFFICERS
All vouchers, cheques, etc., shall be signed by the Prin¬cipal and Vice Principal and, failing either, a person ap¬pointed by the Administrative Committee for this pur¬pose at the first meeting of the Administrative Committee.
MEETINGS
The Administrative Committee shall meet at least once every term on a date to be fixed by its members. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson and Secretary or on the request of three members.
Such requests shall be in writing to the Chairperson and /or Secretary, stating the specific nature of the business to be discussed. The nature of the business shall be circulated to members and this shall be the only business discussed at the meeting.
About PSSBOE
The Presbyterian Secondary Schools’ Board of Education is entrusted with the management of the five established Secondary schools. The Board upholds the outlined mission of the PCTT within the Presbyterian Secondary School system and applauds the prodigious efforts of all stakeholders in the extraordinary standard of education and achievement delivered and attained respectively at our institutions.
How to become a Presbyterian Secondary School teacher?
- Applicant must be assessed by the Ministry of Education as a: Teacher 111 or TVT 1V
- Applicant must be successfully interviewed by the Teaching Service Commission
- Send Application Form to the office of the PSSBOE. (Forms available on website)
- Attach cover letter and copies of all qualification plus (a) + (b) + (c)
- Participate in an interview arranged by the PSSBOE
- Presbyterian candidates must have a completed the relevant form as prescribed on the PSSBOE’s website or by the Clerk of Session for the particular Pastoral Region
Board Members' Region
| PASTORAL REGION | REPRESENTATIVE |
| Curepe/St. Joseph | Mr. Peter Gazee |
| Aramalaya | Ms. Rookia Nurse |
| Arima | Mr. Oswain Subero |
| Sangre Chiquito | Mr. Sheldon Ramoutar |
| Chaguanas | Mrs. Dianne P-Ramjattan |
| Chase Village | Mr. Gary Samai |
| Couva/Balmain | Mr. Vedesh Loutan |
| Claxton Bay | Mr. Christian Dookhoo |
| Susamachar | Ms. Sita Dass |
| Marabella/Bonne | Mr. Sigmund Bissoon |
| La Romaine/Debe | Mr. Ronald Mootoo |
| Penal | Mr. Roy Umraw |
| Siparia | Mr. Mikhail Naipaul |
| Point Fortin/Cedros | Mr. Robert Seerattan |
| Diamond | Mr. Joel Bajnath (Alt.) |
| Princes Town | Ms. Gina Ragbir |
| Tableland | Mr. Harry Partap |
| Riversdale | Ms. Asha Ramoutar |
| Tabaquite | Mr. Stephen Mahabir |
| Synod Reps. | Rev. Satnarine Ramnath & Mr. Ranjit Boodoo |
| Moderator of Synod | Rt. Rev. Annabell Lalla-Ramkelawan |
| General Secretary of Synod | Mr. Aphzal S. Ackbarali |
| General Treasurer of Synod | Mr. Curtis Seepersad |