Mount Maunganui resident Stuart Taylor has been a school board of trustee member for the past 12 years and is encouraging others to think about joining a board.

He began his first stint at Titirangi Primary School in Auckland in 2004, spent three years on the board of Mount Maunganui Intermediate, and has been on the board of Mount Maunganui College since 2010.

"The Board of Trustees is a successful model in keeping community connected with the school."

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Nominations for the Board of Trustee elections, which are held every three years, open today and Mr Taylor has already decided to stand again.

"I just think it's a really valuable community contribution."

All of New Zealand's state and state-integrated schools have a board of trustees. The board of trustees is responsible for the governance and the management of the school.

Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance and administration.

Mr Taylor encouraged others to consider getting involved.

"They might think, what do I have to offer? But if they're even thinking about it it automatically means you've got something to offer," Mr Taylor said.

Papamoa College principal Steve Lindsey said the board added a "really important dimension" to the school, and set the overall strategic direction of the school.

Fourteen years ago, Rebecca Wichmann was co-opted on to Te Puke Primary School's board of trustees, and was then elected to one of the parent positions.

Rebecca Wichmann. Photo/file
Rebecca Wichmann. Photo/file

She sat on Te Puke Intermediate and Te Puke High School boards as chair and deputy chair respectively.

She said balancing her workload was challenging.

"At one point I was on three separate school boards, two of which I was chair of, as well as being a mum of two daughters who had lots of extra-curricular activities."

Ms Wichmann said her experience on boards helped her have a deeper understanding of the importance of schools working together for positive transitions between them.

"It's rewarding to know that the decisions we make on the board positively affect the students," she said.

Ms Wichmann is to stand this year for Te Puke Intermediate and Te Puke High School.

2016 Triennial Trustee Election dates:

* Call for nominations open today

* Nominations close at noon on May 20

* Polls close at noon on June 3

* Results declared on June 9