Ceara, like all special schools, has nine governors.  Governors are appointed/elected for a period of four years.  Our current board of governors was reconstituted in February 2019. Governors are unpaid and act in a voluntary capacity in accordance with the principles of public appointments.

The Department for Education (DE) appoints three governors, while the Education Authority-Southern Region (EASR) appoints two governors.  Two governors are elected from the parents of children attending the school and one teacher governor is elected from within the teaching staff.  

Governors meet as a body at least once each term with the appointments sub committee (five governors) meeting as required.

Each year, the principal produces, on behalf of Governors, a Report for the previous school year.  The report covers staffing, the school curriculum, school links, school funding, child protection, school policies and pastoral care.  Copies of these reports may be had from the Web Site.  In addition, copies are kept in the entrance foyer.  

The Governor's report supplements the monthly 'School Newsheet' which is published in the 'Newsletters' section of our web site and is full of school information.  Hard copies are also available in the General Office.

The school  acting principal is the secretary to the Board of Governors.   However,  as she was neither elected or appointed by DE or the EASR, she has no vote in any discussions or appointments. 

All Governors are trained in Child Protection matters.  Governers may avail of training in recruitment, health and safety as provided by the EASR.

Two records are kept of all governor meetings; one is kept in school, the other is sent to the EASR.

Our current governors, appointed in February 2019 are:

Mr Joe Nelson (Chair of Governors)

EASR Representative

Mrs Diane McClelland (Vice Chair)

EASR Representative

Mr Dan Corr 

EASR Representative 

Mrs Ruth Sears

DE Representative

TBC

DE Representative 

Ms Eileen McCabe

Parents' Representative

Dr Eimear Thompson

Parents' Representative

Mrs Heidi Clarke

Teacher Representative

Dr Peter Cunningham (Mrs Pam Evans-Acting Principal) 

Secretary to the Board of Governors (non-voting)

Establishment of sub committees

Appointments sub committee

Mr Joe Nelson

Mrs Diane McClelland

Ms Eileen McCabe

Heidi Clarke [reserve]

Policy sub committee

Mrs Ruth Seers

Mrs Diane McClelland

Mr Joe Nelson

Complaints sub committee

Mr Joe Nelson

Mr Dan Corr

Ms Eileen McCabe

Disciplinary sub committee

Mr Dan Corr

Mrs Ruth Seers

Mrs Eileen McCabe

Appeals sub committee

Mrs Diane McClelland

Mrs Eimear Sheehan

Mrs Ruth Seers

Finance sub committee

Mr Dan Corr

Mr Joe Nelson

Mrs Heidi Clarke

Inspection of Building sub committee

All governors

Governor with responsibility for

Child protection

   Mrs Eimear Sheehan

   Ms Eileen McCabe (deputy)

Staff absence Health and well-being including managing attendance

 Mr Joe Nelson

2 PRSD Principal reviewers

Mr Joe Nelson

Ms Eileen McCabe

Employment Termination Committee

Mr Joe Nelson

Mrs Ruth Seers

Mr Dan Corr

Appeals for Employment Termination Committee

As required

Governors may be contacted at any time through the secretary to Governors (Mrs Pam Evans ) 02838323312 or through the Education Authority Governor Section (Mrs Lorraine Livingstone) 02837512200.