Isle of Man Guide

NOMINATIONS are being invited to fill the seat on the Board of Education left vacant following the resignation of Gill Kirk.

Mrs Kirk, who has been a Board member for Ramsey since December 2002, has resigned in order to take up a position at the Isle of Man College. Board Members cannot be employees of the Department.

Board constituencies are the same as those for House of Keys’ elections. However, just one member is elected to represent each constituency.

Board members’ main role at present is to sit on schools’ governing bodies and advise the Department on matters relating to policy. The present Board meets as a whole twice a year, while there are area meetings in the spring term.

Nomination papers for the Ramsey vacancy can be obtained from the Returning Officer, advocate Robert Jelski, Dickinson and Cruickshank, Masonic Buildings, Water Street, Ramsey, and must be returned to him by noon on Tuesday 7 October.

The papers must be signed by and carry the full names and addresses of the nominee, a proposer and a seconder. They may also include the names, addresses and signatures of up to 20 assentors. Proposers, seconders and assentors must be on the Ramsey electoral register.

If there is more than one eligible nomination, an election will be held on Thursday 6 November 2008.

The successful candidate’s term of office will run until 1 June 2009. The Education Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, due to be introduced into the branches of Tynwald this year, will include a proposal to replace the Board with the Education Council, a non-elected body of lay members who will continue to support the Education Minister, Members and officers.

Members of the Board of Education will be eligible for appointment to the new body.

To obtain a copy of the booklet Membership of the Board of Education, please contact Miss Carole Tourle, Executive Officer, Department of Education, on 685806.

The Department wishes to place on record its thanks to Mrs Kirk for her service to the Board.

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