INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA, INC.
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Members
22 May 2008
NOMINATION / ELECTION GUIDELINES
For Associate Member Candidates
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Our By-laws have clarified the function of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and the relationship it enjoys with the Superintendent. Essentially, the responsibility of the Board is to ensure that the School remains true to its Vision, Mission and Core Beliefs, that the Corporation’s financial and accounting reporting systems are appropriately managed and audited and that the Corporation is legally secure. The Board hires (and evaluates) a Superintendent who is responsible for all day-to-day decisions in the School.
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It follows from this that we are hoping to find Trustees who understand that their work will be focused on policy and strategy as well as financial scrutiny rather than any involvement in the operations of the School. We shall certainly be looking for Trustees with a professional background in financial matters, but also for those with significant leadership experience in management, administration, education, diplomacy and law. Clearly it would be advantageous for candidates to have worked on boards before and who thus understand the role of the Trustee in big-picture thinking.
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In a bird’s eye view, our By-laws require that the Board shall consist of ten (10) Members of the Corporation, five (5) of whom shall be elected from the ranks of the Sustaining and Honorary Members and five (5) of whom shall be elected from the ranks of the Associate Members. Following our By-laws, two (2) Associate Member Trustees and one (1) Sustaining or Honorary Member shall retire by the end first year of its application (i.e. SY 2007-2008). Thus, at the 22 May 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of all Members, the Members shall elect two (2) Trustees out of the nominees from the ranks of the Associate Membership.
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All candidates must, of course, be Members of good standing in the Corporation – that is, in the case of Associate Members, be current in terms of fee payments. There are, as well, certain criteria established in the Corporation Code that could conceivably exclude candidates from standing (please refer to Section 3, Article 3 of the By-laws). Associate Member Candidates will, by their signature on this document, declare that (a) they are Members in good standing of the Corporation and (b) individuals who are not in breach of criteria established in the Corporation Code.
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Candidates from the ranks of Associate Members must submit their certificate of candidacy to the Committee on Trustees (the “Committee”) by 10 April 2008 which consist of the following:
a) Resume – with appropriate bio data and covering personal and professional background; and
(b) Letter of Intent indicating that the candidate is an Associate Member and outlining the individual’s qualities and skills that will be relevant to the ISM Board of Trustees.
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The Committee will begin interviews of candidates shortly thereafter. In this instance, because we are obliged to fill two (2) vacant seats on the Board, the Committee will then recommend, by 23 April 2008, two (2) of the candidates to the present Board of Trustees. The Board will convey this endorsement to community at large. The Committee will base this decision on the qualities and experiences of the candidates and the particular skill sets they would bring to the Board.
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Those candidates who did not receive the endorsement of the Committee may choose to withdraw from the election and should do so in writing to the Corporate Secretary on or before 30 April 2008. Candidates who did not receive the endorsement but still wish to stand for election will be included in the Final List of Candidates that will be published on 02 May 2008 to the community. To guide the community in their choice, the Committee will also send out at that time the resumes and letters of intent of all candidates, as previously submitted. This is the only campaign information that will be made publicly available.
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Candidates must undertake not to publish, or otherwise disseminate or encourage or allow others to publish on their behalf, any additional information that may encourage community members to vote in a particular way. It is not in the interest of the School – or the candidates - for there to be electioneering of any kind. It is not possible for the School to filter out anonymous text messages or e mails or blog sites, but we would hope that the community-at-large will understand that those people who engage in such activities are behaving contrary to the best interests of the School.
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From 11 April 2008 up to 18 April 2008, each candidate shall engage into a discussion with the Board’s Committee on Trustees whose task is to review and recommend candidates coming from the ranks of Sustaining or Honorary Members who meet the foregoing criteria, and whose portfolios of skills are best equipped to fill vacancies in the Board.
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On 13 May 2008, there will begin a seven (7) working day period for the early casting of votes. This replaces the proxy system and is designed to encourage maximum participation by the community. Ballot boxes will be found in the Administration Office.
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On 22 May 2008, there will be the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Members at which there will be reports from the Board and Superintendent and an opportunity for all Members who have not already cast their votes to select Trustees for the new Board. Results of the election will be announced on that same evening.
Candidate’s Agreement
I, _____________________________, have been given a copy of the Nomination / Election Guidelines for the 22 May 2008 Annual General Meeting of Members of International School Manila, Inc. consisting of two (2) pages. I understand the Election Guidelines and agree to abide and be bound by the terms thereof.
SIGNATURE OF CANDIDATE : ______________________________
DATE : ______________________________
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