Board Chair (Presiding Member)
Le-arna Russ (board_chair@sps.kiwi.nz)
Parent Elected Members
Fiona Jansma, Le-arna Russ, David Chadwick, Kate Fairhurst and Jason Bolton.
Parent Co-opted Members
Fiona Riddick (13 October 2025)
Staff Rep
Deborah Campbell
Principal
Jason Elder
Board Members and Board Sub Committees
Board Minutes 2025
10 February 2025; 7 April 2025; 26 May 2025; 23 June 2025; 21 July 2025; 15 September 2025; 13 October 2025, 18 November 2025 (Yet to be approved).
Work of the Board
“The Board is entrusted to work on behalf of all stakeholders and is accountable for the school’s performance. It emphasises strategic leadership, sets the vision for the school, and ensures that it complies with legal and policy requirements. Policies are at a governance level and outline clear delegations to the Principal.
The Board and Principal form the leadership team, with the role of each documented and understood. The Principal reports to the Board as a whole with committees used sparingly and only when a need is identified in order to contribute to Board work. The Board is proactive rather than reactive in its operations and decision making and does not involve itself in the administrative details of the day-to-day running of the school. The Board is encouraged to ask the right questions. Enhancing student achievement is its focus”.
All of New Zealand’s state and state-integrated schools have a Board. The Board is the Crown entity responsible for the governance and the control of the management of the school. The Board is the employer of all staff in the school, is responsible for setting the school’s strategic direction in consultation with whānau, staff and students, and ensuring that its school provides a safe environment and quality education for all its students. Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance and administration. To find out more about becoming a Board of Trustee Representative for Stratford Primary School, click on the following link: https://www.trustee-election.co.nz/
Board of Trustees
Mrs Le-arna Russ: Presiding Member
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Kia ora koutou, My name is Le-arna Russ, and I am standing for re-election to the Stratford Primary School Board. I have proudly served on the Board for nearly five years, including the past…
Mrs Fiona Jansma
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Tēnā koutou I joined the Board in 2020 when a position was made vacant. My journey with the Board started a long time before this. I moved to Stratford in 2006 with my…
Mrs Fiona Riddick (Co-opted)
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Kia ora, My name is Fiona Riddick and I am a Chartered Accountant working at CMK Accountants here in Stratford. I am originally from Ireland and made the move to Stratford—my husband’s hometown—in 2007….
Mr David Chadwick
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Tēnā tātou kātoa, Ko David Chadwick tōku ingoa or better known as “Chaddy”. I am looking to stand on the Stratford Primary School Board and serve the Stratford Primary School whānau. With prior experience…
Mrs Kate Fairhurst
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Kia ora koutou, My name is Kate Fairhurst and I am standing as a candidate for the Board of Stratford Primary School. As a member of this school community and a passionate advocate for…
Mr Jason Bolton
Why did I stand for the Stratford Primary School Board Kia ora, I’m standing for re-election to the Stratford Primary School Board after proudly serving over the last 4 months. During this time, I have focused on supporting our Principal and staff particularly in…
Mrs Deborah Campbell
Staff Representative
Mr Jason Elder
Principal