Our school is a not-for-profit organisation. This means that the school sets its fees and its budget to cover the coast of the education we offer, but it does not generate a profit for the use of any individual or group. Surpluses are fed back into the school.

The Association of Nanjing International School
The NIS Board
How to Become a Board Member
The Composition of the NIS Board

The Association of Nanjing International School

Parents and Board members are members of the Association of Nanjing International School. The Association elects a school board, and those elected serve a term of two years on the board. Board members do not draw a dividend, nor are they paid a salary or any other form of compensation, for the work they do. They are volunteers.

Each year, the Association of NIS holds an Annual Meeting, at which the accounts for the past twelve months, and the budget for the coming year, are presented. Board members and the NIS Director attend this meeting, and are able to answer any questions the members at the meeting may have. Before this meeting takes place, the annual audit (carried out by a qualified and independent auditing company) are made available for inspection by any member of the Association.

The NIS Board

The NIS Board comprises nine elected members, who are able to vote, and the non-voting Director and Staff Representative. The Board meets each month.

At Board meetings, the financial position of the school is explained by the Director and the Finance Committee, the committees of the Board report on their activities and make policy recommendations, and there is the opportunity for individuals to raise policy issues. The Board has four committees: Finance, Education, Governance, and Personnel. Al Board members must serve on a committee. Committees also meet each month.

As well as choosing the Chairs of committees, the board selects three of its members to act as Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer. The Treasurer is in charge of the Finance Committee.

The Board is responsible for policy decisions, and for strategic planning decisions. Within that strategic plan, and within the body of policy, the NIS Director is the Executive Officer of the Board, and is responsible for the daily operation of the school. The Board and its committees do not run the school. They observe the running of the school, and provide transparency for the Association (the parents) about how it is being run. The Board hires and fires the Director. The Director hires and fires the staff.

How to Become a Board Member

Any member of the Association may stand for election to the school board. Interested candidates should simply write to the Board Chair, or to the Chair of the Governance Committee, to indicate an interest in joining the board. Board meetings are open to any member of the Association who would like to observe a Board meeting. Board meeting minutes are published in the weekly Bulletin to parents.

The Composition of the NIS Board

The board is proactive in seeking a balance of different nationalities, interests and professional backgrounds, to ensure broad coverage of the areas of the school’s operation. Because of the voluntary nature of Board work, it is not always possible to have a perfect balance, particularly regarding nationality. The Board welcomes approaches from any individuals who want to help with NIS Board work. The working language is English, so reasonable levels of proficiency are necessary, in order to be able to participate effectively.


Gez Hayden