ICS Board of Governors 

The International Community School is an Association. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School, and on professional members of the staff. Every year the school has two Association General Meetings (AGMs).

 ICS Addis is governed by a nine-member Board of Governors. Eight are elected for two-year terms by the International Community School Association, the sponsor of the School. The US Ambassador also appoints one member. Elections for Board members are held each year at an AGM in April. Nominations to the Board are restricted to members of the Association; however, ICS employees or their spouses are not eligible for nomination. The Board’s annual cycle runs from 1 July to 30 June, allowing new board members’ training between the election and the actual start of responsibilities.

Like previous Boards, this year’s members also reflect the school community at large. Board members have children at the school in the different sections, come from several different nationalities and continents, and have a mixture of professional backgrounds. Many Board members have been involved with other international schools before coming to Ethiopia, including being students of international schools.

The Board of Governors operates within a Policy Governance model based on the work of John Carver. The School Director is its sole employee and must work toward End’s and within the Executive Limitations as set out in the policy manual. The Board tries to focus on the future well-being of the school and its programs, and leave daily management to the Director and his staff. Parents who have concerns are always encouraged to speak to a teacher, a principal or the Director before coming to the Board.

The Board meets monthly, and when necessary, in special committee and executive meetings. All members of the Association are welcome to attend all Board meetings, except the Executive sessions that are typically held after the open sessions. Board meetings are essentially “private meetings, held in public.” Association members are given the opportunity to speak or ask questions at the beginning of our Board meetings. Board meetings are announced in the School’s newsletter. Minutes of the open session Board meetings will be available in hard copy from the Director’s office and in electronic copy on the intranet accessible only on campus.