The purpose of the School Board is to involve the local community in the "big picture" of school planning and to assist in setting direction for the school.
"Parents and parishioners on local Boards bring to decision-making the wisdom of parent educators to complement the skills of teacher educators and pastors" (Boards in Catholic Education, 2001).
The Board is "pastoral" – concerned with nurturing the dignity and self worth of people, building life giving relationships and the holistic educational welfare of the students. School boards within the Catholic education system do not follow a business/management model.