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Blended (Elected and Appointed) Board: Information and Background

In March 2024, after extensive community engagement and feedback, the school board asked all SAS members to vote on whether the school's Articles of Association should be amended to change the board from an all-elected body of current parents to a "blended" elected and appointed board that may include current parents, past parents, and SAS alumni. Voting took place from March 15 to March 18, 2024, and with eighty percent of voters casting ballots in favor of the proposed changes, the special resolution passed. The result was confirmed and accepted at the board’s Extraordinary General Meeting on March 18, 2024. 

The board expressed sincere appreciation to the community for its participation, noting both the number of community members who cast ballots and the high level of support revealed by the referendum. The board is excited to commence the transition plan developed by its nominations and governance committee, which is designed to shift the board to its new format with minimal disruption over several years. More information about this can be found below.

How Does the Board Appointment Process Work?

Using the already formulated, robust and documented ad hoc appointment process as a guide, the board’s nominations and governance committee created a regular board appointment process document detailing how such appointments will occur.

Key elements during each appointment cycle will include the following:

  • Qualifications, skills, and other attributes being sought by the board will be shared with the community
  • The community will be invited via eNews to nominate qualified candidates
  • After attending an information session, interested candidates will submit a Statement of Interest
  • The NGC, which is composed of both board members and non-board community members, will complete defined steps to create a shortlist of candidates who best match the desired qualifications
  • The board will meet to select candidates from the shortlist to fill vacancies
  • In accordance with the SAS Articles of Association and Bylaws, the board’s decisions shall be decided by a majority of votes

Expected Benefits Of The Changes

There are five main ways in which we believe these changes will be beneficial to our school: 

  • Continuity: We believe these improvements will ensure greater board stability and continuity over time, which can help us sustain excellence over the long term. 

  • Expertise: By introducing the opportunity to appoint board members, we are able to target specific areas of expertise the school needs at certain times. For example, it would be helpful to have someone with expertise in architecture or construction while major renovation projects are ongoing. 

  • Perspectives: The proposal aims to broaden the perspectives represented on the board by allowing SAS alumni and former SAS parents to serve on the board. 

  • Efficiency: Moving to elections every other year (after the transition period) will simplify the logistics and burden of the current annual election cycle. 

  • Best Practice: These improvements will help align Singapore American School with best practices across independent and international schools around the world, where all-elected boards are increasingly rare.

Explanation of the Blended Board Transition Plan

The nominations and governance committee has created a schedule for the transition that will avoid “shocks to the system” while moving steadily to the new board format. Changes will begin in the spring of 2025, with one seat becoming an appointed seat, followed by two more years when both appointments and elections will occur. In the spring of 2027, the board will reach will reach the desired balance of eight elected members and four appointed members. By the spring of 2030, the “new normal” cycle of elections for four seats every two years and appointments to two seats every (alternate) two years will be achieved. See the detailed plan here.

Looking Back: Role of the Board and Special Resolution Introduction

The SAS school board is responsible for the governance of the school and strives to act with accountability, integrity, and transparency in reaching our vision of providing each student an exemplary American educational experience with an international perspective. The board has recently conducted a governance review and unanimously recommended a change in the structure of the board to align with US and international best practice. Based on extensive community engagement and feedback through large sessions, small-group meetings, individual conversations, and our survey, the board has finalized its proposal to amend the school's Articles of Association and thereby strengthen the board's expertise, continuity, and breadth of perspectives. An affirmative vote of 75 percent of votes cast will allow the measure to pass.

Voting will take place via Simply Voting, a secure, third-party company. All voting is 100 percent confidential and individual results will never be seen by any SAS employee or board member. Thank you for participating in this important governance decision.

Notice of EGM: An Extraordinary General Meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday March 18 at 7 p.m. to accept the votes and announce the results. Click here for the Zoom link.

Looking Back

Vote Details and Notice of EGM

  • Who: All eligible school members, including parents and legal guardians of current students, teachers, staff, and administrators, are encouraged to vote.
  • What: The special resolution wording will be as stated above, with a simple "Yes" (agree) or "No" (disagree) vote requested.
  • When: Today, March 15 to March 18, 2024.
  • How: Electronic voting will take place through a secure third-party election system, Simply Voting. Votes will be cast as proxy votes in accordance with Singapore law and the school's Articles of Association. 
  • Results: A "yes" vote cast by 75% of participants will result in the measure passing; a "yes" vote cast by less than 75% or participants will result in the measure failing to pass and the board remaining as it is currently structured.
  • Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM): An EGM will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m. to accept the votes and announce the result. Click here for the Zoom link. 
  • Can't find your ballot email? First, search for an email from vote@simplyvoting.com, which was sent Friday morning, March 15. Next, check your spam or junk email folder. If you still cannot find it, send an email to board@sas.edu.sg including your full name and your school ID number (found on your SASCard).
  • Confidential: All voting is 100 percent confidential and individual results will never be seen by any SAS employee or board member. Thank you for participating in this important governance decision.

Thank you for seeking to learn more about this issue by exploring this dedicated webpage. If you have further questions or comments, please email us at board@sas.edu.sg.