St Joseph's School
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At St Joseph's School, the board manages 
assets in a way that is financially responsible and complies with legislation, regulations, and Ministry of Education requirements (Education and Training Act 2020). We protect school assets and aim to ensure long-term sustainability and efficient resource use. Our asset planning and processes help us to support good educational outcomes, maintain the school as a safe place for all students and staff, and manage health and safety risks (Health and Safety Act at Work 2015).
The school implements and monitors internal controls, including governance documentation and segregation of duties, to ensure that assets are managed appropriately. This includes:
As a state-integrated school, we manage our assets in consultation with our proprietor. The board delegates responsibility for asset management to the principal. The principal may further delegate administrative tasks in this area, such as maintaining the asset register, managing finance leases, and maintaining assets within the approved budget. The principal updates the board (which includes proprietor representation) on asset management as needed in board meetings.
Our assets are protected by our security management and appropriate insurance, and we maintain our assets in good working order. See Security Management and Property Management.
Recording and auditing assets
The school records all school-owned fixed assets that have an individual cost of $1000 or more (or a combined value of $1000 or more) in a fixed asset register.
Assets that are under $1000 but are deemed valuable, at risk of theft, or qualify as furniture or equipment are recorded separately so their use can be tracked and there is a record in case of an insurance claim.
Staff are expected to update the finance officer about any changes to the condition of assets so that the principal and board can consider the replacement and/or disposal of assets as needed.
Asset planning, purchases, and disposal
We develop and maintain an asset replacement plan which is consistent with our asset management policy. The board reviews the asset replacement plan annually, alongside the asset register, and makes adjustments to the plan as needed.
Our annual review of the asset register informs our asset replacement plan, as it enables us to determine what new assets are needed to achieve the objectives of our strategic plan, and to budget for assets that may need replacing. The asset replacement plan informs our annual budget, so that the budget takes into account what fixed asset purchases we need to make that year, as well as asset costs, such as consumables and maintenance. Fixed asset purchases are discussed at board meetings as required so the school can plan appropriately and make decisions on appropriate use of funds. See Budget.
When determining what assets (including library and teaching resources) are needed to achieve our strategic plan, we consult with staff, as appropriate. The principal or their delegate is responsible for considering requests for purchases and communicating appropriate updates about school resources to the school community.
When purchasing or replacing assets for our school, we consider if it is more cost effective to buy or lease the asset(s), including considerations about interest, warranty, ongoing service and supplies, maintenance, economic life, etc. This may require seeking several quotes and comparing them. Quotes are obtained for capital items or operating expenses, for lease or purchase, over $1000 (excl GST).
We follow the Government Procurement Rules and Ministry guidance for procurement. The purchase process is documented and kept securely. We apply to the Ministry of Education before leasing equipment if repayments will add up to more than 10% of our annual operational funding excluding GST. See Buying for your school and Managing finances for equipment 
(Ministry of Education).
If the school provides teaching staff with devices for school-related use, staff are not required to contribute to the cost of the device. Staff must report any technical problems, damage, or loss immediately. If device damage or loss results from staff negligence, the staff member may be asked to cover the excess or the cost of repair/replacement. Staff must follow school digital use expectations. See Digital Technology and Online Safety.
Asset disposal
The principal has the delegated authority to dispose of assets if, according to the register, an asset has reached the end of its useful life and the original purchase price was under $10,000. The board approves the disposal of any assets with an original purchase price over $10,000.
The principal reports to the board about all disposal of assets, including the reasons for any proposed disposal or already disposed of assets, the disposal process, and any net disposal proceeds.
If there is any option for staff or members of the school community to buy assets that are being disposed of, this is approved by the board and has a fair process for purchase.
Release history: Term 3 2025, Term 2 2021
