EDUCATION ACT 1998 Section 15.— (1) It shall be the duty of a board to manage the school on behalf of the patron and for the benefit of the students and their parents and to provide or cause to be provided an appropriate education for each student at the school for which that board has responsibility. (2) A board shall perform the functions conferred on it and on a school by this Act and in carrying out its functions the board shall— (e) have regard to the principles and requirements of a democratic society and have respect and promote respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society, (f) have regard to the efficient use of resources (and, in particular, the efficient use of grants provided under section 12 ), the public interest in the affairs of the school and accountability to students, their parents, the patron, staff and the community served by the school We, the undersigned contend that The Board of Management of Ratoath Junior National School have NOT fulfilled the above provisions of The Education Act 1998 in their vote of June 2012 to change the school opening hours on the following grounds: 1. Changing to hours which differ from Ratoath Senior School is NOT for the benefit of the students and their parents. SECTION 15 (1) 2. As no proper poll or meeting for parents took place on this issue, and as the survey sent out did not take account of parents right to have their opinion accounted for in EACH school in cases where they have children in both schools this decision does NOT have regard to the principles and requirements of a democratic society. SECTION 15 (2e) 3. As the opening hours are now within 10 minutes either side of the opening times of St. Paul’s National School and Ratoath College the decision does NOT have regard to the public interest and the community as the change of hours will cause great distress for childminding services, parents and commuters . SECTION 15 (2f) Therefore we request that the Board reverse the decision until such time as it becomes apparent through a properly administered survey of all parents that the majority of the school community support a change in hours.