VPRS 63 Minute Books

The Denominational Schools Board was established in 1848 and was responsible for the distribution of funds to denominational schools from an annual Parliamentary grant and a proportion of the Church and Schools Estates revenue. The Board itself consisted of four laymen with responsibility for the administration of all matters connected with public instruction and the management of the funds allocated.Minutes of the approximately fortnightly meetings of the Board were recorded in the volumes of this series. Items of business were related to the Board's responsibilities with the nature of the item and the Board's decision recorded in the Minutes.At the rear of the first volume are balance sheets for the Board for 1849 - 1851. These financial statements record the receipts of the Board from the Colonial Treasury and the Church and School Estates revenue and its disbursement on salaries, books and requisites. Balance sheets also show the separate disbursements of the Board to a number of denominations (Church of England, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic et al). Also included in this section is a table summarising the average attendance of children from each denomination at schools under the Board's supervision for January to June 1849.