School boards in Scotland were involved in determining the overall policies, objectives and ethos at the school. Boards had a special duty to promote good relationships between the school, its parents and the community and also form a channel for the flow of information between these groups. School Boards were introduced in 1988 as part of the Government's policy of encouraging parental involvement in schools. They comprised parent, teacher and 'co-opted' members, with parents in the majority. 'Co-opted' members may have been drawn from local business or the community.