1 Name, Office, Registered Agent and
Corporate Records ..........................................................1
1.01 Name
.............................................................................................................................1
1.02 Principal Business Offices and Registered Agent
............................................................. 1
1.03 Books and Records
........................................................................................................1
2 Statement of Faith and Guiding Principles..................................................................................1
2.01 Statement Of Faith
.............................................................................................................
1
2.02 Mission
..........................................................................................................................
2
2.03 Purpose
.........................................................................................................................
2
2.04 Philosophy of Education
.................................................................................................
2
2.05 Objectives
......................................................................................................................3
3 Board of Directors
..................................................................................................................
4
3.01 Responsibilities
...............................................................................................................4
3.02 Board Membership Qualifications
..................................................................................
4
01. Beliefs
.....................................................................................................................
4
02.
Qualifications
...........................................................................................................
5
03. Standards
of Conduct
..............................................................................................
5
04. Term Of
Office
........................................................................................................
6
05.
Nomination Procedure
.............................................................................................
6
3.03 Board Composition and Elections
...................................................................................
7
3.04 Meetings of the Board
....................................................................................................
7 4 Board and Corporate Officers
.................................................................................................
8
4.01 Election of Officers
........................................................................................................
8
4.02 Executive Committee
.....................................................................................................
8
4.03 Duties of Board Officers
................................................................................................
8
01. The
President
..........................................................................................................
8
02. The
Vice-president
..................................................................................................
8
03. The
Secretary
..........................................................................................................
9
04. The
Treasurer
..........................................................................................................
9
05. Other
Duties
............................................................................................................
9 5 Membership of the Corporation
..............................................................................................
9
5.01 Membership Requirements
.............................................................................................
9
5.02 Membership Roll
.........................................................................................................
10
5.03 Membership Responsibilities and Privileges
................................................................... 10
5.04 Termination of Membership
..........................................................................................
10
5.05 Meetings of Members
..................................................................................................
10
01. Annual
Meeting
......................................................................................................
10
02. Special
Meetings
....................................................................................................
10
03. Notice
...................................................................................................................
10
04. Fixing
Record Date
................................................................................................
11
05. Quorum
.................................................................................................................
11
06. Manner of
Acting
...................................................................................................
11
07. Robert’s
Rules of Order
..........................................................................................11
6 Committees
..........................................................................................................................
11
6.01 Standing Committees
...................................................................................................
11
6.02 Ex Officio Members
....................................................................................................
11
01.
Administrator
........................................................................................................
11
02. President
and Vice-President
.................................................................................
11
6.03 Duties and Board Review
............................................................................................
11
7 Administrator
........................................................................................................................11
8 Personnel
..............................................................................................................................12
8.01 Hiring and Contracts
.....................................................................................................12
8.02 Contract Actions
...........................................................................................................12
8.03 Qualifications
................................................................................................................12
8.04 Term of Contracts
.........................................................................................................12
8.05 Nepotism Prohibited
.....................................................................................................12
9 Indemnification
.......................................................................................................................13
9.01 Matters Indemnified
......................................................................................................13
9.02 Matters Not Indemnified
...............................................................................................13
9.03 Determination
...............................................................................................................13
9.04 Insurance and Limitation
................................................................................................13
9.05 Miscellaneous
...............................................................................................................13
10 Finances
..............................................................................................................................14
10.01 Contracts
....................................................................................................................14
10.02 Checks, Drafts,
Etc......................................................................................................14
10.03 Deposits
.....................................................................................................................14
10.04 Gifts
...........................................................................................................................14
10.05 Fiscal Year
.................................................................................................................14
11 Students and Academics
......................................................................................................14
11.01 Academic Standards
...................................................................................................14
11.02 Curriculum
..................................................................................................................15
11.03 Discipline
....................................................................................................................15
11.04 Appeals
......................................................................................................................15
11.05 Reservation of Board Action
.......................................................................................15
12 Miscellaneous
......................................................................................................................15
12.01 Irrevocable Dedication
................................................................................................16
12.02 Amendments
...............................................................................................................16
* Revision as of 1-23-06
Being mindful of God’s will that children be taught the content and practical applications of His Word in every aspect of learning and every activity of life (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and firmly believing that Christ-centered education is a necessary part of the fulfillment of His will, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Faith Christian High School, Inc. (the “Corporation” or “FCS”) establishes these Bylaws for its organization and operation.
ARTICLE I
NAME, OFFICE, REGISTERED AGENT AND CORPORATE RECORDS
I.01 Name. The name of the Corporation is Faith Christian High School, Inc. (the “Corporation” or “FCS”). The Corporation shall do business as “Faith Christian School,” but shall at all times provide notice of its corporate existence.
I.01 Principal Business Offices and Registered Agent. The address of the principal place of business and registered office of the Corporation is P.O. Box 1230, W5525 Highway 67, Williams Bay, WI 53191. The registered agent of the Corporation shall be the President of the Board of Directors or such other person as the Board may determine.
XII.03 Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its Board of Directors and committees having any authority of the Board of Directors. All books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by a Director or his agent or attorney for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
ARTICLE II
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
XII.01 Statement Of Faith.
01. We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God in the original text and the only rule of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16-17.
02. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in
three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians
13:14.
03. We believe that the universe originated by the creative act of God as
revealed in Holy Scripture, and that the form of every kind of life was fixed at
the time of its creation. Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3.
04. We believe in the deity
and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life,
in His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right
hand of the Father, and in His visible return in power and glory. Colossians
1:13-20.
05. We believe that all men are lost and sinful, and that salvation is
received by the grace of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and
by the act of regeneration of life by the Holy Spirit. Romans 3:23-26; Titus
3:5.
06. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God
and Man. I Timothy 2:5.
07. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, by
whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. Romans 8:9.
08.
We believe in the bodily resurrections of both the saved and the lost; they that
are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life, and they that are lost unto the
resurrection of eternal damnation. John 5:24-25, 28-29.
09. We believe in the
spiritual unity of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of
the Holy Spirit as established in the Bible. John 17:20-23; I Corinthians
12:12-13.
10. We believe that support and participation in the task of
fulfilling the great commission is the responsibility of all believers in our
Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20.
XII.02 Mission. The mission of FCS is to provide a comprehensive education
that equips students to discover truth through the lens of Scripture, develop
their potential for further educational pursuits, and conform to the image of
Christ.
XII.03 Purpose.
01. FCS is religious in its nature and is established for the purpose of
operating, without profit, one or more private schools that will provide
students with instruction in the usual academic disciplines. Such instruction
will be given in complete accordance with the school’s philosophy of education
thereby grounding it in the tenets of biblical Christian faith in order that the
students may grow in the grace and knowledge of God through our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and thus become worthy citizens of our great nation.
02. Consistent
with the truth that God’s grace and His love through Jesus Christ extend without
partiality to all mankind, FCS admits students of any race, color, national and
ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally
accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, nation and ethnic origin in administration of its
educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and
athletic and other school-administered programs.
XII.04 Philosophy of Education. The philosophy of education at FCS originates in a deeply held belief in the Divine inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture and the superiority of its teachings to the wisdom of men. We stand without reservation on the absolutes of the Holy Bible and seek to interpret all of life and learning from the basis of the principles set forth in God’s Word. Our faith, therefore, is in God; our hope, in his Son Jesus Christ; and our trust, in His Word as the Holy Spirit guides us to the knowledge and understanding of truth.
These convictions provide the framework for our entire educational program. Everything we do as an institution, no matter how great or small must be consistent with these foundational beliefs.
As we undertake the task of educating young persons at FCS, we fundamentally believe that man has been uniquely created by God in His image, and that all meaning and purpose in our lives, therefore, is derived from Him. Yet, because of our sinfulness, we are unable to please God apart from our salvation through personal belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, and the regeneration of our lives by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we believe that God created all things and that all truth is ultimately God’s truth. Thus, the pathway to true knowledge and wisdom is found only in the interpretation of facts in the light of God’s purposes in creation and providence. Education that either denies or ignores God is neither God honoring nor adequate to reveal absolute and complete truth.
Our convictions are equally operative in the methods with which we conduct the overall Faith Christian School program. From the establishment of Board policies to the hiring of personnel, from the recruitment of students to the selection and development of curriculum, we prayerfully plan and execute each phase of our program to be in agreement with our foundational beliefs. The educational process at our school involves much more than the presentation of a Bible-enriched curriculum to our students. It is a process in which the Word of God governs and informs every subject, every activity, every idea we employ.
We view our ultimate purpose as assisting parents in the training of their children to be effective Christians in today’s world by developing within each student a discerning Christian mind. This, we believe, will not only enable the young person to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at an early age, but it will also, in concert with the instruction he receives at home and in the church, prepare him to serve the Lord faithfully and boldly in his chosen calling by teaching him to consistently choose to live his life in accordance with God’s Word.
XII.05 Objectives. As a Christian educational institution our objectives and how we seek to achieve these objectives are as follows:
01. To teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is to be preeminent in all of life, including education.
01. By encouraging students to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
02. By urging students to involve themselves in some form of Christian service.
03. By prompting students to participate in civic responsibilities.
02. To assist parents in training their children to be effective Christians
in the world, but not
of the world, by developing within each student a
discerning Christian mind.
01. By affirming the Bible as the only true Word of God.
02. By integrating
the Scriptures into all subject areas.
03. By encouraging the students to become
active participants in their local churches, youth groups, camp ministries, etc.
04. By stressing Biblical concepts of family, church, and community life.
03. To teach problem analysis and decision making from a Biblical perspective.
01. By affirming Biblical standards of morality and ethics as absolute, not
relative truth.
02. By teaching a concern for the salvation and welfare of
others. 03. By modeling Christian values and principles.
04. To maintain an outstanding academic and extracurricular program which will solidly serve as the basis for college preparation as well as vocational and professional effectiveness.
01. By constantly reviewing and updating course and program offerings.
02. By
counseling students wisely in the selection of courses and activities.
03. By
instilling the knowledge, study habits, and academic skills necessary for
further avenues of study or occupational endeavor.
05. To encourage the development of students’ God-given talents and gifts, thereby promoting a healthy self-image in each student.
01. By developing communication skills, creativity, and appreciation for a
wide variety of academic disciplines.
02. By emphasizing a proper balance of
initiative, independence of thought, and co-operative teamwork.
03. By urging
students to develop good habits involving physical, mental, and spiritual
activities. 04. By advocating daily devotional times involving Bible study and
prayer.
06. To provide a positive, challenging, Christ-centered environment for learning.
01. By providing a Christian-based curriculum.
02. By employing an
administration, faculty, and team of volunteer parents who strive to live
exemplary lives for the Lord.
03. By maintaining a physical plant in which
students, teachers, and the administration can work effectively.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
XII.06 Responsibilities. The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for
overseeing all aspects of Faith Christian School including, but not limited to,
policy making, personnel actions (including hiring and firing), forming
committees, budgeting and spending of school funds, determination of tuition and
fees, and other fiscal responsibilities.
XII.07 Board Membership Qualifications
01. Beliefs. All Board members shall be born-again Christians, subscribe to
the statement of faith of these Bylaws, be in agreement with the philosophy of
education and the objectives of the school, and be in accord with the
qualifications for leadership found in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.
02. Qualifications.
01. A Board member is required to have all of his or her school age children
with standard academic abilities (K-12) enrolled at FCS or involved in another
form of Christian education.
02. No full-time or part-time employee shall be
eligible to serve on the Board.
03. No two members of one household shall serve
simultaneously on the Board.
04. Board members shall be subject to the
prohibitions and limitations provided in Article 8, Sec. 8.05, Nepotism.
03. Standards of Conduct. It is understood that the position of Board Member is both a privilege to serve the Christian community and a God-given responsibility to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the following standards are established:
01. While we recognize that no Christian can be completely spiritually mature
in this life, it is expected that all Board members shall have a good
reputation, demonstrate Christian wisdom and be continually growing in the grace
and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 6:3; II Peter 3:17-18.)
02. All
Board members shall be affiliated with a local church whose statement of faith
is consistent with that of Faith Christian School. (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25.)
03. All Board members shall strive to live the separated life as described in
Scripture. (II Corinthians 6:14-18; I Thessalonians 5:21-22.)
04. In matters of
lifestyle and personal habits, these scriptural principles shall apply to the
conduct of all Board members.
01. Does it bring glory to God? I Corinthians 10:31
02. Is it harmful or
enslaving? I Corinthians 6:12
03. Can it harm a weaker brother? I Corinthians
8:13
04. Does it edify or does it tear down? I Corinthians 10:23-24
05. In recognition of the responsibility and public testimony of the position
of Board member, out of a desire to model Christ-like behavior for the students
and a concern for the advancement of the school; and, out of love and concern
for all the body of Christ, any liberty which we possess in Christ must be
willingly laid aside if, by the exercise of that liberty, a brother may be
caused to stumble in his walk with the Lord Jesus. Because of specific problems
in American society, the standard for the Board of Directors, based on the
tradition of FCS is that members of the Board of Directors abstain from the use
of beverage alcohol and tobacco products during the time they serve. (I
Corinthians 6:12; I Corinthians 8:9-13; I Corinthians 9:19-23; I Corinthians
10:23-24; II Corinthians 6:3.)
06. All Board members shall strive to follow
scriptural principles of discipline and restoration as detailed in the Bible.
(Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1.)
07. All Board members shall agree that in the
event a dispute arises between members of the Board regarding school matters,
only arbitration before believers is acceptable for settlement of the dispute or
for discipline purposes. Therefore, all persons agreeing to these qualifications
waive any and all rights to take their case before a civil court of law. (I
Corinthians 6:1-8.)
08. All Board members shall agree that the unique roles of
the male and female are clearly defined in Scripture. God sees homosexuality as
a perversion, and because of this willful condition, no homosexual will serve on
the Board or be employed by Faith Christian School, (I Corinthians 11:3; Romans
1:24-32.)
09. Faith Christian School is not affiliated with any denomination and
as such all Board members shall refrain from discussing within the school
context or while representing the school purely denominational, highly
debatable, or potentially divisive issues such as modes of baptism after
conversion or the sequence of events of the end times.
04. Term Of Office.
01. The term of office shall be three years. Two consecutive terms are
permissible subject to the nomination and election processes. Vacancies
occurring during the year shall be filled by Board appointment (requiring a
majority vote of the Board members present, providing at least three-fourths of
the entire Board is in attendance). Appointment to the Board can only be made
after the Board has reviewed applications and conducted interviews in a manner
reflecting the nominating process of the Board. The Nominating & Policy Review
Committee shall be asked by the President for potential candidates to fill the
vacant position.
02. If a Board member decides that he/she must resign for any
reason, a written letter of resignation must be submitted to the Board of
Directors. The resignation becomes effective only by formal acceptance by the
Board.
03. A Board member may be removed from the Board for conduct unbecoming
of his/her position as detailed in these Qualifications and Standards. Removal
requires a majority vote of the Board members present, provided that at least
three-fourths of the entire Board is in attendance.
05. Nomination Procedure.
01. The Board of Directors shall appoint the Nominating & Policy Review
Committee made up of at least two Board members, at least two FCS members at
large, and one faculty or staff member. The committee shall not exceed nine
members.
02. The committee shall develop a list of potential candidates from
membership nominations and committee conference. Membership nominations must be
submitted at least 90 days prior to the elections. The committee will submit a
recommended list for review to the Board for their initial approval. The Board
of Directors may request additional names at a later date.
03. The committee
shall approach the candidates and inquire as to their interest. The candidate
will receive appropriate orientation materials and complete an application.
04.
After reviewing the initial application, the committee will interview qualified
candidates. Any Board member may attend the interview.
05. If the committee
votes to recommend that the candidate be placed on the slate, the committee
invites the candidate to attend the next Board of Directors meeting to observe
the functioning of the Board of Directors.
06. The Board of Directors approves
the final slate of nominees for the Board of Directors membership.
XII.08 Board Composition and Elections.
01. The Board shall consist of a minimum of 7 members and a maximum of 15
members, as determined by the Board of Directors, and chosen in accordance with
the provisions of these Bylaws.
02. Nominees for Board of Directors membership
shall be announced at the Annual Meeting of the Members. Each eligible Member of
the Corporation is entitled to complete one (1) ballot for the purpose of
electing Board of Director members. Ballots will be available in the school
office on April 1 and must be completed and submitted by April 30.
XII.09 Meetings of the Board.
01. The Board of Directors shall meet monthly during the year. *However, at
the discretion of the President, Board of Directors may skip a month, but shall
meet not less than bi-monthly. A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum. Special meetings may be called by the president or at the written
request of three members of the Board of Directors.
02. The regular Board
meeting in February shall be considered the annual meeting of the Board of
Directors. The program for that meeting shall include a report on the status of
the school, identification of major problems and issues, and a projection for
the coming year.
03. Written notice stating the place, day, and hour of any
meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting is called, may, but need not, be given. Whenever any notice whatever
is required to be given to any Director of the Corporation under the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws, or any provision of law, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed at any time, whether before or after the time of meeting, by the Director
entitled to such notice, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such
notice. The attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting and objects
thereat to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose
of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified
in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
04. The President shall
direct that the following matters shall be conducted in closed session: all
disciplinary matters of any kind (students, families or sponsors, faculty and
staff, members, directors), all personnel matters (without limitation,
evaluation, compensation, contracts), and other matters requested by a majority
of the Board. A breach of confidence of any matters considered in closed session
shall be grounds for dismissal from the Board.
05. *Directors and members of any
other committees may participate in meetings through the use of conference
telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as equipment is available
that will allow all participating in the meeting to hear or reasonable
communicate with one another. Such participation shall constitute personal
presence at the meeting, and consequently shall be counted toward the required
quorum and in any vote on business transacted at the meeting.
06. Board meetings
shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order unless otherwise
provided in these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD AND CORPORATE OFFICERS
XII.10 Election of Officers. At its June Board meeting, Board of Directors shall elect, by a majority vote of its members, a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The officers of the Board of Directors will also serve as the officers of the Corporation, and shall serve for a term of one year beginning July 1 following their election. XII.11 Executive Committee.
01. The Executive Committee shall have full authority to transact business of
the Corporation that needs immediate attention during intervals between the
meetings of the Board of Directors.
02. Minutes of such meetings shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for
review and ratification or disapproval of the Committee’s actions.
03. The Executive Committee may meet and transact business telephonically or
by other means by which the full Board is permitted to meet under these Bylaws.
04. The Executive Committee shall conduct closed sessions subject to the same
provisions governing closed meeting of the full Board under Sec. 3.04 4.
XII.12 Duties of Board Officers. The officers of the Board of Directors by the virtue of their position, will also serve as the officers of the Corporation.
01. The President. The president shall be the principle executive officer of
the Corporation and shall, in general, supervise and control all the business
and affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors and of the Members. He or she may sign, with the secretary or
any other proper officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of
Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, notes or other instruments
which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in the cases
where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Board of Directors or these Bylaws, or by statute, to some other officer or
agent of the Corporation; and, in general, he or she shall perform all duties
incident to the office of president, and such other duties as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors from time-to-time. The president shall also be
directly responsible for supervising and counseling the administrator of the
school.
02. The Vice-president. The vice-president, in the absence of the
president or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, shall
perform the duties of president and, when so acting, shall have all the powers
of and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. Any vice president
shall perform such other duties as from time-to-time may be assigned to him or
her by the president or the Board of Directors.
03. The Secretary. The secretary
shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the
Members in one or more books provided for that purpose; see that all notices are
duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by
law; be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation
and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents, the
execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly
authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; and, in general,
perform all the duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties
as from time-to-time may be assigned to him or her by the president or the Board
of Directors.
04. The Treasurer. The treasurer or designate shall receive all
funds contributing to the maintenance of the school. He or she shall deposit all
such funds to the credit of the school in a financial institution designated by
the Board. He or she shall disburse such funds as designated in the annual
budget or by Board directive. In addition, the treasurer shall submit a complete
report of receipts and expenditures at each regular meeting of the Board of
Directors. The books of the treasurer shall be audited every third year
beginning in 1995 with a review in the interim years by an independent auditing
agency. The treasurer or designate shall prepare an Annual Financial Report.
05.
Other Duties. Although the president is directly responsible for supervising and
counseling the administrator, it is the duty of all Board members to support and
encourage the administrator of FCS. In addition, a committee comprised of the
president, vice-president, and one other Board member chosen by a majority vote
of the Board of Directors will prepare a written evaluation of the FCS
administrator prior to January 31st each year. The committee will present an
overview of the evaluation with recommendations at the February Board meeting.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP OF THE CORPORATION
XII.13 Membership Requirements. Those meeting all of the following criteria shall be eligible for membership in FCS (“Member”).
01. A Member must be at least one of the following:
01. A parent or legal guardian of a child currently enrolled at Faith
Christian School. 02. The primary provider of school expense for a child
currently enrolled
03. All full and part-time faculty and staff of the school.
04. A Director or officer of the Corporation.
02. A Member must testify to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
03. A Member
must subscribe to the Mission, Purposes, and Statement of Faith of FCS.
04. A
Member must be a regular attendee in good standing of a Christian church.
XII.14 Membership Roll. In cooperation with the Board, the administrator shall maintain a current membership list. The weekly FCS newsletter will be made available to all Members. The newsletter is the customary and sufficient means for providing notice of regular and special meetings and Corporate matters, and it is each Member’s responsibility to notify the FCS office if he or she is not receiving the newsletter.
XII.15 Membership Responsibilities and Privileges
01. Responsibilities of membership include:
01. Praying for the school on a regular basis.
02. Attending meetings of the
membership.
03. Financially supporting the school as the Lord enables.
04.
Upholding the policies of the school.
05. Serving the school community as
opportunities and needs arise.
06. Encouraging others to support the school.
02. Privileges of membership include:
01. Receiving regular communication from FCS.
02. Providing input to the
Board of Directors in the function of FCS.
03. Joining in fellowship and
educational events sponsored by FCS or the Board of Directors.
04. Enjoying any
benefits as may be decided by the Board of Directors.
05. Voting in the annual
Board of Directors election, from a slate of nominees approved and presented by
the Board.
XII.16 Termination of Membership. A Member may be terminated by the action of the Board of Directors upon a determination by the Board that the Member has conducted himself/herself in a manner, which is inconsistent with the requirements of these Bylaws or the best interests of FCS.
A Member may also terminate his or her membership upon written request to the Board of Directors or, if parent or legal guardian of a student, by virtue of having no child(ren) enrolled in the school.
XII.17 Meetings of Members
01. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the Members shall be held prior to
April 1 of each year to announce the nominees for Board of Directors, announce
changes in tuition, review tentative budgets, and present other matters as
determined by the Board.
02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Members
may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President at the written
request of one-fourth of the Corporation’s Members. Any such request must state
the reason(s) for calling the meeting.
03. Notice. Notice stating the place,
date and time of each meeting of the Members and the purpose or purposes for
which the meeting is called, shall be published not less than thirty (30) days
nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the scheduled meeting. Notice
will normally be made through the weekly school newsletter.
04. Fixing Record
Date. The date ten (10) days before any meeting of the Members shall be the
record date for the determination of Members entitled to vote at that meeting.
Such determination shall apply to any vote on which Members are entitled to
vote, either at that meeting or any adjournment thereof.
05. Quorum. One-fifth
of the Membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business
at any meeting of the Members, provided that if less than one-fifth of the
Members are present at the said meeting, a majority of the Members present may
adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice.
06. Manner of
Acting. The voting procedure will be determined by the Board of Directors. 07.
Robert’s Rules of Order. Meetings of the Members shall be conducted according to
Robert’s Rules of Order unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
XII.18 Standing Committees. The standing committees of FCS are Development, Education, Nominating and Policy Review, Buildings and Grounds, and Finance. Additional committees may be established by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall present its committee membership recommendations to the Board for their approval. The president shall assign (or reassign) Board members to serve as chairpersons or members of all committees. Committee chairmen may ask additional persons to serve on their respective committees, subject to prior Board approval.
XII.19 Ex officio members.
01. Administrator. The administrator of the school shall be an ex-officio
Member of all committees. He will supply information regarding school operations
as requested and will evaluate the operational implications of all proposed
policies.
02. President and Vice-President. The president and vice-president of
the Board of Directors shall be ex-officio members of all committees.
XII.20 Duties and Board Review. The duties of each committee shall be clearly defined and reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATOR
XII.21 The Board of Directors shall appoint the administrator of the school.
XII.22 The administrator shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of
the school according to the policies established by the Board of Directors and
in compliance with these Bylaws.
XII.23 Questions regarding the administration
of the school shall be referred to the administrator. If policies regarding
school operations or administration are to be reviewed or changed, this shall be
done in Board of Directors meetings when the administrator is present.
XII.24
The administrator shall prepare a written evaluation of each teacher at least
once a year. He shall present an overview of the evaluations, with
recommendations at the February Board meeting. Unless specifically directed by a
majority of the Board, Board members shall not have access to the written
evaluations of faculty and staff personnel files.
XII.25 The administrator shall
serve in an advisory capacity to the FCS Board of Directors and shall attend
each monthly Board meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
PERSONNEL
XII.26 Hiring and Contracts. *The administrator, teachers, and other employed
personnel shall be appointed by the Board of Directors by 80% vote of the entire
Board of Directors. The salary and conditions of their employment shall be
clearly delineated in their contracts.
XII.27 Contract Actions. After
considering the Administrator’s recommendations, the Board of Directors retains
sole responsibility for personnel contract actions including initial contract
offerings, contract terminations, and yearly contract renewals or non-renewals.
XII.28 Qualifications. The Board shall make all appointments based on the
qualifications, testimony, and personal lifestyle of each applicant considering
the requirements for each position. The Board’s goal in each appointment is to
choose the most qualified person whose life, both public and private, reflects
true Christian standards as set forth in the Holy Scriptures fully realizing
that each appointee is a role model after whom the students will pattern their
lives. (Luke 6:40) Faith Christian School does not discriminate in hiring staff
and faculty on the basis of sex, race, color, or national ethnic origin.
XII.29
Term of Contracts. The contract term for all teachers shall be appointed for a
term of one year and renewable at the discretion of the Board.
XII.30 Nepotism
Prohibited. To avoid the actual or perceived risk of nepotism, conflict of
interest, or other impropriety, the employment of a Board member’s family member
as a faculty member or other school employee shall be avoided wherever
reasonably possible. Further, a Board member who is a family member of any
employee shall not exercise any supervisory relationship over the employee or be
otherwise involved in any way in evaluation, management, compensation and
benefits, or other employment decisions of any kind related to the employee.
“Family” shall include the Board member’s parent, grandparent, child,
grandchild, brother, sister, parent-in-law, grandparent-in-law, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew or spouse.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
XII.31 Matters Indemnified. Each person who serves as a Director or officer of the Corporation from time to time shall be indemnified by the Corporation against:
01. Reasonable expenses and damages, including attorneys fees, incurred in
connection with any civil, criminal, administrative or other claim, action, suit
or proceeding (collectively, Proceedings@) in which he or she is or may be
involved by reason of any act or omission as Director or officer; and
02.
Reasonable payments made by him or her in settlement or satisfaction of any
judgment or order entered or fine or penalty imposed in any Proceeding.
XII.32 Matters Not Indemnified. The Corporation shall not indemnify any person (a) in respect to a Proceeding against him or her by or on behalf of the Corporation or (b) in respect to a Proceeding in which he or she enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or in which it is determined by final adjudication that he or she engaged in fraud, gross negligence or other serious misconduct. The final adjudication in a Proceeding shall not be binding on the Board as to the right of any person to indemnity, and the Board may make exception to the foregoing prohibitions, but only if it determines that
01. The person acted in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably
believed to be in the best interest of the Corporation (and in addition, in any
criminal action, that the person had no reasonable cause to believe he or she
acted unlawfully) and
02. Indemnification may be legally and validly made.
XII.33 Determination. The Board of Directors shall determine all matters
under this section. However, any Director whose indemnity is being considered
shall not be counted toward a quorum, nor shall he or she be entitled to vote on
any matter related to his indemnity. When making such determinations, the Board
may rely on the written opinion of the Corporation’s legal counsel. However, if
a quorum of disinterested Directors is not obtainable, the matter shall be
determined by a panel of three (3) appointed by agreement of the parties. In the
event the parties cannot agree, the panel shall be appointed by the Christian
Legal Society. Panel members need not be attorneys, but shall meet all
qualifications for a Director provided in these Bylaws.
XII.34 Insurance and
Limitation. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
person in that person’s official capacity against any liability asserted against
and incurred by the person in or arising from that capacity, whether or not the
Corporation would otherwise be required to indemnify the person against the
liability pursuant to the provisions of this Article. The Corporation’s
obligation to indemnify shall be limited to amounts and coverages provided under
such insurance. The Board in its discretion may provide indemnity in excess of
such amounts and coverages.
XII.35 Miscellaneous. Any person seeking
indemnification shall present a written request to the Board. The Board may make
advances to any person entitled to indemnity during pendency of a Proceeding in
which the right to indemnity arises. The right of indemnification under this
Article shall be in addition to and not exclusive of any other rights a person
entitled to indemnity may have. The right to indemnity shall survive the tenure
of a Directors or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s legal
representatives, heirs, executor(s) and administrators.
ARTICLE X
FINANCES
XII.36 Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or
officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, in addition to the officers so
authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver
any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such
authorization shall be by written resolution of the Board and shall state
specifically the authority granted.
XII.37 Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks,
drafts or orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation requires two signatures. The
signatures being that of any two of the following: Administrator, Business
Manager, or any one of the four officers of the Board, as determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination by
the Board of Directors, such instrument shall be signed by the treasurer or an
assistant treasurer and counter-signed by the president or a vice president of
the Corporation.
XII.38 Deposits. All funds of the Corporation shall be
deposited from time-to-time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks,
trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
XII.39 Gifts. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any
contribution, gift, bequest or device for the general purposes or for any
special purpose of the Corporation.
XII.40 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of FCS
shall begin July 1 and end June 30 of the following year.
ARTICLE XI
STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS
XII.41 Academic Standards. We are called to “work heartily, as for the Lord
rather than for men; knowing that...it is the Lord Christ whom we serve.”
(Colossians 3:23-24). We therefore seek to establish and maintain standards of
excellence that would be pleasing to Christ in every aspect of the Faith
Christian School program, but especially in the key area of academics. Where
public education standards do not conflict with biblical principles, such
criteria may be considered as the minimum acceptable academic standards for
Faith Christian School. In all instances, however, academic standards must
reflect the school’s goal of adequately preparing Faith Christian School
graduates for further academic or vocational pursuits.
XII.42 Curriculum. The
strategic development of all curricular programs and materials is the
responsibility of the FCS administrative team working in conjunction with the
Education Committee. His selections in this important area are to be made in a
manner consistent with the school’s Mission and Purpose Statement. In this
regard, curricular materials shall give preeminence to the Lordship of Jesus
Christ and the plan of salvation by grace. Discussion of Biblical principles
should be included in the academic presentation of each subject area in order
that the students may gain an understanding of the application of God’s truth in
all areas of life. Thus, the goal of each curricular program is not only to
impart knowledge to the students, but also to direct them to seek discernment
and wisdom from God in order to equip them to make decisions throughout their
lives that are pleasing to Him.
XII.43 Discipline. The Administrator subject to
the approval of the Board of Directors shall develop principles and procedures
of discipline. Administration of student discipline, including suspension, shall
be the responsibility of the administrator. The Administrator will review with
said parents any general principle or specific act of discipline. Expulsion of a
student shall be determined by the Board of Directors (majority vote of those
present).
XII.44 Appeals. The parent or legal guardian of a student may initiate
a formal appeal with regard to a suspension or an expulsion by doing the
following:
01. Make a written request to the Board of Directors for an appeal, briefly
stating the reason for the appeal.
02. Schedule a time to meet with the Board or
Board representatives to present an appeal.
The Board of Directors will consider the appeal and other information related to the discipline action. After consideration of the appeal, a decision will be made to either uphold the disciplinary action or alter it. The decision will be communicated to the parents in a timely manner.
XXII.45 Reservation of Board Action. The discipline procedures under this Article are strictly for the benefit of the Corporation and the Board in resolving disciplinary matters. They do not create any due process or contractual rights, express or implied. The Board reserves the right to amend or suspend any procedures provided in this Article or the Bylaws in relation to student discipline. All matter of discipline are reserved to the discretion of the Board and its decision shall be final.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
XII.46 Irrevocable Dedication. In the event of dissolution, all assets remaining after the payment of debts shall be distributed and used exclusively for religious or charitable purposes, provided that the recipient organizations or Corporations be characterized by the following:
01. They are organizations described in Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, being organizations that are clearly tax exempt by the
federal government.
02. No part of the net earnings of the said Corporation
shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
03. No part
of the activities of said Corporation shall be to carry on propaganda or
otherwise attempt to influence legislation and shall not participate in or
intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any
political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
XXII.47 Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the entire Board of Directors in any regular meeting provided the amendment shall have been proposed and discussed in a previous meeting of the Board. Notice of the proposed changes must be published in writing on the school website and the weekly school newsletter at least two weeks prior to the vote. Amending the STATEMENT OF FAITH in these Bylaws whether by addition, deletion, or any other form of alteration is prohibited.
ACCEPTANCE
I accept the position of Board Member of Faith Christian School under the qualifications and standards detailed above in this Constitution and Bylaws.
Signature of prospective member Date
President of the Board Date
Secretary of the Board Date