Christ King School Committee
BY-LAWS OF THE CHRIST KING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Approved by the Christ King Parish Council
November 4, 2002
Revised by the School Committee
April 5, 2006
March 19, 2008
II.PHILOSOPHY
It is believed that in the best interests of this parish, school administration, faculty, parents and children, a Christ King School Committee should exist. Issues requiring school community input or specific expertice will be brought before the School Committee for its advice and research. It is believed this will result in enhanced growth
brought about with and on behalf of the Christ King Community.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES
The School Committee works with the principal in gathering data and presenting it for discussion and evaluation. A consensus process is used to determine recommendations to the school and parish administration. As an advisory body, the School Committee does not set policy and has no decision-making authority.
IV. RELATIONSHIP TO THE PARISH COUNCIL
The School Committee is a sub committee of the Parish Council.
V. MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS
Membership shall be limited to six adults determined by the process of discernment.Five members must be active members of the parish and practicing Catholics. One member may be, but need not be, a non-parishioner or non-Catholic.
If fewer than six persons should be discerned for the School Committee membership, the committee may continue to function. At the principal’s discretion, an additional committee member may be appointed for at least a one year term but not to exceed a three year term.
Ex-officio members include the pastor, principal, Parish Council designee and a faculty member. The Parish Council Designee shall be named annually by the pastor and / or Parish Council. One and up to two faculty members shall be named by the principal.
Membership is limited to a single three year term. Members who wish to discern for more than one term (consecutive or non-consecutive) may do so only at the discretion of the principal. Terms begin with the June meeting and end with the May meeting.
Each year the committee shall discern two new members. More committee members
would be discerned if the number of the School Committee is less than six due to
previous openings.
VI ROLES
Chairperson: The School Committee chairperson shall be responsible for developing monthly meeting agendas in cooperation with the principal and publishing such agendas to the school and parish community prior to the scheduled School Committee meeting. The chairperson shall also facilitate all School Committee Meetings. As needed, the chairperson will serve as a liaison to the Parish Council and Finance Committee of the Parish Council on school issues.
The chairperson shall annually review the School Committee by-laws to assure their continuing accuracy and bring forward amendments to the by-laws to the principal and the School Committee.
Vice Chairperson: The vice chairperson shall develop monthly meeting agendas and facilitate monthly meetings in case the chairperson is not able to fulfill those duties, The vice chairperson is also responsible for coordinating the annual discernment of members.
Secretary: The School Committee secretary shall be responsible for maintaining written records of all School Committee meetings. The secretary will take meeting minutes and is responsible for publishing such approved minutes to the school community by no later that two weeks following the conclusion of the School Committee Meeting. The secretary will keep an archive of meeting agendas and materials reviewed by the School
Committee.
VIII MEETINGS
The School Committee shall meet at least once per month (with the exception of July) on a common meeting night determined annually.
The principal and the School Committee chairperson shall determine the agenda for the School Committee meeting. Agenda items may be submitted by any parishioner or school parent for consideration. Items for consideration must be submitted in writing to the school principal or Committee chairperson by no later than two weeks prior to the
School Committee meeting date.
Submitted items will be added to the School Committee agenda at the discretion of the principal and School Committee chairperson.
School parents or parishioners who wish to address the School Committee must submit a request in writing to either the principal or School Committee chairperson describing the subject they wish to address. The request to address the School Committee will be granted at the principal’s discretion.
At the discretion of the principal and the School Committee chairperson, agenda items may be opened for input from school parents, faculty or parishioners. Notices of such forums will be published with the meeting agenda.
Meeting agendas shall be published to the school and parish community in the week prior to the School Committee meeting date.
VIII SUBCOMMITTEES
The School Committee shall form subcommittees to assist in fact finding, analysis, recommendations and / or implementation of activities related to school topics and issues.
The School Committee may form standing sub committees such as budget, marketing and strategic planning. The School Committee may also appoint a liaison to various other committees as needed. Subcommittees can consist of parents, school staff and parishioners as needed. Such standing sub-comities must be chartered with a clear statement of their purpose, structure and reporting relationship to the School Committee.
IX. DISCERNMENT OF MEMBERS
Discernment for the School Committee shall be coordinated by the vice chairperson of the School Committee, with these procedures.
Discernment shall take place in May. At the discretion of the principal and School Committee chairperson, discernment may be held in lieu of the May School Committee meeting or it may be held as a separately scheduled activity.
By March 1, the vice chairperson shall contact the Archdiocese and arrange for a parish consultant to facilitate the discernment meeting. The Parish Council Liaison to the School committee shall notify the Parish council of the School Committee date of discernment.
Throughout March and April, notices shall be published inviting people to participate in discernment. The notice shall appear at least three times to the school community and at least once in the church bulletin. Nominations for discernment participants may be accepted up to one week prior to the date of discernment.
The vice chairperson shall screen potential candidates in confirm whether or not they are practicing Catholics and members of the parish. One School Committee member may be, but need not be, a non-parishioner or non Catholic.
No less than one week prior to the discernment meeting, participants shall receive an information packet including the parish and school mission statements, the School Committee By-laws and the agenda for the discernment meeting.
Participants in the discernment process include: all current members of the School Committee (Including ex-officio members) and the candidates for discernment.
Discernment shall take place via private ballot among all current members of the School committee including ex-officio members.
Following the discernment meeting, the School Committee Secretary shall publish names of the new and continuing members of the School Committee to the school community and the church bulletin.
Support materials related to discernment appear in Appendix A of the By-laws.
X. DISCERMENT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE OFFICERS
The chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary shall be discerned on an annual basis during the June School Committee Meeting. Any of the six discerned School Committee members are eligible to serve as officers. Participants in discernment are the current members of the School Committee including the Principal, the pastor/designee and faculty liaison.
Officers are discerned for one year terms, but may serve multiple terms in any officer capacity based n the results of the officer discerned process.
XI. REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT OF MEMBERS
School Committee members may be removed at any time at the discretion of the principal and pastor.
Should a School Committee member leave or be removed from service for any reason, the principal shall appoint a replacement member for the duration
XII. CHANGES TO THE BY-LAWS
Each year as part of the March Meeting, the School Committee chairperson shall lead a discussion of potential revisions to the School Committee By-laws. Revisions shall be agreed upon by no later that the April Meeting to assure that the bylaws are up to date by the time of the May discernment process.
By law changes will be made on the consensus discussion of the School Committee and upon final approval by the principal. Significant by-law changes are further subject to the approval of the Parish Council.
The by-laws may be amended at other times of the year via the regular committee agenda process.
Appendix A
School Committee Discernment Materials
DISCERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SCHOOL / PARISH
The Christ King School Committee has two openings to fill as current members conclude with the end of the school year. The School Committee serves as the official voice of parents in the operation of the school. On issues and questions of school programs and activities, we offer advice to the principals he/she makes his/ he decision regarding the direction of the school. No special background is needed – just an open mind and a commitment to building a great school for our children.
INVITATION TO DISCERMENT MEETING:
TO: Christ King School Committee Discernment Participants
FROM: (Name) School Committee Chairman
DATE:
RE: (Meeting Date) Discernment Meeting
Thank you for your interesting serving on the School Committee. I have found the School Committee to be a most gratifying experience and a wonderful way to contribute to a positive, spiritual school environment for our sons and daughters.
The committee discernment meeting will take place on (DATE, TIME, and LOCATION)
Discernment is a selection process in which those who come together share information about themselves pray along with all-in attendance, and then choose among them who will fill vacant positions on the committee. We have two, three year positions open.
During the meeting, we invite you to:
The current School Committee members will be in attendance to answer your questions. (Insert name), a liaison form the Archdiocese, will facilitate our discernment meeting.
I have enclosed an overview of the School Committee’s by-Law, along with a copy of the discernment meeting agenda for your orientation. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to call me at (Phone Number)
