Printer-Friendly PDF Parent/Student Handbook 30 pgs 286 kb

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be Greater Portland Christian School Association.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the Greater Portland Christian School Association shall be to maintain a parent-controlled school for the daily instruction of pupils in accordance with the principles of Article III. The Association shall elect from its membership the Board of Directors who shall administer the affairs of the School.

Article III. Basis

The basis of the Greater Portland Christian School Association is the teaching of the Bible that man was made in the image of God to be a steward of His creation, and that parents are responsible to train their children to know and serve God. The basis rests further on the belief that such training can most effectively be carried on in a school where every area of knowledge is related to God: e.g., science is recognized as the investigation and use of God's eternal purpose; and the arts are viewed as reflections of God's creatures.

The Theological basis, which unites the members of this Association and binds the teachers of this School, includes the following particular truths of Scripture:

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, and in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Article IV. Membership

Membership in this Association is open to all persons 18 years of age and older who annually subscribe in writing to the basis of this School as in Article III, who regularly attend an evangelical church, and who pay annual dues as set by the Board of Directors. The Association shall have the power to dismiss or suspend a member by 4/5 or 80 percent vote of the membership present at a legal meeting of the Association (such action to be taken after careful consideration of the Lord's teaching as per Matthew 18), and that action taken at the Association meeting be reported to the church pastor of the individual concerned.

Article V. Meetings

1. The annual meeting of this Association shall be held on the first Monday in June unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

2. Special meetings of this Association may be called by the president of the Board of Directors when requested by a majority of the Board of Directors when requested by a majority of the Board of Directors or when requested by one-fourth of the voting membership.

3. Written notice containing the agenda for the meeting, including nominations for the annual meeting shall be given all members at least two weeks in advance of all annual meetings of the Association.

4. The business of the annual meeting shall include:

• Election of members of the Board of Directors
• Financial report of the past year
• Administrative report of the past year

5. A quorum to conduct business shall be one-fourth of the Association membership.

Article VI. Amendment

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors and a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any legal meeting of the Association provided that the proposed amendment has been set before the Association at the previous meeting, and that, in accordance with Article V, Section 3, the proposal of the amendment has been included in the call of this particular meeting.

Articles II, III, and VI of the Constitution are not subject to amendment except by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors and a three-quarters vote of the Association's total membership.

Section 110 - Bylaws

Article I.

Section I. Selection of the Board

• The Board of Directors shall consist of nine elected members to serve rotating three-year terms, with members elected at each subsequent annual meeting.
• The secretary of the Board of Directors must receive nominations at least three weeks prior to the annual meeting.
• The Board of Directors shall elect its own officers and determine the times of its meetings.
• The officers of the Board of Directors shall serve as officers of the Association.
• The school administrators shall be non-voting members of the Board of Directors.
• Vacancies that occur on the Board of Directors may be filled by appointment by the Board, the term to run until the next meeting of the association.
• Spouses of full-time teachers are not eligible to serve as elected members of the Board.

Section II. Term of Office

• The term of an elected member shall be for three years.
• Elected members may be re-nominated for additional terms.

Section III. Duties of Officers

1. President

a. Provide an agenda for all meetings
b. Appoint committees with Board approval
c. Act as/or appoint a temporary administrator in the event of the administrator's prolonged absence
d. Conduct meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors

2. Vice-President/Financial Secretary

a. Assume responsibility of the President in his absence
b. Sign any or all checks in the treasurer's absence
c. Assume responsibility for the collection and recording of all tuition receipts
d. Follow up on overdue accounts

3. Treasurer

a. Sign all checks
b. Provide an accounting of all School finances to both the Board and the Association semi-annually
c. Assume responsibility for the recording of all receipts and disbursements of the school

4. Recording Secretary

a. Take minutes of all Board and Association meetings
b. Handle all Board and Association correspondence
c. Notify members of all meetings of the Board and Association

Section IV. Committees

Education Committee

• Recommend broad educational policies to the Board
• Cooperate with the principal in screening prospective teachers
• Encourage and support the director and his assistants in the administration of the school
• Work with the administration in the development of the curriculum
• Work with the administration in the development of the extra-curricular activities
• Encourage and help the director and the teachers in earning and maintaining state-approval for the School Cooperate with a long-range planning committee to define and to accomplish future goals

Finance Committee

• Make recommendations to the Board on the policies and procedures for the business activity of the School
• Seek to promote efficient and effective business operations
• Work with the director and the Board to establish the annual budget
• Make recommendations to the Board on registration fees, tuition, and other fees
• Arrange the annual audit of the financial records
• Work out careful procedures for handling all income
• Be certain that legal requirements have been fulfilled for tax exemption and for foundation appeals
• Maintain a five-year projection of the School's finances to keep the Board alert to the financial trends which are coming

Promotion Committee

• Work with the Director to promote the school to the Christian community and to the general public
• See that the brochures and newsletters of the school are of top quality
• Help to recruit new students
• Develop contacts with foundations
• Broaden the financial base of the school by securing new donors
• Help with the annual fund drive and with campaigns for capital improvements
• Seek opportunities to keep local pastors informed about the school
• Cooperate with the Director in the Open House program and with other programs to get people on campus

Article II. Staff

1. The Board of Directors shall appoint the director and teachers after careful consideration of their spiritual, academic, and professional qualifications.

2. The director and teachers shall be appointed for such terms and with such salary and other conditions as the Board may determine.

All members of the administrative and teaching staff must declare annually in writing their unconditional agreement with Articles II and III of this Constitution.

Article III. Non-Discriminatory Policy

The Association does not discriminate with regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin.

Article IV. Amendments (By-Laws)

These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors and a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any legal meeting of the Association provided that the proposed amendment has been set before the Association at the previous meeting, and that, in accordance with Article V, Section 3, the proposal of the amendment has been included in the call to this particular meeting.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Charter members of this organization elected an initial Board of nine directors: Three persons to three-year terms; three persons to two-year terms; three persons to one-year terms.

120 - Board Members

Mr. Bill Bamford, President
Dr. Russell Keenan, VP/Education Chair
Mrs. Doreen Theriault, Development
Dr. Stephen Babirak, Education Rep.
Mr. Kevin Frye, Secretary/Development
Ms. April St. Cyr, Finance Committee
Mr. Steve Whiting, Development

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