Article III. Organization and Governance
A. The school may be a legally constituted Texas corporation or an integral part of the
sponsoring church ministry.
1. If the school is a separate corporation, it must have a governing board and the
actions of the governing board are legally binding to the school.
2. If the school is an integral part of the legal entity of the church, its governing
board or trustees are an official committee/board of the church, according to
church policy, and the actions of the governing board are legally binding to the
school.
B. If the school is an integral part of the church, the relationship between the
church/sponsoring body and school is harmonious.
1. The church/sponsoring body may support the school financially, or may receive
funds from the school for joint use of facilities and services provided. The
church/sponsoring body is careful in limiting the amount of reimbursement to the
reasonable cash outlay due to the operation of the school within the
church/sponsoring body's facility, avoiding any possibility of receiving excess
funds, such as rent or capital building depreciation reimbursement.
2. In dual use of facilities, the school staff and volunteer or professional staff are
cooperative.
C. The governing body has approved and published operating policies (i.e., governing body
policies, teacher manuals, student/parent handbooks, etc.). These policies guide the
actions of the governing body itself as well as the administration.
D. Each school shall provide an orientation and training program for new governing body
members.**
1. One verification method is to present a copy of the governing body orientation
minutes.
E. No single member of the governing body or church has authority to evaluate, advise or
supervise any school activity or school official, unless delegated to perform a specific
function by a majority of the body in an official session. No single member of the
governing body or church can speak definitely in the name of the school or give the
appearance of directing any phase of schools operation unless so authorized by the
church body.**
F. The head administrator shall be permitted to guide the school in accordance with
officially established policies and procedures without external (e.g. board or parent)
interference.**
1. External interference refers to anyone who attempts to interfere with any
officially established policies (i.e., board or constituency). A check of board
policy can be used to see if this policy is in effect.
sponsoring church ministry.
1. If the school is a separate corporation, it must have a governing board and the
actions of the governing board are legally binding to the school.
2. If the school is an integral part of the legal entity of the church, its governing
board or trustees are an official committee/board of the church, according to
church policy, and the actions of the governing board are legally binding to the
school.
B. If the school is an integral part of the church, the relationship between the
church/sponsoring body and school is harmonious.
1. The church/sponsoring body may support the school financially, or may receive
funds from the school for joint use of facilities and services provided. The
church/sponsoring body is careful in limiting the amount of reimbursement to the
reasonable cash outlay due to the operation of the school within the
church/sponsoring body's facility, avoiding any possibility of receiving excess
funds, such as rent or capital building depreciation reimbursement.
2. In dual use of facilities, the school staff and volunteer or professional staff are
cooperative.
C. The governing body has approved and published operating policies (i.e., governing body
policies, teacher manuals, student/parent handbooks, etc.). These policies guide the
actions of the governing body itself as well as the administration.
D. Each school shall provide an orientation and training program for new governing body
members.**
1. One verification method is to present a copy of the governing body orientation
minutes.
E. No single member of the governing body or church has authority to evaluate, advise or
supervise any school activity or school official, unless delegated to perform a specific
function by a majority of the body in an official session. No single member of the
governing body or church can speak definitely in the name of the school or give the
appearance of directing any phase of schools operation unless so authorized by the
church body.**
F. The head administrator shall be permitted to guide the school in accordance with
officially established policies and procedures without external (e.g. board or parent)
interference.**
1. External interference refers to anyone who attempts to interfere with any
officially established policies (i.e., board or constituency). A check of board
policy can be used to see if this policy is in effect.
