Homepreschool board notes: board bylaws
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Approved 9/1/04
I. The name of the organization shall be First United Methodist Preschool.
II. Sponsorship/Ownership
The FUM Preschool is an entity of the First United Methodist Church of Austin, Texas, related to the Church through the Education Chair of the Leadership Council. The Preschool is an extension of the Church's ministry with children and their families.
III. Mission Statement
The FUM Preschool aims to provide an atmosphere of love and acceptance in which each child can develop socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually.
IV. Purpose/Philosophy
FUM Preschool welcomes children of any race, religious belief or national heritage. Special needs children are accepted based on the Preschool's ability to meet their unique and individual requirements.
V. Advisory Board
A. Membership
The FUM Preschool shall be governed by a Board of Directors composed of 15 members . This board shall consist of:
1. The Director of Children's Ministries of the Church, or the staff person with responsibility for children's ministries (a non-voting member).
2. The Preschool Director (a non-voting member).
3. Thirteen members-at-large, including the retiring Chair of the Board, who will serve as an ex-officio member when possible. Each member must have been a FUM Preschool parent for at least one semester prior to serving on the board. And at least one-half of the board members shall also be members of FUMC. Any exceptions must be approved by the Minister of Education (Thirteen voting members).
B. Terms of Office
Terms shall be a minimum of two years with the option to add additional years each May. A member-at-large may serve subsequent terms with the approval of the church Board. Terms shall begin in June. In the event that a Board member resigns in the middle of a term, a person shall be appointed to fill that position for the remainder of the term.
C. Duties
Each member-at-large shall serve as a member of a committee or serve as its officer. One member of the Board shall also serve on the FUMC Children and Family Team. Members are expected to attend all Board meetings; after missing three Board meetings in one school year, the member will be encouraged to resign. The Preschool depends on actively involved Board members. All members shall recommend the hiring or dismissal of the Director, review policies and recommendations of the Director and/or Board committees and help in implementing those matters approved by the Board.
D. Officers of the Board shall be: Chair person, Vice-Chair person, Treasurer and Secretary.
1. The Chair person shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committees, and represent the Board to the Church. She/he shall chair the nominating committee. The Chair person shall work with the Director in overseeing registrations, admissions, dismissals, preparation of the Preschool Director and as consults with other issues as needed.
2. The Vice-Chair person shall preside in the absence of the Chair person. She/he may serve on any committee.
3. The Treasurer shall:
i. Monitor all financial records, deposits/bills, payroll/tax records of the FUM Preschool.
ii. Review monthly/yearly financial statements of the FUM Preschool.
iii. Chair the Finance Committee.
iv. Provide financial statements for Board meetings.
v. Serve as Church/Preschool liaison by attending FUMC Finance Committee meetings when necessary. If the Treasurer is unable to serve as liaison, the Board Chair will appoint another member-at-large to serve. When no Board member is qualified or available to attend Church Finance Committee meetings, a representative of the Finance Committee, preferably a Preschool parent, will attend Preschool Board meetings and report financial matters to the church.
4. The Secretary Shall:
i. Take minutes and record attendance at Board meetings.
ii. Type, copy and distribute each set of minutes of all Board meetings.
iii. Bring to each Board meeting the following: previous Board minutes, a copy of the Bylaws for FUM Preschool and parliamentary procedure guidelines.
iv. Assist Publicity Committee as requested.
5. Committees of the Board shall include: Admissions, Equipment, Finance, Hospitality, Nominating, Personnel, Publicity, and Special Projects, and Volunteer Coordinator .
a. The Equipment Committee shall work with the Director in arranging for maintenance as necessary, and recommending the purchase of new items. This committee shall coordinate with the Church on the purchase and maintenance of any items that will be used by both the Preschool and the Church.
b. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect, Director, two other members-at-large appointed by the Chair person, one of which being should be the past board chairperson Chair, and a Church Finance Committee representative (if desired by the Church). They shall be responsible for planning a budget, including a review of salaries and tuition.
c. The Hospitality Committee shall host orientation, the annual Teacher/Board luncheon, the fall and spring picnics, teacher birthdays, the Board/Staff Christmas party, and other social occasions as deemed necessary. They shall handle all social correspondence and shall also purchase special gifts.
d. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominations for Board membership/officers and shall fill vacancies as necessary. This Committee shall be composed of the Director of Children's Ministries (or designate), Board Chair person, at least two current Board members, and the Preschool Director. In the event an officer or member must be replaced during the school year, the Nominating Committee shall bring nominations to the Board for election.
e. The Personnel Committee shall interview applicants for Director of the FUM Preschool and bring their recommendations to the Board for approval, and then to the senior pastor or his/her designated representative for final decision. The Committee shall interview applicants for teachers and present its final decision to the Board. The Committee shall compile and review the Director's evaluation, oversee staff contracts and formulate personnel policies for recommendation to the Board. The Director of Children's Ministries and/or the Minister of Education shall serve on the Personnel Committee. For hiring of teachers, the Director of the FUM Preschool shall serve on the Personnel Committee. The Chair of the Personnel Committee may invite the Preschool Director, the Chair of the Board, or other Board members to serve on the committee as necessary or desirable.
f. The Publicity Committee shall facilitate relations between the FUM Preschool and FUMC, keeping all informed about the ongoing program. It shall also maintain the FUMP scrapbook, provide articles for the Beacon (FUMC monthly newsletter) and provide information for to the local media as possible requested .
g. The Special Projects Committee shall organize and direct all fundraising activities for the FUM Preschool.
h. The Volunteer Coordinator shall work with room parents and shall recruit and organize other parent volunteers for special projects as needed.
VI. Director Duties
The Director shall administer the policies of FUM Preschool, make recommendations to the Board, supervise school staff, hire teaching assistants, serve on the Personnel Committee for the hiring of teachers, report to the Board at every meeting, see that all policies and recommendations of the Board are incorporated into the Preschool program. The Director shall also maintain and distribute a Board roster including name, address, zip code, phone, position on B oard, term of office, and relationship both to FUM Preschool and FUMC. The Director shall be responsible to the Director of Children's Ministries, the Minister of Education and the Senior Pastor of the Church. The Director is a member of the Church staff.
VII. Amendments
Amendments or other changes in the Bylaws may be proposed by either the Preschool Board or the Church. Final approval shall be by affirmative vote of the Church, after consultation with the Preschool Board.
