OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH EDUCATION COMMISSION
CONSTITUTION MAY 2006
PREAMBLE
This Commission shall have as its primary concern the educational and religious development of members of the school community as it relates to the individual development of talents, opportunities, and personal growth.
Working in close collaboration with its executive officer(s) and representing the educational concerns and needs of the school, this Commission shall develop policies that will enable the parish community to reach its agreed upon goals.
ARTICLE I – TITLE
The name of this organization shall be Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Education Commission.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND FUNCTION
The purpose and function of this organization shall be as follows:
Section A – General
This Commission is to develop the policies for the administration of all the educational programs of Our Lady of Lourdes School acting as a sub-committee of the Parish Management Team.
Section B – Specific Functions and Duties
1. To develop policies for the application of the regulations of the Archdiocesan Education Commission and the State of Ohio to the school education program.
2. To create better understanding and support of Catholic education.
3. To develop policy under which administrators shall operate the educational programs of the school.
4. To continually evaluate the effectiveness of the education programs in the school and to recommend methods of improving these programs.
5. To develop the policies of the planning, acquisition, operation, and maintenance of school facilities and equipment.
6. To approve and monitor the operating budget prepared by the finance committee.
7. To establish committees on a standing or ad-hoc basis according to need.
8. To conduct whatever other business may properly be brought before the Commission.
9. To receive for approval, the reports of the Pastor and/or Principal.
10. To approve the Constitutions of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parent Teacher Organization and the Ways and Means Committee under the direction of the Principal.
11. All policies formulated by the Education Commission will be submitted to the Parish Management Team for final approval.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
The membership shall consist of voting and non-voting members.
Section A – Voting
1. Voting members of the Commission shall consist of the Pastor, (ex-officio) and nine elected members.
2. Ex-officio but non-voting members of the Commission shall include:
a. The Principal of the Parish school
b. The Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes
c. The president of the Parent Teacher Organization
d. The chairperson(s) of the Ways and Means Committee
e. The representative(s) of the School Assembly of the Parish Management Team
Section B – Qualifications of Elected Members
1. Elected members shall be active, registered members of the parish.
2. Elected members shall be a minimum of 21 years of age.
3. Elected members shall be limited to persons belonging to the parish or parents of children enrolled in the school. Member must not have a conflict of interest.
Section C – Length of Term and Nominations
1. Each elected member shall serve a term of three years.
a. If an elected member is unable to fulfill his or her complete term due to resignation, illness, moving from the parish or for other various reasons, the position shall be offered to the candidate who received the most votes after the three elected members from the most recent election and proceed in the same method until the position is filled.
b. If unable to fill the position from these candidates, the Pastor will appoint a replacement member to serve the remainder of the unfilled term.
c. Members may serve no more than two consecutive terms without a break in service. The length of the break shall be defined in the By-Laws.
2. Failure of a member to attend three consecutive meetings without having been excused by the President shall result in loss of membership.
3. Nomination for new members shall take place prior to the regular May meeting by members of the parish under the direction of the nomination committee appointed by the President of the Commission.
d. Elections shall be held prior to the regular June meeting.
e. Elections shall be held in accordance with Article VII, Sections B and D of the By-Laws.
f. Term of office for elected members shall expire at the June meeting of their third year. Newly elected members shall take office on the Commission at the June meeting.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
Section A – Officers
The officers of the Commission shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary, all of whom shall be elected annually by the Commission membership at the first regular meeting following the election.
Section B – Duties
The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
1. The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Commission. With the administrator the President shall determine the agenda and notify members of the date and time of meetings and distribute the agenda to the Commission at least a week in advance of the meeting. With Commission approval, the President shall have the authority to assign additional duties and responsibilities to individual Commission members.
2. The Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall perform all the duties of the President.
3. The Secretary shall maintain a written record of all acts of the Commission; conduct, receive, and dispose of all correspondence as directed; preserve all reports and documents committed to his/her care. Minutes shall be sent out to each Commission member at least a week in advance of the next meeting.
4. A representative from the Education Commission will be appointed to attend the Finance Commission.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
1. The Commission shall meet regularly on the second Thursday of every month at a time and place designated by the President. Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or President, as needed, or at the request of a majority of the members.
2. A majority of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
3. A simple majority of voting members present shall carry any motion. Only members present at a meeting may vote. No absentee voting will be permitted.
4. All meetings of the Commission, unless otherwise specified, shall be open to members of the parish. Decision made in executive sessions must be presented and voted on at open sessions before becoming effective. The right of nonmembers to address the Commission shall be limited to those whose written request has been approved by one of the agenda committee consisting of the President, Pastor, or Principal for the agenda in advance of the meetings. Those formally presented items which are not included on the agenda will receive a written response indicating the reasons for rejection.
ARTICLE VI – CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
1. The rule of parliamentary procedure as contained in Robert’s "Rules of Order" shall govern meetings of the Commission.
2. The ordinary order of meeting shall be:
a. Prayer
b. Roll call
c. Approval of minutes
d. Committee reports
e. Unfinished business
f. New business
g. Pastoral report
h. Adjournment
i. Prayer
3. Each member in discussing or voting on any matter coming before the Commission shall be obligated to make a full disclosure of any official interest in the matter which might constitute a real or apparent conflict of interest.
ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS AND BY-LAWS
1. The Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the total membership, (subject only to regulations of the Bishop of the Archdiocese and/or the Archdiocesan Education Commission and/or Pastor). All members of the board shall be presented with a written proposal of the amendment at least one month prior to the meeting at which the voting will take place.
2. The Commission by two-thirds vote of the total voting membership, may adopt, amend, or repeal any by-laws governing the conduct of its business and procedures. Such amendments, adoptions, or repeals must be presented in writing at least one month prior to the meeting at which the voting will take place.
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES
1. The President is empowered to appoint special committees of the Commission to assist the Commission. Membership of any committee shall not be limited to members of the Commission. Such committees shall operate until the duty assigned to them is completed and will be dissolved at that time, or at any earlier date, at the discretion of the President.
2. The function of all committees shall be fact finding, deliberative, and advisory but never legislative or administrative. Recommendations by any committee shall be subject to ratification and approval by the Commission.
ARTICLE IX – RATIFICATION
This instrument shall be considered ratified and in effect when adopted by a two-third majority of the existing Parish Education Commission’s voting members and ratified by the Parish Management Team and the Pastor, subject only to regulations of the Bishop of the Archdiocese and/or the Archdiocesan Education Commission.