← Maris Stella School's By-Laws 2003
Catholic Mission Schools Board for Palau
Article 1: Institution
The Catholic Mission Schools serves Maris Stella Elementary School and Mindszenty High School, private educational institutions located in Koror, Republic of Palau. The schools are located on and form part of the temporalities, estates and properties of the Roman Catholic Church within the Diocese of the Caroline Islands, and as such, within the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Caroline Islands.
Article 2: Ownership
Full title for the ownership of the land on which the schools are located, as well as the buildings and furnishings, belongs to the Catholic Church of Palau.
Article 3: Purpose of the Institution
The purposes of Catholic Mission Schools, supervising Mindszenty High School and Maris Stella Elementary School, are:
a. To provide quality academic education on the primary and secondary level for youth throughout Palau;
b. To foster in each student personal character growth, particularly in the areas of responsibility, concern for others. integrity and initiative;
c. To promote in students Christian values and attitudes that might serve as a lifelong basis for their thinking and action;
d. To instill in students a genuine willingness to place their abilities at the service of the entire Palauan community, but especially of those who are most deprived;
e. To promote a spirit of unity among students and staff, while recognizing and respecting their different religious, ethnic, and social traditions;
f. To assist the Catholic Church of Palau to develop a cadre of trained young men and women to assume leadership roles in the local church and to give service to the broader community;
g. To furnish innovative educational models in methodology and curriculum to the private and public education systems in Palau;
h. To promote understanding of the process and effects of social change in Palau, and to help integrate traditional values and customs with the best elements of the new global influences.
Article 4: School Board
4.1: Powers of the School Board
The School Board of the Palau Catholic Schools shall constitute the governing body of these two schools. The Board shall have the power to determine school policy and ensure its implementation by the administration of these schools. Decisions of the Board may be vacated only by a veto of the Bishop, or his Vicar for Palau, presented in writing within thirty days of the action of the Board.
4.2: Number and Qualifications of Members
The School Board shall consist of no fewer than five and no more than nine members, including ex officio members. They shall be elected in the manner specified in Section 4.3 with the exception of the Director of Schools and the President of the PTA, who shall be ex officio members. Members of the Board shall all be men or women deeply committed to the mission of the Catholic Schools, and they shall be prepared to offer their time and talents to further the aims of these schools.
The initial composition of the Board for incorporation purposes shall include the following: one priest or religious, at least one alumnus/a of the schools, a representative from each of the three parish councils of the Catholic Church, and a high-level employee from the Ministry of Education. The members of this initial Board shall be chosen by the Episcopal Vicar for Palau.
None of the School Board members shall receive a salary from the schools for services rendered as a member of the Board. A member may be reimbursed, however, for travel or other expenses incurred while performing Board functions.
4.3: Election of Members
As the terms of the initial Board members come to an end, the Executive Committee of the Board will nominate new members to replace them. The entire Board will vote on all new members with the exception of ex officio members. Each new Board member must be elected by a majority vote of those present and voting. Special elections to fill vacancies caused by reason of death, resignation or removal from office will be held within 60 days after the position becomes vacant.
4.4: Terms of Office
The term of office is three years except in the case of ex officio members who will serve as long as they hold the designated office. Initially, three will have full terms; three will have two-year terms, and three one-year terms. The length of term of the initial Board members will be determined by lot.
Board members are limited to two full terms: After this a Board member must step down for at least a year, after which he or she may be elected to the Board once again.
4.5: Termination of Membership
Any member of the Board, excepting ex officio members, may resign by submitting his or her resignation in writing to the chairman of the Board. The membership of any Board member, except an ex officio member, may be terminated when it shall be decided by a majority vote of all the members of the Board that the continuance of such membership would not be in the interest of the schools.
Article 5: Duties and Responsibilities of the School Board
The primary duties and responsibilities of the Catholic Mission Schools Board shall be the following:
a. To determine basic school policy and to establish the basic directions for the school;
b. To review and approve the annual budgets for Maris Stella School and Mindszenty High School;
c. To receive and comment upon the annual report made by the Director;
d. To promote and support fundraising and grants for the school;
e. To evaluate the performance of the schools in relation their goals and objectives every two years;
f. To review and approve the guidelines for school curricula;
g. To oversee the operations and procedures of the schools;
h. To approve the nomination for Director of Schools made by the Bishop or his Vicar.
Article 6: Committees
The Board shall have the authority to establish standing committees as well as Ad Hoc committees and to appoint members of the Board to serve on whatever committees it shall establish.
6.1: Executive Committee
The Board shall appoint an Executive Committee of not less than three members of the Board, who, during intervals between meetings of the Board, may transact such business as the Board may explicitly authorize and shall represent the Catholic Mission Schools at legislative hearings, government meetings, and public functions. The Executive Committee shall also be charged with the responsibility of nominating new members of the Board. The Director of the Schools shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. In naming other members of the Executive Committee, the Board shall appoint persons who will be easily available to the Director.
Article 7: Meetings of the Board
7.1: Semi-annual Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held twice a year at a time and place determined by the chairperson of the Board. Insofar as possible, the semi-annual meetings will be scheduled for May and August. Notice of all meetings shall be mailed by the Chairperson of the Board to all members of the Board not less than thirty days before the meeting.
7.2: Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board may be held at any date, time and place whenever called by the Chairperson of the Board. Any member of the Board may request a special meeting through the Chairperson of the Board, provided circumstances warrant - such a meeting. Notice of all special meetings stating the date, time, place and reason shall be sent to all Board members not less than three days before the meeting.
7.3: Quorum
The majority of the whole number of the Board shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board. The vote of the majority of the members present at any meeting shall be sufficient to act upon any matter that may properly come before the Board, unless a greater majority vote is called for by these By-Laws.
7.4: Agenda
The Board, as the governing body of the Catholic Mission Schools, shall during the course of the year at its semi-annual meetings:
a. Review the major policies of both schools;
b. Hear and discuss the annual report of the Director of Schools, including the financial report;
C. Review and discuss reports from the Principals pertaining to the operations of the schools;
d. Review and approve or amend the budget for both schools as proposed by the Director of Schools for the following year;
e. Review and vote on nominations from the Executive Committee for the new Board members to replace those whose terms shall expire;
f. Conduct such elections and appoint such officers and committees as these ByLaws require;
g. Make such other decisions as shall appear necessary for the proper administration of the schools and the achievement of their purposes as set down in these By-Laws.
Article 8: Officers of the Board
The officers of the Board shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary-Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by the Board at the first annual meeting each year in accordance with these By-Laws. The Board may remove any officer of the Board by vote of a majority of all Board members providing such action to remove shall comply with these By-Laws.
8.1: Chairperson of the Board
The Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by a majority of the Board present. Any of the members of the Board, excepting the Director of Schools, shall be eligible to be elected Chairperson. The term of office of the Chairperson shall be for two years, and he or she may be re-elected for an additional term of two years. Upon the expiration of his or her second term, the Chairperson shall not be eligible for re-election until a period of one year has elapsed.
The Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all regular meetings and all special meetings called for any purpose. In the event that the Chairperson is not able to be present for a meeting of the Board, the Executive Committee shall choose one of the members of the Board to serve as Acting Chairperson.
8.2: Secretary of the Board
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board. The Secretary shall also attend to the giving and serving of all notices regarding the date, time and place of meetings of the Board. He or she shall also inform designate members of the Board as to their election for membership on the Board and inquire whether they wish to serve on the same Board. The Secretary shall perform all duties incident to this office subject to the control of the Board, and such duties as may from time to time be entrusted to him or her by the Board.
Article 9: Officers of the Schools
The officers of the schools shall consist of a Director and the Principals of Mindszenty High School and Maris Stella Elementary School.
9.1: Director of the Schools
The Director of the Schools shall be the chief administrative officer of the schools. His or her term of office shall not be designated, but he or she shall be subject to removal from office by a majority vote of the members of the Board present at the meeting. In the event of his or her resignation or incapacity to perform responsibilities, one of the Principals shall become Acting Director or the Schools until the next meeting of the Board. As chief executive of the schools, the Director shall carry out the policies established by the Board, of which the Director shall be an ex officio member. The Director of Schools shall have the responsibility for administration of the schools and shall supervise all other officers of the schools. The Director shall be responsible for employing and discharging all personnel, both academic and administrative, and for prescribing their duties and terms of office.
The Director shall perform all other duties incident to his or her office and shall perform " such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board or any of its committees.
The Director shall present all major policy proposals and major building programs to the Board or to the Executive Committee for approval prior to their inception.
Each year at a Board meeting, the Director shall present a full report of the Schools' programs, including a financial report of the last fiscal year and a budget proposal for the following fiscal year.
9.2: Principals
The Principals shall be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the schools.
The Principal of each school shall supervise the faculty and staff in that school and shall determine their duties, including teaching assignments and assistance in other school activities. The Principal shall also oversee all off-campus programs in which V P students participate as part of their education.
The Principal shall also be responsible for the admission of students and their dismissal for cause. He or she shall also be responsible for all student records, transcripts and other documents.
The principal may appoint assistants for academic matters, or for discipline, or for sugh To V P other offices as may seem desirable to ensure success of all school programs.
The Principal shall provide adequate regulations for study, discipline, and general student behavior as in their judgment shall be necessary for the proper attainment of the purposes of the school.
The Principal shall prepare reports on the academic programs of the school, along with their recommendations for future action, to be submitted annually to the Board through the Director of Schools.
Article 10: Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the whole number of the Board. Amendments shall be within the powers granted by the Bishop of the Diocese of the Caroline Islands, and by the laws of the Republic of Palau.
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Revised: November 7, 2003
+Amando Sasao
Bishop, Diocese of the Caroline Is.