School Constitution

PREAMBLE

The Anglican International School, Jerusalem (AISJ) is an internationally accredited  Christian School for children aged 2-18, Nursery to Grade 12. AISJ is a service  provided by the Israel Trust of the Anglican Church (ITAC) for the community of local  and international families and is an integral part of ITAC’s ministry in Jerusalem. The  governing amutah is The Israel Trust of the Anglican Church which is registered in  Israel as amutah number 58-005-172-0. 

The Judeo-Christian scriptures are the source for the school’s framework of Christian  beliefs and values. 

The ownership and government of the school is the Israel Trust of the Anglican  Church.

AISJ MISSION STATEMENT & BELIEFS

AISJ’s mission is to create a student-focused academic and educational environment  which aspires to achieve excellence through aspiring students to become  responsible citizens in the world. It promotes Christian beliefs and values. It also  respects the rich and diverse communities within the school and in its unique  location.  

Within AISJ, we believe that: 

• Each member of the community should be valued as a uniquely created  individual. 

• Students should be encouraged and enabled to realize their own full potential. • Our school environment must enable the whole being - spiritual, moral,  emotional, intellectual, social, and physical - to be nurtured and developed. • Mutual respect and appreciation flow from a fostering of attitudes of honesty,  integrity, care and social responsibility. 

• The international nature of our community enhances the learning experiences  and social interactions of our students, staff and families. 

• Parental support and involvement are vital to the realization of a shared  community vision. 

• Effective learning is achieved through stimulating students' curiosity, creativity  and enthusiasm. 

• A spirit of co-operation, coupled with the development of individual study  skills, self-discipline, and analytical thinking will equip our students for present  and future learning and life.

FINANCES

1. The running of the school shall be financed by money received from parents  and guardians of students, as well as private donations. The level of fees will  be set in consultation between the ITAC Committee and the Board of  Directors. 

2. In order to provide bursaries and funds for general development of the school  site, funds may be raised from other sources. Bursaries will be awarded by a  School Board nominated sub-committee. An appeal of a bursary decision will  be made by the Chair of the School Board.

3. The AISJ scholarship is awarded on the bases of merit. 

4. Disbursement of money within the school shall be determined by an annual  budget. The budget will be approved by the School Board, a copy of which will  be sent to the ITAC Board for approval. 

5. The Finance Committee Chair will provide regular updates on the budget to  the School Board. 

6. The School Board will provide a report on the budget in their annual report to  parents. 

7. The Director will make available in the School Office for the scrutiny of  parents and staff a full set of the previous year's accounts when they have  been independently audited. These audited accounts will be provided  annually by ITAC.

THE ROLE OF THE ITAC BOARD

1. To define and ensure the Christian nature and character of the school.

2. To provide a constitutional framework for the management of the school. 3. To be committed to the continued development of AISJ as a successful  Christian school. 

4. To provide the site and buildings for the school’s use. 

5. To provide prayer support to staff and School Board 

6. To consult with the School Board over any plans to develop the Hanevi’im  site. 

7. To produce annual audited school accounts. 

8. To ratify the appointment of the School Director. 

9. To appoint the Director of ITAC and therefore the Chair of the School Board. 10.To respond to grievance against the Chair of the School Board 11. As the owner, ITAC has the ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the school.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

1. To oversee all financial issues, including annual financial audits, financial policies and annual budgets and the maintenance of the school buildings.

2. To decide aims and policies for the school within the overall aims and policies set by the ITAC Committee.

3. To continually look to improve the standards of education.

4. To ensure a Biblical based Christian nature and character of the school is maintained.

5. To appoint the Chairs of sub-committees and any other officers (for example, Safeguarding Governor).

6. To appoint individuals or panels as the School Board deems necessary to advise on fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.

7. To review the annual School Development Plan.

8. To ensure the curriculum is delivered effectively.

9. To ensure welfare exists of all staff and students.

10.To hire and evaluate the Director against previously agreed targets and to dismiss the Director according to procedure.

11.In any circumstance in which the Director or his/her nominee is unable to assume their duties, the Chair of the School Board is responsible for appointing an Acting Director. This decision must be ratified by the School Board within seven days.

12.To review policies on hiring, evaluation, promotion, and salaries and compensation of AISJ staff which are consistent with Israeli legal requirements and in line with best personnel practice; and, to review, if necessary, the dismissal of staff for reasons of misconduct or incapability.

13.To act as a link between the local community and the school. 14.To produce an annual report for the parents summarising the progress made by the school in the previous year in achieving the targets set in the school development plan.

15.To hold an annual parents meeting in the summer term.

THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

1. To embrace the Mission Statement for the school and to communicate it  effectively. 

2. To ensure that the aims, policies, and Christian values of the school are  implemented. 

3. To facilitate an effective and positive relationship between the school and the  rest of ITAC. 

4. To be responsible for day to day management of the school. 

5. To manage the development of the curriculum and its assessment. 

6. To monitor the day-to-day delivery of the curriculum.

7. To advise on preparation for the budget.

8. To manage the expenditures in line with the annual budget. 

9. To prepare costed proposals for the school development plan and monitor its  implementation. 

10.To oversee the care of students. 

11.To manage the internal discipline of students and staff.

12.To manage the professional development of staff and their performance  management. 

13.To implement the policy for special educational needs. 

14.To manage buildings and school site on a day-to-day basis.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE AISJ SCHOOL BOARD

1. The School Board shall consist of at least seven governors and not to exceed  10, to include the Director of ITAC, the Director of AISJ. 

2. The Director of ITAC or their nominated representative will be the Chair of the  School Board. The Vice-Chair will be elected by the School Board from its  membership. 

3. All voting members of the School Board must be committed Christians who  are fully supportive of the aims of the school.  

4. Members of the School Board will serve for a term of three years which can  be renewed for two additional terms. 

5. A member of the School Board may be dismissed if deemed by the ITAC  Board to be failing to fulfil the responsibilities of being a governor.

MEETINGS

1. The School Board shall meet at a minimum of once a term. 

2. The board meetings are called by the Chair and the agenda is set.  

3. The quorum for meetings shall be at least 4 members in attendance (51%).  

4. Any meeting of the School Board that will include as an agenda item proposals to amend specific provisions of the constitution or the school mission statement, Christian School document, structure of the board, or dissolving the Board, must be notified to all members of the Board at least 14 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

1. Only the School Board is entitled to make policy decisions. The School Board  will look to each Advisory Committee for advice as necessary. 
2. Each advisory committee shall be constituted by the School Board.  Committees will meet at least once a term (every first Monday of each term),  will maintain minutes and report to the School Board. Each committee may  co-opt non-voting members to offer specific advice from time to time. 
3. The School Board will have a standing Finance Committee under the  chairmanship of the Chair of Finance. It may constitute sub-committees from  time to time. Members of the Board will agree to particular roles for aspects of  the development of the school.

DISSOLVING THE BOARD

1. The Board may only be dissolved if it becomes clear to the ITAC Board that  the School Board is taking decisions that are not consistent with the  Constitution. In such circumstances, the School Board will be notified in  writing by the ITAC Board. Unless the School Board can satisfactorily explain  and justify its actions or agree to rescind its decisions the ITAC Board may  proceed with dissolution procedures. 
2. The School Board will then be reconstituted by the ITAC Board.

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