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.

AISJ MISSION STATEMENT & BELIEFS

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

Within AISJ, we believe that:

The Christian character of the school is defined in “AISJ: A Christian School” which is an annexe to and a part of this Constitution.

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.

FINANCES

The running of the school shall be financed by fee 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 School Board.
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.
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 Committee.
The Finance Committee Chair will provide regular updates on the budget to the School Board.
The School Board will provide a report on the budget in their annual report to parents.
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.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

THE ROLE OF ITAC

To define and ensure the Christian nature and character of the school
To provide a constitutional framework for the management of the school.
To be committed to the continued development of AISJ as a successful Christian school.
To provide the site and buildings for the school’s use.
To be the employer of the staff and provide contracts, payment of salaries and insurance. ITAC will work in partnership with the School Board to dismiss staff for reasons of proven misconduct or incapability.
To appoint members to serve on the School Board.
To provide advice and training for the School Board.
To provide pastoral and prayer support to staff and School Board
To consult with the School Board over any plans to develop the Hanevi’im site.
To produce annual audited school accounts.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

To oversee all financial issues, including annual financial audits, financial policies and annual budgets and the maintenance of the school buildings
To decide aims and policies for the school within the overall aims and policies set by the ITAC Committee.
To continually look to improve the standards of education.
To ensure the Christian nature and character of the school is maintained, as defined in the document “AISJ: A Christian School.”
To determine the officers of the School Board and the membership of the Advisory Committees in consultation with the ITAC Committee.
To appoint individuals or panels as the School Board deems necessary to advise on fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.
To draw up a school development plan.
To ensure the curriculum is delivered effectively.
To hire and evaluate the Director against previously agreed targets and to dismiss the Director according to procedure.
To set policies on hiring, evaluation, promotion and salaries and compensation of AISJ staff which are consistent with ITAC contractual agreements and legal requirements and which are in line with best personnel practice, and, in partnership with the ITAC Committee to dismiss staff for reasons of proven misconduct or incapability
To act as a link between the local community and the school.
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.
To hold an annual parents meeting in the summer term.

THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

To embrace the Mission Statement for the school and to communicate it effectively.
To ensure that the aims, policies and values of the school are implemented in practice.
To facilitate a close and positive relationship between the school and the rest of ITAC.
To be responsible for day to day management of the school.
To manage the development of the curriculum and its assessment
To monitor the day to day delivery of the curriculum
To advise on preparation for the budget
To manage the expenditures in line with the annual budget
To prepare costed proposals for the school development plan and monitor its implementation
To oversee the care of students
To manage the internal discipline of students and staff
To manage the professional development of staff and their performance management
To implement the policy for special educational needs
To manage buildings and school site on a day to day basis
To encourage and facilitate educational opportunities for the local believing Community in Israel.
In the absence of the Director, an alternative nominated by the Director, shall assume the duties of the Director.
In any circumstance in which the Director or his 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.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE AISJ SCHOOL BOARD

The School Board shall consist of 7 governors, to include the Director of ITAC, the Director of AISJ, at least one member of staff, and at least one parent.
The Director of ITAC or their nominated representative will be the Chair of the School Board. The Vice-Chair will be elected by the SchoolBoard from its membership.
All voting members of the School Board must be committed Christians who are fully supportive of the aims of the school. The School Board may co-opt a maximum of 2 non voting members who do not need to be Christians serving for 1 year.
Members of the School Board will normally serve for a period of three years which can be extended by mutual agreement between the ITAC Committee and the individual concerned.
A member of the School Board may be dismissed if deemed by the ITAC Committee to be failing to fulfil the responsibilities of being a governor.

MEETINGS

The School Board shall meet at a minimum of once a term.
The quorum for meetings shall be at least 4 members in attendance.
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

Only the School Board is entitled to make policy decisions. The School Board will look to each Advisory Committee for advice as necessary.
Each advisory committee shall be constituted by the School Board. Committees will agree to their own meeting pattern, 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.
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.

APPOINTMENTS OF THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF

The Director must be a practising Christian. The Director will appoint a majority of teaching staff who are also practising Christians.
Every effort will be made to ensure that all senior management in the school will be practising Christians.
Any Search Committee for the Director shall be constituted by the School Board and chaired by the Director of ITAC or their nominated representative.
An appointment committee will be formed from the School Board/ ITAC Committee and its decision should be ratified by both boards.
A School Board member should be involved in the selection process and appointment of teaching and administrative staff.

DISSOLVING THE BOARD

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

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