Unity Institute of Christian Education Constitution

Constitution

Preamble

Unity Institute of Christian Education 

(hereafter also referred to as School or Unity) 

is a Christian School founded by God-fearing, Bible-believing,

Christian individuals and is based on Biblical Principles. Our Mission is to provide young people with a Christ-centered

worldview and God-honoring education.

I. Basic Theology

II. Administration

III. Staff Requirements

IV. Board Requirements

V. Student Requirements

VI. Parental Requirements 
VII. Admission Policy

VIII. Student Disciplinary Policy
 IX. Staff Disciplinary Policy 
X. Meeting Policy

XI. Financial Policy

XII. Morality Clause

XIII. Amendments

I. Basic Theology

Unity Institute of Christian Education has several points of Basic Theological Doctrines that Staff must agree with to be employed by Unity. These basic points are not reflective of any one denomination, but are designed as a basis for Christian education at Unity.

1. God is perfect, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.

2. The Bible is God-given Scripture which is infallible.

3. Man is a fallen, sinful creature and cannot redeem himself.

4. Jesus Christ is God, who came as a Man, died, and rose from the dead. 5. Jesus’ life and teaching are the template for Godly living.

6. Jesus' death is God's perfect atonement for mankind's sin.

7. Man can only be justified through Christ's righteousness.

8. After Believers have been justified, sanctification can and should follow.

These core items of the Christian faith will need to be ratified in full by Staff of Unity before employment. These items are non-negotiable.

II. Unity Administration

Unity Institute of Christian Education Administration shall consist of three branches:

1. The Unity Institute Executive Committee (hereafter also referred to as Executives, Unity Committee, or Executive Committee)

2. The Unity Institute Board of Directors (hereafter also referred to as Board, School Board, Unity Directors, Directors, or Unity Board) and

3. Principal.

The Unity Board of Directors shall consist of one board member per 12 enrolled students, to a maximum of 7 Board members and a minimum of 3 Board members. The Unity Principal shall not be considered part of the Unity Board of Directors but shall be considered a separate portion of Unity Administration. However, the Unity Principal may be elected to the Board of Directors separately. 

The Unity Executive Committee Administrative duties are as follows.

1. Oversight of Financial Issues.

2. The right to attend any and all Unity Meetings, including Board of Directors meetings.

3. Executive power to veto decisions of the Board of Directors, with a two-thirds majority. Said veto must be in writing, with the signatures of two thirds of members of the Executive Committee. This veto must occur within 30 days of the Board of Directors decision in order to take effect.

4. The removal of Members of the Board of Directors in accordance with the guidelines found under Article IV.

The Unity Board's Administrative duties are as follows.

1. Hiring and overseeing of Unity Principal.

2. Hiring and termination of Unity Staff, as needed.

3. Discipline as needed for both Unity Staff and Students.

4. Decisions on altering Curriculum.

5. Supervision of Yearly Unity Calendar, Yearly Classroom Rules, and the

Annual Unity Institute Handbook.

6. Mediation between Staff and Parents and/or Staff and Staff when

irreconcilable by Unity Principal.

7. Shall have authority to schedule any Unity Board, Staff, and/or Parent

Teacher meetings that the Unity Board shall see fit at the sole discretion of Unity Board.

The Unity Principal's Administrative duties are as follows:

1. Hiring and overseeing of Unity Staff.

2. Creation of Yearly Unity Calendar, Yearly Classroom Rules, and the Annual Unity Institute Handbook.

3. Enforcement of Unity Calendar and Yearly Policies.

4. Daily operation of Unity .

5. Mediation between Staff and Parents, Staff and Students, Staff and

Parents, and/or Parents and Parents as required.

6. Discipline as needed of both Unity Staff and Students.

III. Staff Requirements

Requirements for Staff Positions at Unity are as follows:

Staff Positions shall be further split into three basic categories: (A.) Classroom Teachers

(B.) Elective Teachers and

(C.) Principal

Requirements and job description for each category are as follows.

A. Classroom Teachers

1. Requirements

Ratification of Unity Basic Theology Statement.

Baptism in a Christian Church. (see Unity definition of Christian Church under Morality Clause)

Ability to be in Texas for the 9-10 Month School year.

Attendance of any and all Parent/Teacher meetings, staff meetings, extracurricular school functions, and/or yearly conferences as required or requested by Unity Administration.

Presence at Unity from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on any and all full school days marked on yearly calendar. Absence for illness and/or prior arrangements may be allowed at the sole discretion of Unity Administration.

Submission to Staff Morality Clause and the Annual Unity Institute Handbook on relevant Unity matters. (Yearly policies on items including Dress Code will be published prior to Unity School Year)

2. Job Description

Classroom Teachers shall be employed to teach any and all subject matter of the Students assigned to said Classroom Teacher as scheduled by the Unity Administration. Classroom Teachers shall enforce Classroom Rules (as defined by Unity Yearly policies published prior to Unity School Year) and employ discipline in said Classroom. If required, Classroom Teachers shall have permission to send Students to Unity Principal for disciplinary action. Classroom Teachers shall be accountable to Unity Principal in all Unity matters.

B. Elective Teachers

1. Requirements

Ratification of Unity Basic Theology Statement.

Baptism in a Christian Church. (see Unity definition of Christian Church under Morality Clause)

Ability to be in Texas for the portion of time that their contract states.

Attendance of any and all Parent/Teacher meetings, staff meetings, extracurricular school functions, and/or yearly conferences that are required or requested by Unity Administration. 

Presence at Unity during the hours agreed upon in their contract on any school days agreed upon in writing between Unity and said Elective Teacher(s), absence for illness and/or prior arrangements may be allowed at the

sole discretion of Unity Administration.

Submission to Staff Morality Clause and the Annual Unity Institute Handbook on relevant Unity matters. (Yearly policies on items including Dress Code will be published prior to Unity School Year)

2. Job Description

Elective Teachers shall be employed to teach one or more particular subject matters of the Students assigned to said Elective Teacher as scheduled by the Unity Administration. Elective Teachers shall enforce Classroom Rules (as defined by Unity Yearly policies published prior to Unity School Year) and employ discipline in said Classroom. If required Elective Teachers shall have permission to send Students to Unity Principal for disciplinary action. Elective Teachers shall be accountable to Unity Principal in all Unity matters.

C. Principal

1. Requirements

Baptism in a Christian Church. (see Unity definition of Christian Church under Morality Clause)

Ability to be in Texas for a 12 Month period in order to prepare for the School year.

A. Ratification of Unity Basic Theology Statement.

Attendance of any and all Parent/Teacher meetings, staff meetings, extracurricular school functions, and/or yearly conferences as requested by Unity Administration.

Presence at Unity from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on any school days marked on yearly calendar. Absence for illness and/or prior arrangements may be allowed at the sole discretion of Unity Administration.

Submission to Staff Morality Clause and the Annual Unity Institute Handbook on relevant Unity matters. (Yearly policies on items including Dress Code will be published prior to Unity School Year)

2. Job Description

Unity Principal shall be employed to oversee daily operation of Unity, hire staff as needed, when the Board of Directors so requires, enforce discipline as required in both Students and Unity Staff, and mediate between Unity Staff, Students, and Parents. Principal shall also be required to teach any and all subjects agreed upon by Unity Administration and as needed. Shall plan and schedule all Field Trips, Unity Programs, and Unity Meetings. Unity Principal shall be accountable to Unity Board in all matters.

IV. Board Requirements

The Selection of Members for the Board of Directors shall be as follows.

1. If a new Member is required or desired for the Board of Directors, any current or former member of the Executive Committee or a current Member of the Board of Directors may nominate an appointee. After nomination, the Board of Directors may vote to accept or deny the nomination. If accepted, the appointee shall become a new Member of the Board of Directors after a review period of thirty days, during which time the Executive Committee may chose to veto this decision. If for any reason, the appointee is not accepted, the process is repeated until an appointee is accepted and passes the thirty day review period. 

2. If a current Member of the Board of Directors voluntarily retires, that Member of the Board of Directors may nominate an appointee. After nomination, the Board of Directors may vote to accept or deny the nomination. If accepted, the appointee shall become a new Member of the Board of Directors after a review period of thirty days, during which time the Executive Committee may chose to veto this decision. If for any reason, the appointee is not accepted, the retiring Director may nominate a new appointee and the process is repeated until an appointee is accepted and passes the thirty day review period.

3. If for any reason a current Member is removed from the board, any current or former member of the Executive Committee or a current Member of the Board of Directors may nominate an appointee. After nomination, the Board of Directors may vote to accept or deny the nomination. If accepted, the appointee shall become a new Member of the Board of Directors after a review period of thirty days, during which time the Executive Committee may chose to veto this decision. If for any reason, the appointee is not accepted, the process is repeated until an appointee is accepted and passes the thirty day review period. 

Once in office, Members of the Board of Directors may not be removed from office unless they willingly resign or there is a unanimous vote of the remaining Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Such a vote cannot take place without the presence of all members of both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

Requirements for Members of the Board of Directors for Unity shall be as follows:

1. Attendance to Unity Board of Directors meetings.

2. Adherence of the Dress Code for meetings. The Dress code for Unity Board members for meetings shall be business attire, with additional details to be found in the Yearly Policy of Dress Code.

3. Active and positive promotion of Unity Institute’s goals.

V. Student Requirements

Attendance for regular classes for a minimum of 80% of school days marked on Yearly Unity calendar.

Submission to Unity Institute Staff and current Unity Institute Policies on relevant matters.

Students who contract communicable illnesses are asked to notify Unity Administration. Students with said illness are also asked to remain home during period of communicability.

VI. Parental Requirements

Requirements for Parents and Legal Guardians (hereafter referred to as Parents, and/or Parents of Student) of Students enrolled in Unity shall be as follows.

Completion of any enrollment and/or medical forms required by Unity and/or the State of Texas prior to admission of that Parent's Students.

Payment of any tuition fees as required by the Annual Unity Institute Handbook.

Any concerns, complaints, questions, and comments are to be brought to the Unity Principal before bringing said concern to any Unity Staff or Board member. Any concerns, complains, questions or comments regarding Unity Principal shall be instead brought directly to the Unity Board.

VII. Admission Policy

It is the policy of Unity Institute of Christian Education to admit students who meet the following requirements.

Students must be between the ages of five to nineteen.

Kindergarten students must be five years of age by December 1st of the year they are enroll Kindergarten. Exceptions must be passed by Unity Administration.

Students transferring from other schools may be required to take any placement and/or competency tests that are deemed necessary by Unity Administration.

All potential Students and said Student's Parents shall be interviewed prior to admission to Unity by Unity Administration. Any Student may be interviewed by Unity Administration regardless of previous enrollment as well. Said interview shall be used to determine student eligibility to be enrolled in Unity. Students may be denied enrollment by sole discretion of Unity Administration. 

VIII. Student Disciplinary Policy

It shall be the policy of Unity to retain the right to discipline students enrolled in Unity as needed and determined by Unity Staff and Administration. The following methods shall be standard means of corrective action when deemed necessary.

Detention shall be assigned by any member of the Unity Staff and be enforced by Unity Principal. Time and duration of said detention shall vary as determined solely by Unity Administration.

Suspension shall be assigned by Unity Administration and enforced by Unity Administration as well. Duration of Suspension shall vary as determined solely by Unity Administration.

Corporal punishment shall be assigned by Unity Principal and carried out by Unity Principal. Corporal punishment shall only be used in cases where a minimum of one parent or guardian of the student to be disciplined has been contacted and has given verbal consent to each instance of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment therefore may be delayed due to inability to contact said parent or parents. Permission to carry out corporal punishment may be denied by said parent or guardian as well. Alternative punishment of student will then be used.

Expulsion shall be used as a means of discipline only after Unity Board has agreed that such a method of corrective action is necessary.

Staff may also use other methods of discipline within their own classrooms, at their discretion. These methods may be reviewed and modified by Unity Administration at any time.

IX. Staff Discipline Policy

Staff at Unity shall be subject to discipline at the discretion of the Unity Administration. Such disciplinary actions may be, but are not limited to suspension of employment, termination of employment, or any other disciplinary actions as approved by the Unity Administration.

X. Meeting Policy

The Board of Directors of the Unity Institute of Christian Education shall meet no less than once every sixty days. A quorum of two-thirds of elected Directors must be present. Every Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be led by the Principal of Unity. However if the Principal is absent or unable, then the remaining Directors will select a Speaker from amongst themselves. 

The Speaker’s duties shall be to introduce the topic or ask someone to do so. After introduction of the topic, the Speaker will lead a discussion of the topic. The goal shall be to present a clear picture of the topic being discussed by proper questioning and leading of the discussion. Upon a motion to vote, seconded by another member, the Speaker shall initiate a vote by raising of hands, standing, ballot, or voice vote. This shall be duly counted and recorded. In all votes, a majority of more than fifty percent shall be accepted. In the case of a tie, a resolution will not be passed.

Guidelines for meetings of the Board of Directors shall be as follows.

1. Directors shall keep their remarks in relation to the topic being discussed.

2.Personal remarks shall be deemed out of order.

3.Directors shall realized that upon making a motion, discussion and a vote are to follow, initiated by the Speaker.

XI. Financial Policy

Financial operation shall be carried on efficiently and without any gains to its members and all funds shall be disbursed in an orderly manner in the interest of its objectives. In the event of the church’s dissolution and after liabilities have been paid off, the balance is to be donated to a similar non-profit organization or other charitable organization that is qualified for exemption under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The treasurer is required to furnish a complete financial statement and present it at the end of its fiscal year or as otherwise deemed necessary.

XII. Morality Clause

Staff at Unity shall be bound to the Morality Clause of Unity Institute of Christian Education. Violation of Morality Clause may cause corrective action by Unity board and/or the immediate termination of Staff member. The Morality Clause is as follows:

Staff shall be faithful attendants of a local Christian Church. (Christian Church shall be defined as any Church that adheres to the Basic Theological Doctrines of Unity)

Staff shall be required to be one of the following A. Single B. Married or C. Widowed. Staff under any of these categories will be required to remain faithful to their marriage vows or lack thereof in accord with Exodus 20:14.

Staff shall also be required to keep their speech clean of profanity on School property and at School events in accord with James 5:12 and Exodus 20:7

Issues between Unity staff shall be settled by the Administration or a Church organization that has been approved by the Administration. No issues between staff, administration or parents shall be handled in a court of law, in accord with 1 Corinthians 6:1-7.

Staff shall not be involved in violent behavior on School property. Staff members shall not be involved in violent behavior outside of school events as this may affect the Christian witness of Unity Institute.

XIII. Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by Unity Administration with a majority vote of more than two thirds of the Administration. Proposed Amendments must be presented to the Board of Directors in writing during a Director’s Meeting. Said Amendments must then be read in full, with appropriate time given for review. Once any one of the Directors makes a motion to vote and is seconded, the Board of Directors will vote to ratify or veto the Amendment. If the Amendment is ratified, it will have a thirty day review period wherein the Executive Committee may veto the Amendment with a two-thirds majority. If the thirty day period passes without an Executive veto the Amendment shall be added to this Constitution.