Governance Review and Recommendation

Honoring Our Past In 1968, representatives from seven area Christian schools joined together to form the Grand Rapids Christian School Association 1

Focusing on Our Future The articles and by-laws, originally drafted and approved in 1968, remain today They served us well, but the time has come to realign the system for the next 50 years 2

Focusing on Our Future The articles and by-laws, originally drafted and approved in 1968, remain today They served us well, but the time has come to realign the system for the next 50 years Ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for our schools in order to advance our mission… 3

Focusing on Our Future The articles and by-laws, originally drafted and approved in 1968, remain today They served us well, but the time has come to realign the system for the next 50 years …respecting current practice and traditions, while providing flexibility for today and in the future. 4

Responding to the Challenge How should GRCS be governed to put itself in the best position going forward? How should GRCS be organized administratively to maximize the effectiveness of changes in campus location and delivery of curricular and co-curricular activities? The Board of Trustees asked the Superintendent to appoint a task force to study and make recommendations addressing the following: 5

Taking Action September-October ‘08:  Task Force formed and convenes in its first meeting October-December ‘08:  Focus Groups identified and interviews conducted January-April ‘09:  Initial findings of Focus Groups reviewed/compiled  Various organizational models studied, pros and cons considered, plans reviewed with building principals  Recommendations developed May ‘09:  First draft of governance and organizational structure recommendations reviewed by Board of Trustees June-October ‘09:  Additional supporting documents developed and presented to Board of Trustees  Review of initial recommendations with individual District Boards completed  Legal documents developed, reviewed, and further revised by Task Force and Board of Trustees  Board of Trustees approves revised Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws March 2010:  Grand Rapids Christian Schools membership vote to approve revised organizational documents 6

The Research: Survey Background We interviewed over 160 stakeholders including: Teachers Parents Central Office Staff Principal or former principals Board members (district or BOT) Staff, including the Athletic Director All interviews were conducted by Glenn Triezenberg or Bill Boer Interviews were primarily one-on-one lasting more than one hour each 7

ALL GRCS Schools were represented in the interviews: GR Christian High GR Christian Middle Evergreen Rockford Creston Oakdale Millbrook Other Christian Schools that were represented in the interviews included: Holland Christian Ada Christian Westside Christian 8 The Research: Survey Background

Additional Comments on Current Governance System Dysfunctional Board(s) mired in administrative detail… “too busy doing stuff”…need to be strategic, step back, take a deep breath… No clear expectations No one I know is in clear favor of current board As enrollment declines, what is the back-up plan? “Make it vision setting, not operational” No board job descriptions Need choices of board members—good selection criteria Helpful to have lots of committees so parents are not disenfranchised “Too hard to get things done with 4 different boards” Pay attention as to who gets to attend meetings—executive sessions Need talent on the boards, not noise makers More of an expanded PTO than a board Takes a lot of time The system is broken… Lot of people engaged; very little value; parents have no role 9 The Research: Subjective Outcomes

Listening to Our Stakeholders Educational Program: Retain and strengthen our distinctively Christian education Build and support a stronger sense of community Aggressively pursue strengthened programs 10

Listening to Our Stakeholders Organization and Structure: Affirm and establish a single governing body Retain a K-12 association of schools Create and maintain a sustainable financial model Ensure a strategic vs. operational focus for the board Increase access to board participation, nomination, and selection Provide parents with meaningful opportunities to engage their children’s schools Establish a clear administrative reporting structure 11

Planning Our Future What hasn’t changed 12

Planning Our Future What has changed New governance structure Number of board members Committees Board member nomination procedure How parents provide input 13

The Current Board of Trustees Model 14 The 13 member Board of Trustees consists of: 7 members appointed by individual district boards 6 at-large members

Planning Our Future: Unified Board of Trustees 15

Planning Our Future: Board Nominations 16

Engaging Our Parents Through Principal-Parent Cabinets “PPC’s” 17 Planning Our Future

18 Planning Our Future Legal document changes 1.“Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for Grand Rapids Christian Schools” 2.“Restated Bylaws for Grand Rapids Christian Schools” What does this entail? Board of Trustee configuration Nominating procedures Legal counsel comments Membership vote

19 Planning Our Future Legal document changes 1.Highlighted Sections: “Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for Grand Rapids Christian Schools” 2.Highlighted Sections: “Restated Bylaws for Grand Rapids Christian Schools”

The New Governance Plan in Summary: One Board of Trustees One board member nomination procedure: more democratic Clear administrative reporting structure Parent involvement at each school building level where it counts: using PPC’s 20

In conclusion Unity and Sustainability “Great while it lasted” group is gone No choice Principals very much in favor of this model Sustainability not Ideology Engage parents more at buildings where it counts Maximize what is not changing No peer Christian school systems have multiple Boards Celebrates Unity 21

Questions & Answers 22