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CONSTITUTION
OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE
DIOCESE OF PHOENIX,
ARIZONA
Article I. Preamble
Section 1. Mission:
It shall be the mission of the Diocesan Catholic School Board of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (hereinafter referred to as “Diocese”), as established herein below, to promote a system of Catholic schools to bring forth Christian virtues by transmitting and integrating Gospel teachings in an educative process which, within an excellent program of academics, directs the students toward a conscious choice of living a responsible Catholic life.
Section 2. Goals:
To fulfill such mission, the Diocesan Catholic School Board of the Roman Catholic Diocese hereby sets the following goals for itself:
The Diocesan Catholic School Board shall formulate and propose policies to the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (hereinafter referred to as the “Bishop”), designed to:
A. Train young people to live knowingly and understandingly as children of God through a school environment which proclaims the Gospel Values revealed in Christ, promotes fellowship in community, and encourages service to others.
B. Prepare students to practice the Gospel Values and transfer them into action in order to accomplish the twin purposes of the educational effort of the Catholic Church--personal sanctification and social reform.
C. Encourage students to internalize social justice concerns and develop peacemaking skills as they learn to be sensitive to human needs, and respond positively to those needs through individual and joint action.
D. Create and maintain in the Catholic school a living, conscious, active community of faith where teachers and staff, by word and by integration of Catholic faith in their own personal conduct, enable students to live a life in Christ.
E. Encourage a value-based teaching and learning atmosphere permeated with the Gospel spirit of freedom and love.
F. Provide quality education in all areas of the Catholic school curriculum without regard to economic, cultural, ethnic or racial background of the students.
Article II. Creation and Name
There is hereby established an association of persons, which is organized under the name of “The Diocesan Catholic School Board of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona” (hereinafter referred to as “Board”).
Article III. Purposes and Authority of the Board
Section 1.
The Board shall be advisory to the Bishop in all diocesan school matters for which the Bishop seeks the board’s advice and counsel including, but not limited to, preparing and submitting proposed goals and objectives of the Diocesan Catholic school system.
Section 2.
The Board shall give advice to the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office and the Bishop on financial matters concerning all Catholic schools within the Diocese.
Section 3.
The Board shall recommend to the Catholic Schools Office and the Bishop approval or disapproval of the annual budgets for Diocesan Catholic high schools.
Section 4.
The Board shall formulate and propose written policies designed to further the goals specified in Article I of this Constitution. Such policies shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop.
Section 5.
The Board shall continually monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its policies and particularly the feasibility of application and enforcement by the Catholic schools within the Diocese.
Article IV. Membership
Section 1. Number:
The Board shall consist of not less than fourteen (14) nor more than nineteen (19) voting members. The Bishop, the Executive Director of Christian Formation and Education, the Superintendent of Schools and at least two priests appointed by the Bishop are ex-officio members of the Board. The priests as ex-officio members are voting members of the Board.
Section 2. General Eligibility:
Any person who is eighteen years or older and who has shown a deep interest in and commitment to Catholic education and shall be willing to give time and energy for the betterment of Catholic education and who is a positive contributor to the parish in the diocese in which he/she participates is eligible to become a member of the Board.
Section 3. Selection by Appointment:
The members of the Board shall be appointed by the Bishop in accordance with the Bylaws of the Board.
Section 4. Non-Eligibility:
No employee of the Catholic Schools Office or of any Catholic school in the diocese may be a member of the Board. No person may serve on a local school board and the Diocesan School Board simultaneously.
Section 5. Term of Membership:
Each member shall serve a term of three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms unless requested to do so by the Bishop. Priests appointed by the Bishop are also subject to this term of membership.
Article V. Officers
Section 1. Officers:
The officers of the Board shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary and a Past President.
Section 2. Eligibility:
Any voting member of the Board is eligible for election as an officer of the Board.
Section 3. Term:
The terms of any officer of the Board shall be for one year. No member of the Board shall hold the same office for more than two (s) consecutive terms.
Section 4. Duties:
The duties of the officers of the Board shall be established in the Board’s Bylaws.
Article VI. Meetings
The Board shall meet regularly and especially as provided in the Board’s Bylaws.
Article VII. Amendments
This Constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the authorized voting members of the Board and upon approval by the Bishop; provided, however, that any proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at the regular meeting of the Board immediately preceding the meeting at which such a vote is taken.
Date: November, 2006
Approval:
Peter J. Hill
President of the Board
Date: November, 2006
Approval:
MaryBeth Mueller
Executive Director, Division of Education and Evangelization
Date: November, 2006
Approval:
Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of Phoenix
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