"Carver Model" or Policy Governance:

Policy governance is a method of governing an organization that is based on the development of policies. These policies identify the many ways in which a not-for-profit organization needs to show accountability. They also provide a framework for the Board of Directors to do its job.

The Board of Directors is ultimately accountable for the organization. Many Boards tend to be “hands on”. They actively manage the day-to-day business of the organization. But a policy governance Board identifies which policies needs to be developed. It develops the policies. And then it holds itself and staff responsible for doing business within these policies.

New Board Member Selection:

The board is a self perpetuating board and is selected by the current board.

The Board member qualifications include:

1. All directors must be individuals
2. It is recommended that all directors have been involved with the HCS for at least one year.
3. All directs must have a personal born again relationship with Jesus Christ and be living a life based on Biblical principles.
4. All directors must have maintained consistent attendance and involvement with a local church, establishing a relationship equivalent to membership in church, for a period no less than one year.
5. All directors must have read and be in agreement with the adopted Statement of Faith and the Mission Statement.
6. A director may not be an employee of this corporation.
7. No more than three directors may be members (see 2.2.4) of the same church.
8. No person shall be denied membership on the basis of age, race, color, or national origin.

The Board Job Description:

1. The board determines vision, mission and core values.
2. The board maintains board standing policies on all aspects of governance.
3. The board selects a chief executive and holds him or her accountable to policies.
4. The board supports the head administrator and assesses his/her performance.
5. The board ensures effective organizational planning.
6. The board develops and approves the major goals, or desired results and the strategic plan.
7. The board ensures financial solvency and integrity.
8. The board approves, monitors and strengthens the school's programs and services.
9. The board helps represent the school externally.
10. The board ensures legal as well as ethical integrity and maintains accountability.
11. The board encourages and nurtures the chief executive and staff.
12. The board serves as the “final court of appeals” for unresolved internal disputes.
13. The board recruits and orients new board members.
14. The board evaluates and improves itself.

The 3 Officer positions are: Board Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary

Job Descriptions for the officers' positions are:

Chairperson:

1. The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board and directors at which he/she is present.
2. The chair shall assure that the board of directors is advised on all significant matters of HCS business.
3. He/she shall act as principal spokesperson and representative of HCS.
4. He/she shall have the general powers and duties as are usually vested in a chair of a board and shall have other powers and duties that may be prescribed by the board of directors or the by-laws.
5. It is recommended that the chair be a member of the board of directors for at least one year prior to holding this position.

Vice-Chair:

1. The vice-chair shall preside at meetings of the board of directions at which the chair is absent and, in the absence of the chair, shall have the other powers and perform the other duties of the chair.
2. The vice-chair shall also have the other powers and perform other such duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors.

Secretary:

1. The secretary shall prepare minutes of the meetings of the board of directors and authenticate records of the board.
2. The secretary shall make sure that the following are kept as permanent records: minutes of all meetings of the board of directors, a record of all board actions taken by the directors without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by committees of the board of directors in place of the board of directors on behalf of HCS.
3. The secretary shall insure safe keeping of the corporate seal.
4. The secretary shall insure that all board records are maintained in the written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time. A copy of the following records shall be kept for inspection:
5. Articles of incorporation and all amendments to them currently in effect.
6. By-laws and all amendments to them currently in effect.
7. The complete minutes of all meetings of the board of directors.
8. A list of the names and business or home addresses of its current directors and offices.