Governance Vote Outcome

Thank you for participating and voting in response to the BCCS governance proposal regarding bylaws and restated Articles of Incorporation. The motion required a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass and make the proposed changes. The motion did pass with over 83% of participants voting in support of this change; 144 voted to approve and 29 voted against the proposal. The next step will involve working with our attorney to file the restated articles and bylaws with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Thank you for your vote to ensure that the BCCS articles conform to the Nonprofit Corporations Act and more importantly, protect the purpose of our school for both the current and future generations of BCCS students!

In His Service,

The BCCS School Board

Overview

Over the last several years, attendance at the annual meeting has plummeted as our constituency and society has changed. Our families are now spread over a larger area, covering several municipalities. Families have changed with the shift in traditional roles and increasingly busy schedules. The church representation has changed with people being distributed among a larger variety of church affiliations, both denominational and non-denominational. Due to lack of attendance at society meetings and a charter of the BCCS strategic plan, the school board requests that an official shift in the model of governance take place. While the articles state that it is a membership-governed institution, the Board has been in essence operating under a different model, a directorship, for several years.

Summary

The amended by-laws will:

  • Clearly state that the foundation and purpose of the School will be preserved and protected. Articles II and III of the BCCS constitution state and will continue to say:

ARTICLE II - FOUNDATION

Byron Center Christian School is founded upon the infallible Word of God as summarized in the confessional standards of the Reformed churches: the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dordt (“Reformed Confessions”).

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE

To promote and defend the cause of Christian education.

To ensure our covenant children instruction that is given in the spirit of Article II.

To train children, in cooperation with the parents, in such a way that they can perform their duties in this world to the glory of God, to their own well-being, and to the welfare of others.

  • Maintain articles (Articles II, III, and X) in the original constitution that are not subject to material change.

  • Require the Board of Directors to select new Board members, which will still be affirmed at the annual meeting, as is the current practice. Boards that are self-sustaining are positioned to know the desired characteristics of and qualities needed in a trustee to strengthen the school’s educational program, secure its financial foundation and advance the school’s mission for the next generation.

  • Require the Board to report annually to the constituency. This report will contain information related to the finances of the School and other information now relayed to the constituents in an annual meeting. Members of the constituency will have a chance to ask questions and voice opinions to the Board of Directors at this time.

  • Continue affirmation of School Board members in a fashion similar to the current articles. The draft states, “During the annual meeting immediately preceding the beginning of each Director’s term, the individuals appointed to serve as Director will be subject to a vote of affirmation by attendees at the annual meeting. Only attendees who are current parents of students of the school and/or supporters of the Corporation (as defined in Article IV, Section 1) (“voting attendees”) are able to vote in such an affirmation vote. The affirmation vote may be made by ballot or oral vote. Absentee ballots, including by electronic transmission, may be accepted, subject to the approval of a majority of the voting attendees. Any person appointed to serve as Director who does not receive an affirmation vote of greater than a majority (i.e., “one-half plus one”) of the votes cast during such annual meeting shall be immediately removed from, and not appointed to, the Board of Directors by the other Directors.” 

  • Clarify the tenure of Board services to state “Following two three-year terms, members of the Board shall not be eligible for re-appointment until at least two (2) years have elapsed.”

  • Carry over dissolution (ARTICLE X) from the current articles “Should the corporation disband, all property belonging to it must be transferred to the Christian Reformed Churches in Byron Center, Michigan.” and refine to state “if the Corporation voluntarily dissolves, then all of the Corporation’s assets and accumulated income shall be distributed first to one or more Christian Reformed Churches in Byron Center, Michigan, and then to such other organizations as the Directors (or in default of designation by the Directors, the Circuit Court for the County of Kent, Michigan) shall designate as best accomplishing the purposes for which the Corporation was formed, provided that each organization receiving such assets is qualified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws