We have been actively planning for the upcoming school year by investing time reviewing all of our school policies and procedures. A new Admissions Requirements Policy has been added along with a Search and Seizure Policy and Grievance Resolution Policy & Procedures. The Admissions Requirements Policy was added to establish standard criteria used to determine admissions; the Search and Seizure Policy was added to establish a policy for reasonable school searches; and the Grievance Resolution Policy & Procedures were added to provide guidelines for grievance resolution.
Changes were made to the following policies which will affect the 2019/2020 school year.
- Tuition Refund Policy
- The changes include the addition of the Biblical definition of marriage.
- Statement of Faith
- More clear parameters for the instances in which refunds can be issued are provided.
The new policies are available below and changes to existing policies are indicated below in red. All policies (including the new and updated ones) can also be found in our SBCA Student/Parent Handbook available on the Parent Resources page of our website.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have about these changes. We also encourage you to attend our upcoming Coffee Connection event this Friday, May 3rd at 8 a.m. if you would like to connect with us about these changes.
New Policy:
The SBCA admissions criteria and model is built on the concept of a partnership with Christian families. We recognize the God-given responsibility of each parent to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Therefore, we are dedicated to being a resource for families, encouraging and facilitating the engagement of parents in the education of their children, and supporting the values espoused in the home and church. (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4) The following criteria are used to determine admissions:
- Since SBCA is a Christian school in partnership with the family, at least one parent or guardian must acknowledge Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and be in agreement with the SBCA statement of faith.
- A parent or guardian must submit an Application for Admissions and agree to the Parent Commitment outlined on the Application (link)
- Have documentation showing the student has successfully completed the previous grade by a demonstrated proficiency of at least 70% or higher in reading comprehension, math, and English grammar and composition. If the new student has taken any standardized tests, the student should have earned national scores of at least 50th percentile or higher in reading comprehension, math, and English grammar and composition
- Students and their parents applying for admissions to grades 7-12 will be interviewed in order to assess the students’ academic motivation, spiritual maturity, and potential impact on the culture of the school. SBCA administration will consider things such as family cooperation and reasons for desiring enrollment at SBCA.
- Students must exhibit appropriate levels of behavior and maturity and parents must disclose any previous record of social, behavioral, or mental health issues. If evidence of nondisclosure occurs after acceptance, the student could become subject to dismissal. SBCA does not have provisions for special needs children.
- To continue to be enrolled, a student must exhibit satisfactory academic achievement, emotional stability, positive social behavior, good moral character, and willing cooperation with teachers and administration.
- Students must be age three on or before September 1 for admission into our K3 program, age four for admission into our K4 program, and age five for admission into our K5 program. Birth certificates are required upon application of all new students. Students must be of suitable age for their grades. Grade placement is made at the discretion of the Head of School based upon the student’s ability to perform the work of that grade level
- The Head of School will make all final decisions concerning admissions and acceptance of applications.
New Policy:
GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The SBCA Board believes that grievances should be resolved at the lowest possible level within the SBCA structure, within accordance to Matthew 18:15-17. The goal is to resolve conflicts, restore fellowship, exhibit love and respect, and exercise proper response to authority. Anyone with a specific problem or complaint about personnel should first contact that person directly in an attempt to identify, clarify and resolve the differences before moving up the chain of authority.
Classroom or Teacher-Related Problem
If a problem arises in the classroom or with a student, a person should first go to the teacher and attempt to resolve the problem. If a solution cannot be worked out, the next step would be to go to the appropriate principal.
The principal will endeavor to work with both the parent and the teacher to come to an agreement. Should the matter not be able to be resolved, the party shall submit the matter in writing to the principal, requesting this resolution procedure be followed. The principal will respond in writing as soon as possible but within a maximum of seven [7] school days of their meeting.
If the party is not satisfied after reviewing the principal’s response, the party must notify the principal in writing of its desire to continue the resolution procedure (within 1-8 school days maximum). The principal will pass all the written documents to the Head of School for review.
School Actions or School Personnel
If there is a problem or grievance about an action taken by the school or school personnel that is not classroom related, the party should meet with person involved directly in an attempt to resolve the issue. If resolution is not reached, the chain of command should be followed.
Should the grievance reach the level of principal and the principal is unable to resolve the problem to the satisfaction of the party or parties concerned, the petitioner shall submit the matter in writing to the principal, requesting the Resolution Procedure be followed. The principal will respond in writing within a maximum of seven (7) more school days.
If the party is not satisfied after reviewing the principal’s response, that party may notify the principal in writing of its desire to continue the resolution procedure within 1-7 school days. The principal will pass all the written documents on for final administrative review.
Final Administrative Review
The Head of School will be responsible for a final administrative effort to resolve the situation. Whenever a resolution issue is submitted for final administrative review, it shall be processed in accordance with the procedure stated below.
The Head of School shall seek to meet with the petitioner within seven (7) school days, provided a mutually satisfactory time can be set. The Head of School may, at his/her discretion, have the issue discussed with the petitioner and the administrative team before a decision is rendered. If the issue is heard by the administrative team, there may be a need for more than seven (7) days, but every effort will be made to hear the matter within ten (10) days, and there will not be further need to meet with the administrator separately as part of the resolution procedure. The Head of School shall render a decision in writing to the petitioner as quickly as possible following that meeting (but not to exceed 10 days).
If the Head of Schools decision in the written response is unsatisfactory to the petitioner, the petitioner may request in writing a Board review of the grievance or complaint. The petitioner will submit this request to the Head of School no later than 1-7 school days of receiving the response. At this point, all information and data must be part of this written record. No new witnesses and data may be added to the grievance beyond this point.
Board Level
The Head of School will attach all related documents and forward the request to the Chair of the Board of Directors. These documents should include all those of the petitioner as well as the school staff. It is the intention that all arguments and all information in regard to the issue are part of that data.
The Chair will direct the grievance to an appropriate committee of the Board or to the entire Board for final decision. Within a maximum of thirty (30) days of receiving the grievance, a written decision shall be rendered to the petitioner.
The Board of Directors is the final authority on all matters pertaining to the school. Hence, the Board must prayerfully consult, ponder, and evaluate the issue. The petitioners must reconcile themselves to the final decision of the Board of Directors.
General Standards
- Letters sent to the Board or individual Board members will be referred to the appropriate level of authority to handle in accordance with this policy.
- Problems should be resolved as quickly as possible. No more than seven (7) school days should take place before the execution of each additional step of the process.
- Sometimes due to the workload of the administrator, the seven (7) days needed for him to respond may be extended. In such a case, the administrator will inform the parties in writing of this problem before the expiration of the seven (7) days but still shall endeavor to complete his/her response within three (3) more days (total of 10).
- If a petitioner with a grievance fails to follow through to the next step within the time period suggested, it will be assumed that the petitioner has accepted the decision and /or explanation rendered to him and will not hold grudges or spread dissension within the school family.
New Policy:
Authorized school personnel may conduct a reasonable search of a student or his/her locker, and/or belongings when they have reasonable cause to believe that the student has an item in his/her possession which may constitute a criminal offense under the laws of this state, or other items prohibited by school rules, deemed significantly disruptive, or dangerous to the overall operation of the school programs. Such searches may be conducted on campus or at any school event. An administrator and at least one other school employee will conduct all searches. The administration of South Baldwin Christian Academy reserves the exclusive right to have the local police department do routine and random checks for illegal activity on school campus.
Policy Changes:
TUITION REFUND POLICY
Tuition is an annual fee. Upon enrollment of your student, you agree to pay the full annual tuition amount. All tuition obligations and fees must be paid before any records will be released.
Refund Policy
All fees and tuition are non-refundable and non-transferable except for the following circumstances:
- The student moves a distance that would prohibit him/her from attending the school.
- The school determines that the student is unable to meet the demands of South Baldwin Christian Academy by no fault of the student/parent. This will be determined by administration or the board of directors.
- The student is unable to attend due to prolonged illness, injury or death.
In the circumstances described above, tuition will be refunded on a prorated basis. Registration fees and all other student fees will not be refunded.
Policy Changes:
We believe and teach that the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God (2nd Timothy 3:15; 2nd Peter 1:21).
We believe and teach that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who created man by a direct immediate act (Genesis 1:1; 26-27;Matthew 28:19; John 10:30).
We believe and teach the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14;Matthew 1:23;Luke 1:35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15;7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (1st Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9); His bodily resurrection (John 11:25; 1st Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19); His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11).
We believe and teach in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature; and that only by God’s grace through faith alone are we saved (John 3:16-19; 5:24; Romans 3:23; 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
We believe and teach the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29).
We believe and teach the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord and Savior (Romans 8:9; 1st Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-28).
We believe and teach the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling and infilling the Christian is enable to live a Godly life and witness to the saving grace of Christ (Acts 1:8; Romans 8:13-14; 1st Corinthians 3:16;6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30;5:18;Titus 2:11-14).
We believe and teach God’s design for the two sexes – male and female – and define marriage as the joining of one biological man and one biological woman (Genesis 1:26-29; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19: 3-6; Mark 10: 6-9; Ephesians 5:28-32).
