SCHOOL BOARD APPLICATION

Dear Prospective Board Member:

Thank you for your willingness to consider service on the Blackhawk Christian School Board. The board performs an important collective role in establishing policies, strategic plans, and financial sustainability models for the school. In addition, the board supervises the Lead Administrator who has day-to-day operational management responsibility for the school. 

We seek to identify individuals who will contribute to the school in the following areas:

WITNESS:  will clearly articulate your relationship with Christ, and be in agreement both in doctrine and lifestyle with Blackhawk Ministries’ Statement of Faith and the Mission, Vision and Values of Blackhawk

WISDOM:  will bring to bear your experience and insight on the issues and strategic planning, which are the work of the Board.

TIME:  will make a sacrifice of time by committing to one monthly board meeting and additional participation as project assignments may require.

TALENT:  will contribute your unique gifting, interests and skills for the advancement of Blackhawk Christian School.

TREASURE:  will support Blackhawk Christian School with financial resources as God enables you, and actively promote support for the school in your circle of influence.

 The process for filling open board positions will be as follows:

1. Prospective board members deliver “Board Candidate Applications” to Marilyn Knuth in the North Campus School Office.
2. BCS Board identifies candidate finalists who will be requested for personal interviews with BCS Board Selection Committee.
3. BCS Board Selection Committee interviews finalist candidates. BCS Board selects board members and notifies all candidates.

Thank you for prayerfully considering your participation on the board. The board provides a significant leadership role for Blackhawk Christian School; it is exciting to have the opportunity to make it even stronger through your involvement.

Sincerely,

Dave Sholl

Dave Sholl Board Chairman

Blackhawk Christian School

Please complete all the information on this application.

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

Using the space provided, please respond to the following questions.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. We believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, and that it shall remain to the end of the age the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man. We interpret it literally and accept it as the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
2.  We believe that there is one God, Almighty, Creator, and Sustainer of the universe and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His death and bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His imminent personal return to earth in power and glory.
4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son; that He was active in the creation, participated in the inspiration of the Scriptures, and is presently engaged in convicting the world of sin, judgment and righteousness; and that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel and indwells Christians to enable them to live godly lives.
5. We believe in the Genesis account of creation; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness, and not by evolution; and that man was created in innocence, but voluntarily sinned.  As a consequence, all men are now sinners, inclined to evil, and are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
6. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union.
7. We believe that God has provided the only salvation for man through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus; that salvation is achieved through the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior; and that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.
8. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost:  those who are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life in Heaven and those who are lost unto the resurrection of eternal damnation in Hell.
9. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other state of condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. We reserve the right to resolve disputes in accordance with biblical teaching. For purposes of Blackhawk Christian School’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, Blackhawk Christian School’s Board of Directors, is accountable to the Board of Elders of Blackhawk Ministries, who are the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application for all ministries within the organization.

BOARD MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT

The following code of conduct is to be reviewed by the board annually, with each board member committing in writing to abide by such code.

The board members will endeavor to hold each other accountable to such commitment in a spirit of full grace and full truth.

1. I subscribe without reservation to the Statement of Faith of Blackhawk Christian School, as stated on the BCS Application for Admission, and to the Board Governance Policy of the Blackhawk Christian School.
2. Knowing that a vibrant, healthy relationship with Jesus Christ is essential for fruitful results, and that I have little to offer outside of Him, I will trust Him and actively nurture my relationship with Him, and encourage others to do likewise.
3. Fundamental to effective leadership is personal humility and commitment to excellence. As a board member, I will demonstrate humility by being submissive, transparent, trusting, and teachable, and demonstrate excellence by being assertive, bold, determined and committed to the highest external standards for the school, the board, and myself.
4. Individual board members do not have authority. Only the board, acting as a whole, has authority. I agree that as a board member I will not make personal promises nor take any action that may compromise the board. I understand that outside the board room I am a volunteer with no authority unless granted specific authority by the board for specific purposes. I will communicate such limit of authority where helpful or necessary.
5. In order to more effectively fulfill my duties as an informed board member, I will take reasonable opportunity to be personally involved in school activities.
6. Conduct of a board member is very important. I agree to avoid words and actions that create a negative impression on an individual, the board, or the school. In an effort to find a better way together as a board, and knowing that my perspective is useful and incomplete, I will encourage debate and differing points of view, and will do so with care and respect.
7. I recognize that decisions are made by a majority vote. I will respect, and even encourage, the right of other board members to express and have opinions and ideas that differ from my own. Once the board makes a decision, I will be in unity with the board, supporting such decision, and being an advocate for the position of the board.
8. The last stop, not the first, will be the board. I agree to follow the chain of command and insist that others do so. While the board is eager to listen to its constituents and staff, each inquiry is to be referred to the person who can properly and expeditiously address the issue. If issues brought to my attention are a board concern, I will notify the board chair for inclusion of such items on a board meeting agenda.
9. I will confine my board action to policy making, strategy, planning, and appraisal, and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has appropriately consulted those who will be affected by them and hear and discuss facts about such actions.
10. It is not the board’s responsibility to administer the school. I will carry out my responsibility, together with my fellow board members, to see that the school has clearly articulated purpose, strategies, and outcome objectives, is evaluated relative to achieving such, and has necessary plans to improve performance year over year.
11. Understanding that the board has responsibility to promptly address individual issues that hinder the board’s effectiveness, I will respectfully raise such issues as I am aware of them.
12. The board chair or specifically authorized designee will be the official spokesperson for the board.
13. Board meetings are for decision-making, action and votes. Board discussions should be appropriately concise and pertinent to the issue, while being collaborative.
14. Surprises to the board or the Lead Administrator will be the exception. I agree to ask the board chair or the Lead Administrator to place an item on the agenda instead of bringing it up unexpectedly at the meeting. If I, as a board member, need more information or have questions regarding an upcoming topic, I will notify either the Lead Administrator or the board chair prior to the meeting.
15. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties. I agree not to discuss specific school personnel in board meetings other than at times invited by the board chair and/or Lead Administrator.
16. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the school which, if disclosed, might needlessly injure individuals or the school. In all other matters, I will use good judgment and only disseminate information which I know to be true, which is available for public knowledge, and is helpful for those to whom I disclose such information.

Blackhawk Christian School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, nationality or ethnic origin in its admissions, educational, financial, or employment policies.