RIVERMONT PRESCHOOL POLICIES OF LEADERSHIP & OPERATION

PURPOSE OF THESE POLICIES

These policies are written with the best interest of Rivermont Preschool and the children and families the
preschool serves in mind. The primary goal is to ensure the proper organization and professional manner of the
school. We must remember that our top priority is to provide the best possible preschool learning experience in
a safe and comforting environment to the children as we share God’s love with them.

MISSION STATEMENT
Our weekday program operates as a ministry of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church, providing a
Christ-centered ministry of love and caring to families and young children regarding child care and parenting
information. Our program serves our church family and community, especially wishing to reach out to new
families in our community. We offer a program of age appropriate, developmental activities to nurture the
child's spiritual, social, academic, and physical development in an atmosphere of Christian love, caring, and,
acceptance. We always work toward the development and encouragement of a positive self-image in each child,
helping the child know they are special, important, and that Jesus loves them.

THE PRESCHOOL MINISTRY COUNCIL

The Preschool Council shall manage the affairs of the school and serve in a supervisory and advisory position to
the school.

Organization of the Preschool Council

The council shall be composed of at least seven voting members. Those members shall include the following:

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
- Associate Pastor of Congregational Life
- Other member(s) of the Pastoral Staff
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN ATTENDANCE
- Preschool Director (non-voting)
- Assistant to the Director (non-voting, may be asked by the chairman not to
attend certain portions of any particular meeting.)
- Finance Director (non-voting)
VOTING MEMBERS
- Members of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church (four)
- Parents of Students enrolled in the preschool (three)

All seven voting members of the council will be active members of the Congregation of Rivermont Evangelical
Presbyterian Church; four may or may not be parents of Rivermont Preschool children and will be appointed to
three year terms; three will be parents of children attending the preschool at the time they are appointed and will
also be appointed to three year terms.

Any current member of the Preschool Council or administrative staff may nominate a person to serve on the
board if there is a vacancy. The Preschool Council must approve any person nominated by a majority vote.

Adopted by the Preschool Council on January 13, 2005

The Preschool Council will elect a Chairperson annually (the same individual may not be elected to the office of
Chairperson more than three consecutive terms):
- Chairperson: A member of the congregation of REPC (non-staff member); will preside at all council
meetings; will work with the preschool administrative staff to set the agenda for all council meetings;
will represent the Preschool to the Christian Education Committee on issues requiring approval or
recommendation from the CE Committee or other special circumstances; will ensure that minutes from
each council meeting are given to the CE committee; will vote on issues before the council only in tie
breaker situations.

The Preschool Council will appoint the following sub-committees:

- Finance & Scholarship: Made up of the financial officer, administrative staff, and two other
members of the council. Will be responsible to develop the budget and monitor the preschool
finances; will review scholarship applications and award scholarships. This committee should
develop scholarship, spending, and other financial guidelines for recommendation to the council.
- Personnel & Policy: Two members of the council that will work with the Director to interview and
review the application, résumé, and reference information of each candidate for an open position and
make a final recommendation to the council to hire an employee. This committee will also develop
an evaluation tool for the director to use to evaluate each staff member. The committee will also
ensure that the evaluations are completed. Additionally, this committee will oversee the development
and maintenance of preschool policies and make necessary recommendations to the council.
- Curriculum: Composed of two members of the council and the administrative staff that are tasked
with reviewing, evaluating, and recommending to the council a curriculum to be used for all classes.
This committee should then ensure that the curriculum is implemented and evaluate it on a yearly
basis. This committee should consult with the Associate Pastor of Christian Education and/or
Associate Pastor of Congregational Life, especially regarding the bible curriculum used in the
preschool.

The sub-committees should meet as necessary throughout the year. The chairperson of the council
should be notified of and invited to all meetings of the above committees. In addition, the chairperson
may also use his or her discretion to call a meeting of one of the sub-committees.

- A Financial Administrator shall be hired by the board. The Financial Administrator will be responsible to
work with the Finance Committee to develop, present for approval, and oversee the preschool budget; will work
with the Finance Committee to oversee the Preschool Finances; will prepare a financial report for each council
meeting and perform other duties as described in the Financial Administrator position description.

Meetings of the Preschool Ministry Council

- “Roberts Rules” will be used to conduct each council meeting.

- At least fifty percent of the council members must be present to conduct a business meeting.

- Council members will be provided with an agenda and any other pertinent documents prior to each council
meeting.

- The Assistant to the Preschool Director or the Director will serve as the recording clerk for all meetings.
Minutes will be prepared for each meeting and each council member will be provided with a copy. Council
members will be asked to consent to the accuracy of the minutes and the minutes will then be presented to the
Christian Education Committee.

Adopted by the Preschool Council on January 13, 2005

- The Preschool Council shall meet quarterly or more frequently if deemed necessary by the Chairman. The
quarterly meetings should be scheduled in February, April, July, and November.

- At each meeting, it is the responsibility of the administration to report to the council the affairs of the school
including enrollment, needs and concerns, recommendations for any policy and/or staffing change, current
events within the school, and any other information the board requests.

- All persons attending any council meeting shall keep all information disclosed confidential.

Function of the Preschool Ministry Council

- It is the responsibility of the council, through the Personnel and Policy sub-committee, to set and approve all
policies and procedures of the preschool and see to the implementation and enforcement of each policy.

- The council shall have control and management of the business affairs and funds of the school and will
annually adopt the preschool budget and, through the Finance sub-committee, will create scholarship approval,
spending, and other financial guidelines.

- Through the Curriculum sub-committee, the council will monitor the curriculum of the preschool and approve
all evaluations to be used for the children.

- Through the Personnel sub-committee, the council will set procedures for the annual review of instructional
staff (teachers) and the administrative staff and will approve all evaluation tools.

- The council must approve of the Preschool entering into any childcare program or professional organization
and forward its recommendation to the appropriate committee within the church.

- The council will approve any changes to the Parent Handbook and the Staff Handbook.

- The council will annually approve the school calendar after presentation and recommendation from the
administrative staff.

- The council will approve and recommend any fund raising efforts to the Christian Education committee for
approval.

- It is the responsibility of the Preschool Council to promote the preschool ministry to the community and the
congregation of REPC and to educate its members, staff, and various committees in regards to the importance
of the preschool ministry.

- The Preschool Council will report to the Christian Education Committee, as a whole, any recommendations or
requests. The Council is an ad-hoc committee of the Christian Education Committee is ultimately responsible to
the CE Committee.

Preschool Staff Member Issues

- The Preschool Council will mediate differences that could occur between the Preschool Director and Staff.

- Any staff member may bring a concern or other issue to the council through the Chairman or the Preschool
Director.

Adopted by the Preschool Council on January 13, 2005