A Church & School On One Busy Campus – How Do You Make That Work? Part 2
Superintendent’s Blog – 2019 Summer Series
As a continuation of my last blog, I would like to talk about the day to day operations between the church and the school. It is true that coordinating between a church and school adds meetings and time to the head of school. It also adds meetings and time to church staff as well. It would be much easier for church staff to not “deal” with a school. However, as a head of school, the opportunity to work in a Christian environment with a Kingdom purpose outweighs the extra time in meetings. This is also true for church staff. Our lives are short and we want to spend them in service to the Gospel of Christ.
During the past 6 years, church and school leadership have worked diligently to build healthy systems, relationships and trust. I believe we have come to a time of unprecedented trust between the church and the school.
- Day-to-day operations run independently with communication between the church and school taking place as necessary to further mission and maintain facility coordination.
- Healthy budget and management systems have created predictable schedules, maintenance, and programming for both entities.
- When emergency maintenance issues arise, systems are in place for coordinated decision making.
- Head of school attends church staff meetings as schedule allows.
- Parkview Church & School are working towards a joint campus master plan and use of a strategic plan to guide our decision making.
- Several years ago, the School Board made structural changes to create the right atmosphere for strategic planning, visioning and focus on mission and decrease the possibility of members with personal agendas.
- The role of School Board members has become more defined as members have committed to governance education – learning the appropriate roles and responsibilities of school board members in private schools.
- School board members are elected from the church membership for three year terms and are eligible to serve for two consecutive terms.
- Our school board is comprised of 9 members. Of the 9 school board members serving for the 19-20 school year, five are parents of current Parkview students, one is a parent of Parkview graduates, and three are active church members who love the school as a mission of the church.
Our School Board members look out for the interests of the school, love the staff at the school, and are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our students. The pastoral staff prays for both me and the school and celebrates our successes. I feel supported not only as an employee, but as a person. I am often appreciated and am asked how I am doing. While things will always remain pretty busy around here, I like that I am still seen as a human and allowed to enjoy worship on Sundays.
I notice that the church gives preference to the school when our schedules get out of control or when the weather makes us encroach on the church routine. They are very flexible so the school can operate. I try to return that kindness by caring for the campus and operating in a way that shows respect for the mission of the church. We really do have a great situation here and it is one that I do not take for granted.
I look forward to the future and know that between our parents, the church, and the school staff, we can work together to do great things for our students to God’s glory.