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policy_manual:1000_board_of_trustees

Table of Contents

BOARD POLICIES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1000-1099

1000 Morrison Christian Association Board Of Trustees

The Trustees of the Morrison Christian Association shall serve as Trustees of Morrison Academy. As Trustees of Morrison Academy, this board shall have the responsibility for the management and disposition of the affairs of Morrison Academy, not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws of the Association. The Trustees term of service will correspond with the fiscal year as defined in Policy #4430 ANNUAL AUDIT.

5/10

1010 Authority of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is a created body established according to the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of Morrison Christian Association. The Board has complete authority over school affairs when it is in a duly constituted meeting and serving as a legal body. The statements or actions by individual Trustees are binding only when acting in pursuance of a specific Board instruction.

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1030 Duties of the Board of Trustees

In order to glorify God, the Board of Trustees shall carry out the following duties.

  1. Set and oversee the vision and direction for the school and sustain its Christian heritage.
  2. Hire, support, and evaluate the Superintendent.
  3. Ensure effective organizational planning.
  4. Be good stewards of all the resources entrusted to the Board in order to fulfill the ministry of Morrison Academy.
  5. Monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its vision and purpose.
  6. Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability.
  7. Sustain quality Board leadership through new Trustee orientation, ongoing Trustee education, Board evaluation, and Board leadership succession planning.
  8. Promote and adhere to the core values, vision and purpose of Morrison Academy.

5/16

1050 Taiwan Provincial Juridical Person

In accordance with the laws of the ROC, Morrison Christian Association will maintain a Juridical Person for the purpose of holding property and carrying out other legal requirements. The members of the Juridical Person shall be chosen by the Members of the Morrison Christian Association. Action of the Morrison Academy Trustees from Member Missions will constitute action of the Taiwan Provincial Juridical Person.

12/01

1060 Association Seals

No seal of the Morrison Christian Association including: The New Jersey Corporation Seal, The Taiwan Morrison Christian Association Juridical Person chop, and The Taiwan Morrison Christian Association Juridical Person Chairperson’s chop shall be used for any purpose whatsoever not consistent with the express resolution of the Trustees. The Taiwan Morrison Christian Association Juridical Person Chairperson’s chop shall not be used for any purpose whatsoever except to represent him officially as such statutory representative, and then only as the law requires.

The Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee shall be responsible for the custody and constant safekeeping of each of these said three seals and to make them available for use as needed only in accordance with the above regulation. The Morrison Christian Association Juridical Person chop and Juridical Directors’ chops shall be secured by two different employees.

11/17

DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1100 - 1199

1110 Qualifications OF Individual Trustees

The qualifications for Trustees must be in compliance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Association. Each Trustee of Morrison Academy, in order to qualify for such position, must give personal testimony of his or her faith in Jesus Christ and Christ's atoning work on the cross; and further, each Trustee shall subscribe to the Morrison Christian Association Statement of Faith.

Each Trustee should demonstrate wisdom and a commitment and loyalty to the position statements of Morrison Academy.

Other qualifications to consider are: governance experience, professional background, institutional memory and involvement in the Morrison community.

A Morrison Academy employee who is employed at least 0.25 FTE and any of the employee’s immediate family members may not serve as a Trustee.

A Trustee who has served more than 5 years may continue to serve should a family member be employed at Morrison providing the board deems that there are no significant conflicts of interest.

5/16

1115 Selection of the Board of Trustees

Member Mission Trustees
Each Member Mission shall announce at the annual meeting of the Members its selection of two Trustees to serve for a one or two year period. The two selections from each Member Mission will be certified at the Annual Members' meeting.

When one of the Trustees selected by a Member Mission is subsequently elected Board Chair, such organization shall thereafter be entitled to designate one additional person to serve as Trustee for the remainder of the school year.

Associate Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall have authority to annually select Associate Trustees to serve on the Board for a one or two year term with the same responsibility and authority as the Member Mission Trustees. However, the number of Associate Trustees selected shall not exceed one half of the number of Trustees selected by the Member Missions. Associate Trustees shall be subject to the same qualification requirements as Member Mission Trustees.

5/14

1120 Responsibilities of Individual Trustees

Trustees, upon election to the Board, take on certain duties and obligations as individual Trustees which include the following:

  1. To inspire students and staff, by personal example, in Christian faith and living and to model Christian Behavior and Professional Ethics as stated in Policy 3020.
  2. To familiarize themselves with the policies of the Board, administrative procedures and at least the past two years of Board meeting records.
  3. To respect the confidentiality of privileged information vouchsafed to a Trustee.
  4. To work through the Board Chair in dealing with Board-related issues.
  5. To refer complaints and questions through the proper administrative channels, abstaining from individual action.
  6. To attend most Board meetings. Notify the Board Chair when unable to attend regularly scheduled meetings.
  7. To participate on Board-assigned committees.
  8. To pray regularly for the school.
  9. To be a positive ambassador for the school.
  10. To publicly support the decisions of the Board.

12/19

1130 New Trustee Orientation

Under the guidance of the Governance Committee and the Superintendent, orientation shall be provided to new Trustees.

5/15

1140 Removal of a Trustee

Failure to meet the qualifications of a Trustee or to carry out the responsibilities of a Trustee shall be grounds for removal from the Board. (See Policy 1110 Qualifications of Individual Trustees and Policy 1120 Responsibilities Of Individual Trustees,) When a Member Mission Trustee fails to meet the above qualifications and/or responsibilities, a request from the Board will be made to the Member Mission for the removal of said Trustee. The removal of an Associate Trustee or the request for the removal of a Member Mission Trustee must be decided by a minimum of 9 votes at a meeting in which all other Board members participate, either in person or by real time communication. After a Trustee is so removed, the Board will request a replacement according to Policy 1150 Replacement of a Trustee.

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1150 Replacement of a Trustee

Any Member Mission Trustee vacancy occurring during their term should be filled by the respective mission, with official notification being made to the Board Chair and copied to the Superintendent in a timely manner.

Any Associate Trustee vacancy occurring during their term may be filled by a nominee selected by the Governance Committee, subject to Board approval. (See Policy 1115 Selection of the Board of Trustees).

5/15

1160 Board Remuneration And Reimbursement

Trustees of the Board shall receive no remuneration for the discharge of their responsibilities. They shall be reimbursed for all expenses related to Board and Board committee meetings or official school business which have been approved by the Governance Committee.

5/15

1170 Alignment With Purpose, Vision, And Core Values

The Board of Trustees will monitor Morrison Academy’s alignment with the Purpose Statement, Vision Statement, and Core Values of the organization. To facilitate this, the Trustees will be provided with bi-annual alignment assessment results through the Superintendent. The assessment should be methodical and provide valid indicators of the degree to which Morrison’s programs, services and student culture align with the purpose, vision, and core values of the organization.

11/09

ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1200 - 1299

1200 Officers of the Board

The Board shall select from its number a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board may select other officers as it deems necessary. The term of service for all officers of the Board will correspond with the fiscal year. The term of service for the Board Chair will normally be two years while the term of service for the other officers will be one year.

5/14

1210 Board Chair

The Board Chair shall preside at full meetings of the Trustees and see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The Board Chair shall appoint, subject to confirmation of the Board of Trustees, all standing committees and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Board Chair shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of a corporate board chair.

5/21

1220 Vice Chair

The Vice Chair, in the Chair's physical absence, shall be vested with all the powers and be required to perform all the duties of the Board Chair.

5/14

1230 Secretary

The Secretary shall keep full minutes of all meetings of the Trustees. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board, shall act as clerk, and record all proceedings. The Secretary shall provide official copies of the minutes to the Superintendent's office to be distributed.

5/10

1240 Treasurer

The Treasurer shall serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.

5/14

STANDING COMMITTEES 1300 - 1399

1310 Executive Committee

The Board Chair shall appoint an Executive Committee which exercises the powers of the Board in the management of the business affairs and property of Morrison Academy during the intervals between the meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee shall include the Board Chair and one Trustee from each of the Member Missionary organizations. Executive Committee actions shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting. The term of the Executive Committee coincides with the fiscal year.

5/10

1330 Governance Committee

The Governance Committee will consist of at least three Trustees. One of the Trustees will serve as Chair of the committee. The committee's duties are listed below.

  1. Evaluate the Board of Trustees and Superintendent.
  2. Prepare nominations for Associate Trustees, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Board Chair at the end of each school year.
  3. Initiate professional development activities for the Board.
  4. Oversee orientation for new Trustees.
  5. Review the Board of Trustees Handbook on a regular basis.
  6. Review the Position Statements, Curriculum and Instruction sections of the Administrative Procedure Manual every four years.
  7. Review the Board of Trustees, Personnel and Instructional-Students sections of the Policy Manual and the position statements every four years. (See Policy 1540 Position Statements)
  8. Support and nurture the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s family.
  9. Draft and/or review policies and policy proposals for action by the Board

5/15

1340 Finance Committee

The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees serving as Chair, at least two additional Trustees, and the Director of Finance. The committee's duties are listed below.

  1. Review financial status, including the annual auditor’s report.
  2. Review and recommend the annual budget to the Board.
  3. Recommend to the Board approval of contracts for construction and remodeling for projects greater than NT$300,000.
  4. Recommend to the Board approval of contracts for long-term leases, selling and/or purchasing property.
  5. Determine the specific missions, churches or other sending organizations which are eligible for missionary discounts or Christian worker discounts, in accordance with Policy 4281 Taiwan Missionary Discount and Policy 4282 Christian Worker Discount.
  6. Review the Finance and Operations section of the Policy Manual.
  7. Review the Financial, Operations, and Personnel sections of the Administrative Procedure Manual once every four years.
  8. Oversee the development and maintenance of a long range strategic plan that:
    • provides for quality property and facilities;
    • considers major adjustments to programs and services;
    • proactively responds to change in the missionary community and economic environment;
  9. Review the Superintendent’s compensation package at least every two years.

5/14

1350 Communications Coordinators

For each campus a trustee will be appointed by the Board Chair to serve as the most visible representative of the Board on that campus. The Coordinator's duties are:

  1. Organize and oversee the Staff Appreciation Dinner for their campus of responsibility. This will also mean coordinating with the Board Chair and other Committee members on the theme, budget, and other ideas.
  2. Intentionally develop relationships with the staff, parents and students on their campus of responsibility to communicate the core values and vision of Morrison Academy.
  3. Be aware of and ensure Trustee participation in as many activities as possible on their campus of responsibility.
  4. Be aware of governance related issues on their campus of responsibility and communicate items of significance to the Board Chair and/or the Superintendent.

9/20
Reference: BoardSource Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards 3rd Edition, Chapter 3

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1400 - 1499

1410 Meetings of the Board

Prior to the first meeting of the year, the schedule of meetings will be set for the school year at such places and times as specified by the Board. No other additional notice of regular meetings needs to be given.

Special meetings of the Board may be called at the discretion of the Board Chair. Notice of such meetings shall be given at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

Board Meetings may be open to individuals from the school and community by request to the Board Chair, or by specific invitation from the Board or Board Chair. The Board may request a closed session when deemed necessary. Non-Board members, unless invited to remain, will be requested to leave during a closed session.

5/14

1420 Preparation For Board Meetings

The agenda for the Board will be prepared by the Superintendent and the Board Chair. Any trustee desiring a subject to be included will notify the Superintendent or the Board Chair of the matter ten days prior to the scheduled meeting. The agenda will be distributed to the Trustees at least five days in advance of meetings with supporting documents. The Superintendent shall arrange for the necessary supporting documents required to conduct a productive meeting.

5/14

1430 Conducting Board Meetings

The Board Chair shall conduct the meetings in accordance with bylaws of the association and policies, ensuring that each Trustee has an opportunity to be heard. The Board Chair may engage in the discussion of matters and motions before the Board. The proceedings of the Board at its meeting shall be governed by the prepared agenda, with the exception that items suggested for discussion or action from the table may be received at the discretion of the Board Chair.

When personnel matters are handled, the Board will ensure that the rights of individuals are respected. Proceedings are conducted in such a way that Christian ethics are employed with sensitivity at all times.

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The Board Chair, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, may place items on the consent agenda. All the items on the consent agenda are considered as a group under one motion.

Consent items are those which are non-controversial and do not require discussion or explanation prior to Board action. Consent agenda items might include tasks such as, but not limited to, approval of the agenda, approval of previous minutes, approval of policies and approval of reports.

An individual Trustee may remove individual items from the consent agenda by a timely request to the Board Chair prior to the vote on the consent agenda. The request does not require a second or a vote by the Board. An item removed from the consent agenda will then be added to the meeting agenda for discussion.

Consent agenda items are approved by a unanimous vote of the Trustees present. The consent agenda items shall be separately recorded in the minutes.

5/14

1440 Minutes of Board Meetings

The Minutes shall be distributed within one week of the meeting. The final copy of all Board Minutes shall be approved by the Board Chair and signed by the Board Secretary or in his/her absence by an officer of the Board. The Minutes of each Board meeting are to be posted on the school website. These Minutes shall also be made available to any individual upon request.

At the discretion of the Board certain minutes may be designated “Official Minutes Only” and distributed only to the Board of Trustees and the Members, as defined in Policy #1611.

12/21

1450 Voting

Each Member Mission shall be entitled to two votes on matters requiring a vote by the Board. Associate Trustees shall be entitled to one vote on matters requiring a vote by the Board. A two-thirds majority vote is required on Policy matters, and a simple majority vote on all other matters before the Board.

12/98

POLICIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1500 - 1599

1510 Formulation of Policies

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the adoption of policies governing the operation of Morrison Academy. These policies shall establish principles and organizational relationships to ensure that the purposes and best interests of the Academy are accomplished.

Policy proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Governance Committee. Proposed policies may be initiated by the Board of Trustees, individual Trustees of the Board, Board standing committees, the Superintendent, or Members of the Morrison Christian Association. Others who wish to make suggestions regarding Policy should follow the lines of authority as outlined in the organizational chart. (See Policy 2011 Organizational Chart).

5/15

1511 Adoption of Policies

Proposed new and revised policies will be presented to the Board by the Governance Committee at an official meeting of the Board for adoption or rejection. Subsequently, the Governance Committee will revise any rejected policies before resubmitting them to the Board.

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1512 Exception to Policies

When necessary, the Board of Trustees may make exceptions to Policy. If two or more exceptions to a policy are made within two fiscal years, the policy shall be referred to the Governance Committee for review and/or revision.

5/15

1520 Policy Manual of the Board

The Policy Manual of the Board will be available online. Board approved changes to the Policy Manual will be posted within two weeks of approval.

As a continuing process, the Governance Committee will review and revise the Policy Manual. The following sections shall be reviewed once every four years by the appropriate committees and recommendations made to the Governance Committee:

SECTION COMMITTEE
Board of Trustees SectionGovernance Committee
Administrative Organization SectionGovernance Committee
Personnel SectionFinance committee
Finance and Operations SectionFinance Committee
Instructional - Students SectionGovernance committee
Boarding SectionGovernance Committee

12/21

1530 Absence of a Specific Board Policy

Either due to circumstances that occur or anticipated needs of the Superintendent, any Trustee, or any Board committee may recommend new policies.

From time to time action must be taken by the Superintendent which is not covered by any specific Board policy. In exceptional cases where action must be taken by the Superintendent, the Superintendent will consult with the Board Chair whenever possible. The Board Chair may choose to consult with the Executive Committee prior to advising the Superintendent.

5/10

1540 Position Statements

The position statements of Morrison Academy consist of: the Philosophy Statement, Purpose Statement, Vision Statement, Core Values and Vision For Our Learners Statement.

All policies must be consistent with Morrison Academy’s position statements.

The position statements shall be regularly reviewed according to the schedule in the Trustee Handbook.

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DEFINITIONS 1600 - 1699

1600 Nondiscrimination

Morrison Academy is open to qualified employment applicants who are of good moral character, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, nationality, age, or disability. Furthermore, each employee must agree with Morrison Academy's position statement and conduct their lives in conformity with professional, ethical and moral integrity.

As a Christ-centered school, Morrison Academy is committed to equality, inclusion, and access to high level, rigorous learning opportunities for all enrolled students regardless of race, language proficiency, socioeconomic status, gender, disability and/or religion. Each Morrison student will experience a quality, biblically-integrated education.

References: Vision Statement
Core Values
12/21

1611 Members

The Members of Morrison Christian Association are the four sponsoring Missions: The Evangelical Alliance Mission, WorldVenture, International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and One Mission Society, each being represented by a designated proxy.

5/10

1612 Mission

A Mission is defined as a Morrison Academy recognized evangelical Protestant body or sending agency which supports expatriate missionaries.

5/06

1613 Missionary

A missionary is an individual living outside of his/her home culture whose primary work is seeking to reach people with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, or who is actively working in a supportive role alongside others who are carrying out this work. A missionary is sent out and supported by a church, mission, or other sending agency.

To be classified as a missionary by Morrison Academy, the individual must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Agree with and sign the Morrison Academy Statement of Faith,
  2. Identify themselves as Protestant.
  3. Devote the majority of his/her time to reach people with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or to a supporting role alongside those who are carrying out this work.
  4. Rely on traditional sources for missionary support for the majority of their family income.
  5. Maintain a membership and accountability relationship with a mission, church, or sending organization. This organization must:
    • Have a Statement of Faith that is in agreement with the Morrison Academy Statement of Faith.
    • Identify itself as Protestant.
    • Be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in a country other than the Republic of China.
    • Receive the majority of its financial support from sources outside of Taiwan.

3/10

1614 Christian Worker

A Christian worker is an individual whose primary goal is seeking to reach people with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who is employed or supported, and supervised by a Christian not-for-profit organization, church or other Christian sending agency.

To be classified as a Christian worker by Morrison Academy, the individual must meet the following requirements:

  • Agree with and sign the Morrison Academy Statement of Faith.
  • Identify themselves as Protestant.
  • In addition, the individual must qualify as either a Taiwan Christian Worker or Off-island Christian Worker by meeting the following requirements:

Taiwan Christian Worker

  • Maintain employment or be financially supported by a Taiwan-based Protestant Christian not-for-profit organization recognized by Morrison, whose statement of faith and doctrinal position are in agreement with the positions of Morrison Academy. Documentation from the organization will be required to verify continued employment, support and accountability to the organization.
  • Devote the majority of his/her time to reach people with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or to a supporting role alongside those who are carrying out this work.

Off-island Christian Worker

  • Maintain membership in and accountability to a Protestant Christian organization.
  • Provide a statement of primary purpose and ministry for work outside of Taiwan in Asia.

3/10

1630 Mission-Supported Personnel

Mission-supported personnel are personnel contracted from and paid through a mission.

10/98

1631 Direct Hire Personnel

Direct-hire personnel are personnel contracted and paid directly by Morrison Academy.

4/05

1632 FTE Definition

FTE is the acronym for “full-time equivalent”, and is used as the standard unit of measure for the salaried positions and/or employees of Morrison Academy.

5/06

1650 Bullying and Harassment

Because Morrison Academy is a Christian school, the presentation of truth concerning Christian and non-Christian religions presented in a non-derogatory, non-hostile manner in accordance with the Academy's position statements is NOT considered harassment.

Bullying is the overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically); physical acts committed; aggression; or any other behaviors committed by a student or a group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the targeted student.

Harassment is an aggressive behavior or intimidating conduct. This includes a wide range of verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual or harassing nature. Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to the following:

  1. Unwanted sexual advances or propositions;
  2. Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors;
  3. Offering academic benefits and/or other rewards in exchange for sexual favors;
  4. Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances;
  5. Visual conduct such as leering, displaying sexually suggestive objects including pictures, cartoons or posters, making sexual gestures, or other gestures which denigrate a person's race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or age;
  6. Written or graphic material, including electronic media, that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age or disability and that is placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on the school premises, or circulated at the workplace or on social networking sites;
  7. Epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, cyber-bullying, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts, that relate to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or age, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual's body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, electronic communication, notes or invitations; and
  8. Physical conduct such as inappropriate touching, assaulting, impeding or blocking movements.

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1651 Child Safety and Protection

Morrison Academy is committed to safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of every child entrusted to the school. We believe that all people are valuable and worthy of respect and care because they are made in the image of God. We believe that God is the Defender of the vulnerable and that the Lord Jesus cares for and values all children. Morrison Academy’s child safety policy has been developed with the purpose of creating a safe environment where children are protected and treated with respect and dignity and where adults’ behavior is above reproach.

Morrison Academy is a member of the Child Safety and Protection Network (CSPN). CSPN is a collaborative network of organizations intentionally and strategically addressing the issues of child protection.

When there is a concern or a report of harm to a child, Morrison will respond according to our policies and procedures. Morrison Academy is prepared to respond to all reports or allegations of child abuse and to take corrective action within the limits of its organizational jurisdiction. It will comply fully with the laws of the ROC with regards to any suspected case of child abuse. Violation of this policy or the related administrative procedures by anyone associated with Morrison Academy will result in discipline, up to and including termination of employment or enrollment. It is the responsibility of all employees, adult volunteers and students to report any suspected cases of child abuse.

In every confirmed case of sexual abuse committed by an employee the Board of Trustees will dismiss the employee with no possibility of reinstatement. Likewise, if any information unknown to Morrison Academy at the time of employment comes to light regarding prior conviction or confirmation through an investigation of child sexual abuse, the employee will be dismissed with no possibility of reinstatement. The Superintendent will report these cases to their certification agency and appropriate government agency in their passport country. Furthermore, the Superintendent may inform the school community.

Awareness of Harm to Children
Child abuse is any action by another person (adult or child) that causes significant harm to a child. Child abuse will not be tolerated at Morrison Academy whether it occurs child-to-child or adult-to-child. Child abuse can be perpetrated with or without the consent of the victim. It can occur in a one-on-one encounter or a group setting.

The World Health Organization states, “Child maltreatment is the abuse or neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship or responsibility, trust or power. Exposure to intimate partner violence is also sometimes included as a form of child maltreatment.”

Although the legal definition of child abuse refers to actions against individuals under the age of 18, Morrison Academy will also protect the rights and safety of students who are over the age of 18. All policies apply to current enrolled students.

The following factors will be considered in the response to child-to-child harmful behaviors: difference in age, responsibility, trust, power, development, awareness or understanding.

Types of Harmful Behaviors
Child Abuse and child-to-child inappropriate behavior are recognized under the following categories:

Physical Abuse: The inflicting of non-accidental physical trauma either by direct contact or indirect contact, such as through the use of an instrument, with the conscious or subconscious intention of hurting, controlling, or subduing a person(s) for purposes other than prescribed medical needs or non-excessive discipline. Such acts may include, but are not limited to: slapping, punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, burning, holding underwater, pulling hair, or holding against one’s will.

Emotional Abuse: All types of abuse and neglect harm children emotionally; however, the repeated use of insults, threats, intimidation, acts of injustice or indignity, spiritual manipulation, and/or physical means (contact or non-contact) against a person(s) that damages the confidence and self-esteem of the child, resulting in significant emotional disturbance or trauma. Emotional abuse can be verbal, written or online.

Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity with an adult or another child (as defined above) which uses physical and/or emotional sexual stimuli or acts (visual, auditory, or physical) in the presence of an individual or upon an individual, with or without consent. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Verbal: Remarks which include sexual threats, solicitation, sexually explicit language (whether in person, on the telephone, or via text messaging or the internet), or any verbal expression with the intent to arouse or stimulate either party.
  • Visual: Indecent exposure, showing or taking of suggestive pictures, pornographic material of genitals, or the showing of unclothed persons, any sexual activity or simulated sexual activity such as masturbation or intercourse, peeping, leering, or staring. This includes producing, viewing or owning child pornography.
  • Physical: Physical contact (or penetration by penis, fingers, or any other body part or object) with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or in the case of a female, breast, or causing a child to perform any of these acts: masturbation in front of or to the victim, rubbing, holding, or kissing for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Grooming: befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes the family, to lower the child’s inhibitions and to gain their trust for the purpose of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking. This can be done face to face or online.

Exploitation: Any activity that takes advantage of a child that could harm his/her welfare and development. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual or commercial exploitation.

Neglect: The failure, refusal, or inability of a parent, guardian, legal custodian, or another person exercising temporary or permanent control over a child, for reasons other than poverty or war, to provide care, instruction, food, clothing, basic medical service, and shelter so as to seriously endanger the well-being of the individual.

Protection and Prevention
Morrison Academy will have a Child Safety Lead whose job it is to:

  • Ensure Child Safety policies and procedures are in place and are followed.
  • Plan and implement relevant child safety training for staff and students.
  • Maintain a clear reporting mechanism for raising concerns.
  • Oversee the response to any reports of harm to a child.

Students, parents or staff can contact the Child Safety Lead at the childsafetyofficer@ma.org.tw email.

The administrative procedure shall establish clear recommended practice for the following programs in accordance with CSPN recommended practice:

  • screening employees and volunteers in child safety prevention
  • written Code of Conduct for volunteers and employees
  • training of students, employees and volunteers in child safety
  • staff handbook guidelines for child care specific to each program and age group
  • follow-up and member care programs
  • receiving and reporting child safety concerns
  • child safety assessment procedures and possible outcomes

Morrison Academy will appoint one or more trusted and reliable adult confidants to receive complaints from individuals who believe that their child abuse report was not addressed. Confidants shall not have formal responsibilities at Morrison Academy. Confidants will report complaints to the Superintendent, who shall investigate the complaints. Confidants may also serve as independent observers of the process and findings of any extended investigations of child abuse.

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1671 Satellite Campus

A satellite campus is a campus operated by Morrison Academy, with five or fewer teachers. Responsibility for the campus lies with the designated administrator who is responsible to the Superintendent. With approval from the Superintendent, direct oversight of the campus may be delegated by the administrator to another staff member.

12/19

1672 Campus

A campus is a school operated by Morrison Academy, which has more than seventy-five students, six or more teachers, and at least one administrator. Responsibility for the school lies with the administrator who is responsible to the Superintendent.

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policy_manual/1000_board_of_trustees.txt · Last modified: 2024/12/06 01:27 by sabrina.lee

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