School Commission

Canon 39 Schools

Section 39.1 Relationship to the Diocese
All schools or other educational facilities providing secular education for young people equivalent to that provided by nursery schools or on the kindergarten, grade school, grammar school, or high school level, and located on any premises used for the benefit of or operated under the control, auspices, or approval of any Parish, Mission, organization, or institution of the Diocese, or any combination or group thereof, shall be an Episcopal School of the Diocese, and no such school shall be established, maintained, or operated without the written approval and consent of the Bishop of the Diocese of Texas. The Principal, Headmaster, or Headmistress of an Episcopal School of the Diocese shall be a confirmed communicant in good standing of a Parish or Mission of the Diocese. The Bishop may make exception of the requirement set forth in the preceding sentence, within such limitations and conditions as the Bishop may prescribe. The Rector (or if the office of Rector is vacant, the Senior Warden) or Priest-in-Charge or Missionary of the sponsoring Parish or Mission (for the purpose of this sentence, the “Rector”) shall be a member ex-officio and Chair of the governing board of the school; provided that, in the absence of or at the pleasure of the Rector, a designee of the Rector may serve from time to time as Chair.

Section 39.2 Standards of Compliance

1. The Bishop shall establish a Diocesan Commission on Schools consisting of no less than 5 nor more than 12 communicants in good standing in the Diocese. Itshall be the duty of the Commission to publish (subject to the Bishop’s approval)standards for Episcopal Schools in this diocese, give general supervision to allsuch schools, and perform such other functions regarding such schools as theBishop may require. All schools shall comply with such Standards as well asthe other provisions of the Canon.

2. Each school shall comply with health, safety, fire, and sanitation standards atleast equal to those required at any time by state, county, and municipal health, safety, fire, and sanitation codes for the locality in which such school is located,and the Bishop or Bishop’s representative shall inspect, or cause to beinspected, at least annually, all schools in order to ascertain compliance with such codes and standards. In addition, each school shall maintain standards in allrespects that will enable the Diocese to certify to all governmental authorities thatsuch school is entitled to the benefit of exemption for all licensing provisionsimposed by such governmental authority.

Section 39.3 Failure of Compliance
Any such school that fails to comply with the provisions of this Canon shall not be entitled to be located on any property that is used for the benefit of any Parish, Mission, institution, or organization of the Diocese of Texas, and neither shall it be entitled to be operated under the control, auspices, or approval of any such Parish, Mission, institution, or organization of the Diocese of Texas.

Section 39.4 Reports and Inspections
The Bishop shall have the right ay any time, and from time to time, to require and obtain such information and reports as may be deemed necessary by the Bishop to ensure compliance with this Canon, and the Bishop shall likewise have the right at any time, and from time to time, to inspect or cause to be inspected, each such school in order to monitor compliance with the provisions of this Canon. The Bishop shall have the right at any time to appoint one or more representatives to assist the Bishop in ensuring compliance with the Canon.