History of Evangelical Christian Academy

The committee from Grace Presbyterian Church that started Evangelical Christian Academy (ECA) was: Chairman Dan Rowton, Jim Groesbeck, Jim Galvin, Dusty Rhodes, and Pastor Art Scott. This committee acted as a school board, which formulated a constitution. They submitted the constitution to the Session of Grace Presbyterian Church for approval for ECA. They were given approval to proceed with the day school, operating with the following guidelines:

1. There should be at least one member of the Session on the school board.
2. All additional board members would be members of the church.
3. Minutes of the board meetings would be submitted to the church Session.

The first annual report, reported that the Board would establish educational policies, maintain qualified teachers and supervise enrollment. The purpose of the Academy was “to provide, in accordance with the Constitution, a Christ-centered education of high academic quality so that the pupils may be prepared to take an active, vital place in their home, their church, their state, and in their future vocations by applying Christian principles in a manner that is glorifying to God.”

In 1971, ECA started with kindergarten and added a grade level each year. As the school grew, space became a problem. The church leaders, the school board, and parents discussed ECA being a feeder school for a nearby Christian school. Parents did not want ECA to become a feeder school. They wanted their children to graduate from ECA. After the Family Life Center at Village Seven Presbyterian Church was completed, the church leaders and the school board decided to utilize the Family Life Center as ECA’s secondary campus. In 1984, junior high classes were added to the school program. In 1991, ECA had its first graduating class.

Organization

Founding Churches and Board of Directors

Evangelical Christian Academy is a Colorado non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The Board of Directors consists of between 8 and 13 members, with emphasis on having representation from the elders and members of Village Seven Presbyterian Church, one of our founding churches. The church is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) denomination. The Board may elect some Directors from the membership of churches with students enrolled at ECA. ECA has a special relationship with the founding church session as they provide oversight to the school.

Village Seven Presbyterian Church 4055 Nonchalant Circle South Colorado Springs, CO 80917
Rev. Mark Bates, Senior Pastor

The Superintendent of ECA serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.

The faculty members work under annual contracts which are approved by representatives of the Board and administration.

ECA Board of Directors: 2019-2020 School Year

D. J. DeJong – Board Chair
Sandi Geving – Secretary/Treasurer
Randy Thompson – Board Member
John McKeever – Board Member
Joseph Friedly – Board Member-At-Large New/Returning – Denny Carew – Board Member New – Heather Morgan – Board Member
New – Jason Castro – Board Member-At-Large
New – Will Kim – Board Member-At-Large
Jim Johnson – Board Member – Ex Officio

Mission of the Board of Directors

The ECA Board of Directors is given the responsibility for the:

• Establishment, guidance, and spiritual headship.
• Development and maintenance of the vision and strategic direction.
• Governing and policy-making regarding the business, property, and affairs.
• Monitoring and ongoing appraisal of the operation and function of the school.The board may exercise all lawful powers consistent with the by-laws of the corporation. The authority of the board is corporate, with individual members having authority only as authorized by the board as a whole.Within this context, the board legislates school policy while the administration implements and enforces these policies. Therefore, the board delegates to the administrators the power and authority necessary to execute the operational management of the school. This administrative authority includes the authority for the development and maintenance of written documents, policies, and/or procedures required for the efficient operation of the school within established Board policy and applicable law. The administrators are responsible for keeping the board informed about appropriate aspects of school operations.

As defined in the corporate by-laws, there are three types of director positions: directors from Village Seven Presbyterian Church (elders and members), and directors at-large. The board must include at least one session member (elder) from a founding church and the board president must be an elder from the founding church. An exact number of directors is not mandated. The existing board members select and interview board candidates, elect new members, and submit these selections for approval by the session of the founding church.

The work of the board is accomplished through task-forces, committees, and commissions established by the board. Group work influences areas like: development, education, finance, personnel, policy, property, and technology. These groups are led by board members and task- force and committee members may include faculty members and/or parents. The interface between board and school is through the Superintendent.

The stated meetings of the ECA Board of Directors are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the secondary campus. These meetings are normally closed to visitors; however, requests for an “order of the day” appearance before the board may be made through the chairman at least one week in prior to any board meeting. Other meetings may be called as deemed necessary.

Faculty and Administration

Based on the recommendation of the principal, superintendent and personnel committee, the board appoints full-time administrators, teachers, and varsity athletic coaches at ECA after careful consideration of all relevant qualifications. Other part-time employees and contractual workers are confirmed by the administration.

All members of the administrative and teaching staff must:

• Adhere to the Statement of Faith.
• Lead exemplary Christian lives.
• Present sound Biblical principles in their teaching and classroom attitudes.
• Attend a church that teaches doctrine in agreement with the Statement of Faith. Administrators and teachers are strongly encouraged to attend one of the founding churches or a church in agreement with the Statement of Faith.All incoming teachers are expected to have at least a Bachelor’s degree relevant to the subject taught, unless approved through ECA Employment Contract. A degree in education preferred. Teacher agrees to pursue certification as a ACCS Certified Teacher.The Superintendent oversees the Principals of the schools and the business operations.