Governance

Willow Glen Christian School (WGCS) is governed by a group of local churches that act as sponsors of the WGCS organization. A Governing Board representing the churches and a School Board that oversees  school operations jointly provide oversight of the school operations, policy, and doctrine.

Legal Structure:

WGCS is chartered as an Education Corporation under the NY State Board of Regents Education Law and subject to the NY State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law (IRS 501c3 application pending).

Sponsor Churches

WGCS is sponsored by local churches that have committed to providing oversight of the school doctrine and operations. Each sponsor church must provide one representative to sit on the Governing Board.

The Sponsor Churches (as of December 2024) are:

Asbury Church

Bethel Grove Bible Church

Christ Chapel

Covenant Love Community Church

First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church

Hillside Alliance Church

New Life Presbyterian Church

Vineyard Church of Ithaca

The WGCS Governing Board is comprised of active members from the sponsoring churches. Each sponsor church has one seat on the Governing Board. The Governing Board has responsibility for the doctrinal oversight of the school and must approve any changes to doctrinal statements, such as the school’s Statement of Faith.

Governing Board representatives are responsible for communicating the board’s activity to their church leadership and getting their leadership’s approval on any proposed changes to the school’s doctrinal statements.

The Governing Board also has oversight and final say in all School Board matters. The Governing Board meets quarterly to monitor the School and the School Board activities.

Meet our Governing Board of Directors:

A separate School Board is empowered by the Governing Board to oversee the school’s operations, staffing, academic curriculum, and long-term strategic planning. The School Board has nine to eleven board members and is self-perpetuating, (i.e. new School Board members are elected by the current board members subject to the approval of the Governing Board).

The school board will have at least two representatives that also sit on the Governing Board to facilitate communications between the two boards.

The School Board meets monthly to conduct its regular school oversight activities and holds additional committee or board meetings as necessary to work on specific topics.

Meet our School Board Members:

To see a detailed list of Governance board and School Board roles and responsibilities, please click here.