Rules for the Danish Supplementary School, Singapore
Name and location
§ 1
Danish Supplementary School (DSS) is a private and independent school based in Singapore.
The school is established under a private partnership of the same name under the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Singapore's (Acra) rules for building partnerships.
The address is:
Danish Supplementary School
c / o Overseas Family School
25F Paterson Road
Singapore 238515
Purpose
§ 2
DSS’ goal is to offer lessons in Danish to Danish-speaking children residing in Singapore. The purpose is to give students the opportunity to maintain a solid knowledge of the Danish language and develop their skills in Danish alongside their international education.
Who can receive tuition
§ 3
All Danish children residing in Singapore and who daily speak Danish at home can receive tuition.
Tuition is based on the Ministry of Education “Fagformål for Dansk” in order to enable children to follow the tuition in the Danish primary school and thus is not teaching Danish as a second language.
If the student cannot attend on the age-appropriate level, only the head teacher, in consultation with the class teacher and parents decide the placement of the pupil.
It is a prerequisite to participate in school activities including tuition that both the enrollment fee as well as the tuition fees are paid.
Besides teaching Danish children, the school is also able to offer Danish tuition for other persons, eg. adults who want tuition in Danish as a second language, or other activities that relate to the Danish language and culture.
The school's core business will always be 0-9. class who, by lack of resources has first priority.
Rates for enrollment and tuition
§ 4
At enrollment in DSS, a flat enrollment fee per pupil is to be paid. Further more a tuition fee per semester is to be paid prior to semester start.
Fees shall be established prior to each academic year from the Board. Enrollment fee covers cost of purchasing books for the school library, administrative costs and other costs. Tuition fee covers teaching materials and teacher salaries.
Neither the enrollment or tuition fees can be reimbursed and do not entitle to any portion of school property or benefits of any kind.
The school year is divided into two semesters from August to December and from January to May.
Passive List
§ 4b
It is possible that the student can be transferred to a passive list. As a starting point, students can max be on the list for one semester, unless special circumstances exist. The head teacher makes this decision.
Upon resumption of tuition, enrollment fee should not be paid again.
School operations
§ 5
The school is operated as a non-profit organization.
School operations are conducted on the basis of tuition fees from students, enrollment fee, applied for funds and voluntary contributions from individuals and companies interested in the school. Contributors to the school are not entitled to any portion of the school property or benefits of any kind.
School funds may only be used for the school's business benefit. The Board may choose to support social events held in the DSS framework if finances permit this.
Liquid assets cannot be placed on accounts that are accessible by others but the members of the Board.
The school may consolidate for future major acquisitions.
Partnership
§ 6
The partners are the legally binding owners of the partnership Danish Supplementary School. The partners are equal owners of the partnership and share equal responsibility, should a deficit of operating the school, occur.
According to Singapore law there must be a minimum of two partners in the partnership and in principle, minimum one of the partners must have the status of Permanent Resident in Singapore. Partners choose among themselves a person who has the status of Permanent Resident, who is then registered with Acra as "manager". A partner who is designated and registered as a manager are equal with the other partners and has the same status in the partner group as the other partners.
If, among the partners, there does not exist a person with the status of Permanent Resident, the partners decide to designate a person outside the partner group, who is then registered as "manager" in Acra. A person outside the partner group who is appointed to and have agreed to be registered as a manager, is not included in the partner group in any way and have no legal responsibility in relation to the partnership.
As a partner in the partnership you are obliged to become a member of the school Board. It is not possible to be a partner without being a member of the school Board.
If one partner wishes to withdraw from the partnership, that partner is committed to give the other partners' notice at least two months prior. The partnership may choose to accept a resignation with a shorter notice, provided compelling circumstances. A partner who withdraws from the partnership has the right to propose a person for a takeover of the withdrawing partner's role in the partnership.
Decision to admit a new partner lies solely with the at all times remaining partners, who have not given notice of wanting to withdraw from the partnership. A partner who withdraws from the partnership also withdraws from the school Board.
If the number of partners at any stage - because of resignation or expulsion - comes under two, the partnership must hold an extraordinary meeting of all parents of children enrolled in Danish Supplementary School, with the aim of finding new partners. If such a meeting does not result in the number of partners can reach two or more, the partnership is obliged to immediately dissolve itself and conduct the settlement of the school's activities, see the PRGF. 14.
The partnership consists of a maximum of seven partners.
Partners meet minimum once a year, once before the Board is constituted.
Inclusion of partners in partnership
6A §
The role as a partner in the partnership Danish Supplementary School is open to any person resident in Singapore.
The acting partners have the option to nominate individuals who they want admitted as partners in the partnership. The partnership is required to vote on the admission of persons who are nominated as potential partners of existing partners. The same is true for candidates who are nominated by partners who wish to withdraw from the partnership.
Persons wishing to become partners in the Partnership but who are not nominated by one existing or withdrawing partner may apply to the partnership for admission as a partner. The partnership is bound to consider such an application in a professional and confidential way, even giving the applicant a written reply.
The acting partners will decide by vote who they want to include as members. Each partner has one vote and a tie must be rejected admission.
Exclusion of partners from the partnership
§ 6b
The partnership may choose to exclude a partner if that partner:
- Works against the business of the school or partnership
- Through acts, statements or otherwise harm or attempt to harm the school's work or reputation
- Acts deliberately in conflict with these rules, school rules or similar
- Make embezzlement, fraud or otherwise incur the partnership or school in a financial loss
- Is convicted of an offense under either Danish or Singaporean Law
- Is regarded by the other partners as not performing his duties as a partner and board member in a reassuring manner.
A partner who is wanted excluded from the partnership, must be informed in writing of the reasons for exclusion and have the opportunity to be heard at a meeting with the other partners. Vote for exclusion must be made at this meeting.
Exclusion is amended by vote of all partners in accordance with the following guidelines:
- If the partnership consists of only two partners the wish for exclusion must lead to that the partnership holds an extraordinary meeting of all parents of children who are enrolled in Danish Supplementary School, with the aim of finding new partners. If such a meeting does not result in that the number of partners can reach two or more, the partnership is obliged to immediately dissolve itself and conduct the settlement of the school's activities, see the PRGF. 14th
- If the partnership consists of 3-5 individuals, all partners must participate in the vote.
- If the partnership consists of six or seven persons, minimum 5 partners must participate in the vote.
The school Board
§ 7
The Board consists of up to seven board members. Basically the Board consists of partners of the partnership. Partners may choose to include board members that are not included in the partnership. Board members are included either through their status as partners in the partnership or at the nomination of one or more partners, or by applying for admission. The partners decide inclusion in the Board.
Head teacher, teachers and consultants cannot also be a member of the Board. The head teacher participates in board meetings but without voting rights, and not in closed meetings.
The Board constitutes itself annually within the period 1st of March - 1st of May and elects from among its members, a chairman, a vice-president and a treasurer. If the chairman is absent or indisposed, the vice chairman will step in his/hers place.
If a board member who is also a partner, wishes to withdraw from the Board, Section 6, fifth section and section 6a is followed. If a board member who is not a partner wishes to withdraw from the Board, partners can choose to offer this seat to another person, where after the Board constitutes itself again.
The Board takes decisions by simple majority vote. At a tie, the chairman - and in his absence the vice chairman – has the casting vote. The Board has a quorum when at least 50% of the members are present. Chairman or vice chairman must always be present.
The chairman alone, or the treasurer and a member of the Board, sign the association.
Board members may receive a fee of school funds for the performance of his/her duties as a board member. The Board decides on the setting of board fees.
The tasks and responsibilities of the Board
§ 7a
The Board carries out the school's overall management and is responsible for employment and if necessary, dismissal of the head teacher, the economics and operations of the school, as well as contact to the school's stakeholders.
The Board appoints the head teacher, who is in charge of the daily management and has the overall educational responsibilities of the tuition.
Accounting
§ 8
The association's financial year runs from 1st of January to 31st of December. Accounts shall be held in an easy and clear form and shall be in closed position by the 31st of January the following year.
Accounts shall be approved and signed by the Board prior or at the first board meeting following the 31st of January.
Financial reports and documentation shall be stored for at least five years following approval.
Tuition
§ 9
Trained Danish teachers and educators mainly conduct the tuition.
Tuition may be conducted by non-trained teachers but always under supervision by a trained teacher or educator.
Teachers may be assisted by one or more teacher assistant, depending on the number of students in each class and in case the head teacher finds there are special needs.
Tuition is based on carefully selected teaching material to meet the Ministry of Education “fagformål for Dansk”. Teaching materials are assessed continually to ensure that they are contemporary.
§ 10
For practical purposes, and after the teacher's discretion in each class, there may be need for the presence of parents or caregivers in the classes. The head teacher will determine the need for this in each case, in cooperation with the class teacher.
§ 11
The children of board members, head teacher, teachers and lay consultants have priority access to education, if a waiting list for a class should occur.
A prior enrolled student in the school cannot lose his seat in favor of the above.
Parent Orientation
§ 12
The school invites annually in September to a parent orientation meeting.
The meeting is designed to:
• inform about the school's overall work and school economics
(Board)
• inform about the general tuition(school leader)
• inform about class tuition and the materials used (teachers)
• inform about other offers from the school (library, parental care, DSS Sjov og Hygge (fun and cosiness)).
School's end
§ 13
The school may cease its operation, if there are not enough students or teachers to continue tuition.
Termination of the school will happen by decision by the Board. However, the Board must, prior to termination have attempted to assign lessons to others who may wish to continue the work. By termination of the school, the governing Board shall make decision on sale or transfer of the school's assets.
The Board will continue to act on until the liquidation of the school's assets and liabilities is completed after these Rules.
On behalf of the Board
Diana Mortensen
Chairman of the Board
Final version produced 12th January 2011