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Policies

Program Policies

Revised 1/09

  1. In order to participate in T.R.I.P. and establish an account, you must fill out a registration form and register for an account number.  There will be a one-time $5.00 registration fee to offset the operating costs of the program.
  2. Every family will be required to re-register annually.  There is no fee for re-registration.
  3. Your T.R.I.P. account number will generally be the same as your tuition account number for Calvin Christian Schools.
  4. Family or friends may help you with your tuition reduction by ordering certificates on your order blank with your account number.  They may also participate in the program by registering and receiving their own account number and designating their earnings to go towards your tuition account.
  5. Parents looking to the future and planning for the Christian education of their children at Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian School can also participate.  They will be given their own account number. The moneys earned will be help by Calvin Christian School and credited toward tuition when their child is enrolled in class at Calvin Christian School.  If their child does not attend Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian School, the tuition credit dollars will not be returned as cash, but can be transferred to one or more of the options in #6 below, or transferred to another Christian school with a TRIP/SCRIP program.  Future Familly monies will be held for up to 5 years on inactive accounts and then will be transferred to the General Tuition Fund of Calvin Christian Schools, unless requested, in writing, to continue holding by Future Family member.
  6. Registrants in the program may direct tuition credit to:
    • their personal tuition account
    • another family's tuition account (this can be confidential)
    • G.A.P. Fund (General Assistance Program for needy families)
    • Calvin Christian Education Foundation
    • General Tuition Reduction
    • Church Christian Education Fund or Society
    • A needy family as designated by the CCSA Finance Committee or T.R.I.P. Committee
  7. The percentage earned on each participating family's account will be held in the T.R.I.P. bank account.  Each family will receive a semi-annual statement of their tuition credit earned.  Any discrepancies must be brought to the attention of the T.R.I.P. Coordinator within 30 days.  The amount of tuition credit earned from each order will be printed on your account label on the order envelope.  This will be your record of your earnings.
  8. T.R.I.P. earnings will be applied to any prior year balance first, if such balances exist, and may be used for this or other fees only at the discretion of the Financial Administrator or T.R.I.P. Coordinator.
  9. T.R.I.P. is being offered to provide tuition reduction for students at Calvin Christian and Potter's House Christian Schools.  Therefore, the money collected on your account number will only be paid to Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian Schools for tuition reduction.  If your child no longer attends Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian School for any reason, the moneys held under your account will be credited to your outstanding tuition balance or transferred to another account (see options in #6 above).  If your child is transferring to another Christian School, your T.R.I.P. credits earned, once your outstanding balance at Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian School is met, can be transferred to that school and applied to your tuition account with that school.  Written notice of where the funds are to be credited must be received within 60 days of your child leaving Calvin Christian or Potter's House Christian School, otherwise the funds will be transferred to the General Tuition Reduction account.  If transferring to another Christian school, name of school, address, and name of a contact person must accompany the written notice.
  10. Any account not in use for 3 years will be designated in-active and will require a new registration and registration fee of $5.
  11. Generally one percent (1%) of the dollar amount of all certificates ordered and vouchers monies received, except those designated by the T.R.I.P. committee and approved by the administration, will be held in the T.R.I.P. account to pay for general operating expenses of the program.  Excess moneys in the account will be applied annually towards General Tuition Reduction, Calvin Christian Education Foundation and/or the GAP Fund.
  12. All certificate orders must be accompanied by checks made payable to Calvin Christian School-T.R.I.P.  The back of the check will be stamped T.R.I.P. Non-tax deductible because the participants are receiving dollar for dollar value.  If the check is for an incorrect amount, the order will be adjusted accordingly to be processed.  The check amount stands.
  13. The T.R.I.P. committee reserves the right to suspend or revoke a member's ordering privileges if these written policies are not followed, or are used for any purpose other than general tuition reduction assistance.
  14. Please, only one order per registrant per week.  We can accept more than one check per order, but please use only one order form.  Orders placed one week will be ready for pick-up the following week.  You must pick up your order at the same school each week.  If you must make a change, please notify the T.R.I.P. Coordinator.  No late orders can be accepted, but will be held for the next week.
  15. Anyone writing a non-sufficient fund check will incur a fee of $30.00.  The fee will have to be paid to T.R.I.P. or deducted from your T.R.I.P. earnings before your next order will be processed.  If two NSF checks are tendered on your T.R.I.P. account in the same school year, your ordering privileges will be suspended for a two month period.
  16. Order Pick-Up
    • Students Take Home: a disclaimer of responsibility must be signed each school year before your certificates will be sent home with your child.  Please sign a disclaimer if you think you will ever want to have your child take home your order.  These forms will be kept on file.  Your child will only receive the certificates received under your family account number.
    • Parent/Adult Pick-up: filled orders and new order forms will be available during regular designated pick-up times at your chosen location.  A friend or relative may pick up your T.R.I.P. order provided they sign a form available at the time of pick up.  Orders not picked up will be held for pick up at Macatawa Bank (corner of Ivanrest and 44th Street, Grandville) during regular bank business hours.
    • Your method of pick-up (child or adult) will be indicated on your registration or re-registration form.  Adjustments may be made occasionally for special circumstances.
    • Pick-up times are subject to change, depending on parental requests and number of pick-ups per location.  You will be notified of any changes.
  17. These gift certificates are the same as cash.  Neither Calvin Christian nor the T.R.I.P. committee will accept responsibility for lost or misplaced certificates.  Mailing certificates is possible only if $1 mailing fee has been included in order and signed mailing waiver is on file.
  18. If there is no school on a Tuesday due to weather or other emergencies, new T.R.I.P. orders will be accepted until school starts on Wednesday morning.
  19. The T.R.I.P. program will run weekly throughout the school year with the possible exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas vacation and Spring break.  If we have enough volunteers, it can continue throughout the summer.  You will be notified of any changes.
  20. A Cash & Carry Store (QUIKTRIP) will be offered at least once per month during the school year and as determined by the T.R.I.P. committee during the summer months. At QUIKTRIP, you can purchase certificates to take with you at that time.  Times and locations of the QUIKTRIP store will be in the monthly TRIPBITS, and posted at the Association Office and online.  Check or cash (correct change only) is accepted at QUIKTRIP.  A variety of certificates will be available during QUIKTRIP, but not all merchants will be represented.  Once supplies are depleted, that merchant will no longer by available during that QUIKTRIP store.  You will still receive tuition credits, but these will be credited after receiving your certificates rather than before.  Your QUIKTRIP receipt is your record.  Tuition earnings will still be posted semi-annually as explained above..