Board of Directors’ Sub-Committees
Leadership and GovernanceCommittee
Chair–Laura Kirkpatrick, President, GLS BOD
Membership – Joyce Henderson, Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) ex-officio, Elaine Leonard (GLS Dean of Students) ex-officio
•Board structure, development/recruitment, training and ensuring sustainability
•Community Outreach – relationship with DOE, DE Politicians, other key influencers
•Policy development and review
•Strategic Planning (comprehensive)
•Establish sound policies and procedures for complying with regulatory standards and meeting fiduciary responsibilities
•Establishing policies and procedures and assuming oversight of adherence with record-keeping, public reporting, publicity and press releases.
•Liaison with GLS counsel
•Oversight of contracting process and review of contracts with vendors and outsourced service providers
•Oversight responsibility for adherence with GLS By-Laws and other documents related to the operations of GLS, particularly Conflicts of Interest.
•Recommendations with regard to and oversight of vendors and outsourced solutions providers
•Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to best practices in Charter School and Special Education leadership and governance
•Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to regulatory, legal and policy changes to Delaware Charter School and Special Education legislation and administration
Operations and FacilitiesCommittee
Chair – Ron Miller
Membership – Janice Hill, Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) ex-officio
•Safety and security of GLS and grounds
•Oversight of GLS Facility (maintenance, access, safety, upgrades/improvements)
•Oversight of technology (maintenance, safety, upgrades/improvements, policies with regard to use of technology etc.)
•Oversight of transportation and transportation safety
•Policy development, adherence and review
•Strategic planning with regard to facilities and transportation Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to best practices in Charter School and Special Education leadership and governance best practices
•Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to best practices in Charter School and Special Education operations and facilities management
Curriculum and Staffing Committee
Chair – Janice Hill
Vice Chair – Chris Santantasio
Membership – Anne Budischak, Lynda Fuller (GLS Advisory Board Member),Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) – ex officio, Jodi Forestieri (GLS Dean of Curriculum and Instruction) – ex officio, and GLS Educational Diagnostician – ex officio
•Oversight and reporting of Student Achievement -- absolute (DE DOE standards for achievement, standardized testing, etc.) and relative (vs. peers, e.g., Academy of Manayunk and Lab School of Washington) performance
•Oversight of staffing, recruitment/hiring/contract-renewal, interview/qualifications and professional training
•Development of hiring policies, best practices, evaluation and performance measurement standards for faculty and staff
•Oversight of adherence to GLS mission with regard to curriculum and student achievement
•Oversight of IEP process, adherence with regulations regarding identification, categorization and service standards for students with Special Needs (Sp.Ed)
•Recommendations with regard to and oversight of vendors and outsourcing educational solutions providers (curriculum, human resources)
•Policy development, ongoing adherence and review
•Strategic planning with regard to curriculum and staffing
•Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to best practices in Charter School and Special Education curriculum, teaching standards, performance measurement and staffing practices
Finance Committee
Chair – Laura Kirkpatrick (Treasurer, BOD)
Membership – Ron Miller, Janice Hill, Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) ex-officio, Neely & Spence (GLS Business Advisors) ex-officio, and Financial Secretary, ex-officio
•Establish sound policies and procedures for school financial reporting and operations
•Oversight of budgeting process, financial reporting, annual audit and other accounting functions
•Oversight of student enrollment, financial liquidity, financial stability and achievement of DOE metrics as related to fiscal responsibility
•Strategic planning with regard to GLS financing and budgeting
•Recommendations with regard to and oversight of vendors and outsourced financial services (business manager, accountant, auditor, financial consultant) providers
•Educate Board of Directors and other members of the GLS community with regard to best practices in Charter School and Special Education financing and accounting practices.
Citizens Budget Oversight Committee (“CBOC”)
Chair – Board Treasurer, Laura Kirkpatrick
Members – Educator: Open; Parent: Ron Miller; Member Expert: Janice Hill; Member Expert: Laura Kirkpatrick; Delaware Department of Education Liaison; GLS Head of School ex-officio; GLS Business Director ex-officio
As outlined by the Delaware State Department of Education:
- This committee will have full access either electronically or in hard copy format to all financial documents and financial information Gateway Lab School has in its possession, with redactions permitted only to protect confidential personal information regarding students or employees.
- This committee will report quarterly to the board an update related to its service.
- This committee will be comprised of a minimum of 5 members, with at least one member an educator from the school, one member a parent whose child currently attends the school, and two members (may be inclusive of the previous two required members) with personal or professional experience that would lend to expertise in charter school financial oversight, and one Delaware Department of Education liaison.
- The committee may be comprised of members currently serving on the charter school’s existing finance committee and follow the same terms of service and meeting times and dates as that committee, with terms no less than two (2) years, as long as that current finance committee has at least one member who is an educator from the school, one member who is a parent whose child currently attends the school, and two members (may be inclusive of the previous two required members) with personal or professional experience that would lend to expertise in charter school financial oversight.
- New committee members will be sought through an application process that includes the following:
- Request for committee members through a school publication or website will take place prior to seat vacancy.
- Interested parties may apply to the committee prior to seat vacancy (see application)
- Appointment will take place upon vacancy of a seat or at the committee’s annual meeting and will be determined by on a majority vote by the charter school board of directors if no current committee exists or by the existing committee based on the following equal qualifications:
- A member of the charter schools board of trustees or
- A parent of a student currently attending charter school or
- An educator in the charter school or
- Another member of the charter school immediate community
- AND
- Personal or professional experience that would lend to expertise in charter school financial oversight
•Terms of service are two years (minimum 2)
•The committee chair will be appointed by the school’s board of directors president
•Members of the committee are expected to
- Attend committee meetings unless otherwise excused by the chair.
- Attend required finance trainings
- Maintain expertise that will enhance effective financial oversight of the charter school
Marketing and Communications Committee
Chair – Rebecca Girten, Secretary, BOD
Vice Chair – Anne Budischak
Membership – Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) ex-officio, GLS GFF Officer ex-officio
•Establish sound policies and procedures for Board activities relating to fostering strong relationships with the greater GLS community and communication.
•Oversight responsibility for GLS and GFF policies and procedures relating to communication and fostering relationships with the greater GLS community with particular attention as to whether they are in alignment with GLS’ mission and values and foster GLS’ reputation and sustainability.
•Liaison between Board and Gateway Friends and Family (GFF)
•Ensure effective measurement and reporting of Student and Parent satisfaction with GLS
•Strategic planning with regard to community outreach and communication
•Educate Board of Directors regarding to best practices in communication and relationship building
Fundraising Committee
Chair – Joyce Henderson
Gala Chair – Joyce Henderson
Private and Public Grants Chair – Chris Santantasio
Membership –Pam Draper (GLS Head of School) ex-officio, GLS GFF Officer ex-officio
•Establish sound policies and procedures relating to grant applications ad fund raising activities.
•Oversight responsibility for GLS and GFF activities relating to grant applications, partnering with private funding sources and fundraising, with particular attention as to whether they are in alignment with GLS’ mission and values and foster GLS’ reputation and sustainability.
•Liaise with Gateway Friends and Family (GFF)
•Identifypotential sources, make recommendations, and review requests for and proposals to sources of financial support and charitable grants
•Oversight for the proper disposition of funds received via private grants and other fundraising activities. Ensuring that grant monies are utilized solely to meet the purpose of and accordance with any and all restrictions accompanying any grant of funds.
•Strategic planning with regard to Grants and Fundraising activities
•Educate Board of Directors regarding best practices in Charter School fundraising and development
BOD Subcommittees_Nov.2012