Call for Committee Members

The Rye City School District Board of Education is seeking community members to serve on three of its committees. The district's working committees offer thoughtful and critical recommendations for the effective and efficient operation of the schools. They focus on specific, annual charges and report progress at Board of Education meetings periodically throughout the year.

The committees that are open for participation are the Audit Committee, Facilities Committee, and Tax Cap Task Force. Charges for these committees are listed as below along with other details and descriptions of the committees' roles.

If you would like to contribute as a member of either the Audit Committee, Facilities Committee, or Tax Cap Task Force, please complete the attached application and return it BY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, to Karina Stabile at 411 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Suite 100S, Rye New York 10580, or email the information to stabilek@ryeschools.org.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee's work is guided by applicable law and Board Policy. The Committee's purpose is to oversee and carry out the Board's audit policies and the performance of related duties and responsibilities. The District's Audit Committee shall be comprised of at least three Board members with staggered terms and an appropriate number of community members. Employees of the school District are prohibited from serving on the committee.

Committee Charge:

• Meet with auditors and recommend internal and external audit plans to the Board, specifying the areas of District operations to be reviewed for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, operating efficiency and effectiveness.
• Receive and review the resulting audit reports; and propose recommendations to the Board for action as may be necessary and appropriate, these include:
• Review the External Audits and Management Letter by October 2012.
• Review Internal Audit Risk Assessment Update by December 2012. Recommend another area to audit based on risk assessment.
• Review the results of the GASB 45 actuarial analysis update in June 2013.
• Periodically review the monthly reporting of Claims Auditor Findings to the Board. The Committee Chair shall meet with and directly receive any reports of concern about waste, abuse, or fraud from the Claims Auditor.
• Receive and review the management response to each audit report.
• Perform any other responsibilities outlined by the Board. It is not the intent of the Board of Education that the Audit Committee participate in or be responsible for the day to day operations of the school District or in the decisions that are the responsibility of the Superintendent of Schools or the Business Official, or the other District administrators.

Meeting Schedule:

The Audit Committee meets five times a year.

Facilities Committee

The Facilities Committee meets to discuss building and physical plant issues critical to the District. It presents findings and recommendations to the RCSD Board of Education. It continues to address facility Health and Safety issues as a top priority.

Committee Charge:

• Review and update Five Year Facilities Plan.
• Identify a liaison to the District-Wide Health and Safety Committee.
• Review the findings related to any Energy Savings Proposals received and recommend a suggested course of action.
• Review the findings of the Annual Visual Inspection and identify and recommend 2013-2014 Capital Projects Plan for Board consideration.

Meeting Schedule:

The Facilities Committee meets three times a year.

The Tax Cap Task Force is a newly-formed group. Its primary focus will be to explore current and long-term fiscal sustainability in the age of budget caps, dwindling resources and economic uncertainty. The Committee will bring together various community stakeholders to work collaboratively in proposing budget solutions that preserve current educational programs and practices that are deemed effective.

Committee Charge:

Make recommendations regarding cost saving measures, cost avoidance strategies and revenue generating ideas that may impact the 2013-2014 budget development process, as well as future budgets.

Meeting Schedule:

The Tax Cap Task Force will meet a minimum of four times a year.