De La Salle Academy

“The audit committee is presented with the financial statements and the form 990. Upon review of these documents with the accountants, they are then presented to the board electronically for review and discussion. Once the documents are approved by the board they are then submitted to the taxing authorities.”

“Trustees, officers, and employees are expected to identify any potential conflict of interest at the annual board retreat, held each fall, at which time they also execute the conflict of interest disclosure. Potential conflicts that may arise subsequent to the annual board retreat are identified by involved trustees, officers, and employees at interim board meetings. All conflicts of interest (or potential conflicts) are reviewed at the annual board retreat or at regular interim board meetings. Reviews are conducted by the entire body of trustees, officers, and employees and appropriate actions are taken. Depending upon the nature and duration of the conflict of interest, the board may recommend a trustee, officer, or employee resign his/her position, eliminate the circumstances of the conflict, recuse himself/herself from discussions and decisions concerning the matter under conflict; or, if the conflict is considered immaterial or beneficial to the academy the board will adopt a resolution acknowledging the potential conflict and allowing the involved trustee(s), officer(s), and employee(s) to continue their service on the board. All board discussions regarding conflicts of interest are recorded in the appropriate board meeting minutes.”

“The board reviews the compensation of the head of the school and the head of the school reviews those that report directly to him.”

“The academy's form 990 is available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code. The return is made available on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the financial statements, governing documents and conflict of interest policy are also available upon written request.”

“De la salle academy's significant activities over the past year in alignment with its strategic plan, transform: learning, leadership, and legacy: learning - academic support: launched the learning to learn course for sixth graders, alongside introduction to emotional intelligence, to enhance academic and social-emotional skills. - student well-being: strengthened mental health initiatives, including peer support groups, drumming circles for eighth-grade boys, and empowerment programs for eighth-grade girls. - community & communication: improved food programs, enhanced visitor security with a welcome desk, expanded strategic partnerships, and streamlined donor and family communications. Professional development: hosted expert-led workshops on ai, equity in education, and student well-being. Leadership - parent engagement: established the dlsa family life committee, expanded volunteer opportunities, and introduced borough-based family meetups. - operational improvements: hired a director of finance and operations, engaged in leadership training with the bridgespan group, and developed a crisis communications plan for launch in 2024. - employee support: initiated a review of faculty and staff health benefits for better recruitment and retention. Legacy - alumni engagement: strengthened relationships through high school visits and new regional alum events. - mission & sustainability: began revising the mission statement and formed a financial model task force to ensure long-term financial health. These initiatives reflect dlsa's commitment to fostering student success, empowering leadership, and securing the school's future.”

“De la salle academy offers academically talented, economically less advantaged children of diverse backgrounds a life-changing educational experience in grades 6-8, where they are empowered to reach their full potential. With the support of caring and dedicated teachers, students are introduced to an innovative yet challenging academic curriculum, strong core values, character development, and they learn to foster a sense of community. Upon graduation, our youngsters are well-equipped to become the leaders of tomorrow. De la salle believes in a need-blind admissions process to ensure that students are evaluated based solely on their merits and not on their families' ability to pay.”

“The purpose of the audit committee is to assist the board of trustees in its oversight responsibilities respecting (1) the audit of the academy's books and records and (2) the academy's system of internal control. This process has not changed from last year.”