Connecting Waters Charter Schools

“The board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, may create one or more committees of the board, each consisting of two or more directors and no one who is not a director, to serve at the pleasure of the board. Appointments to committees of the board of directors shall be by majority vote of the directors then in office. The board of directors may appoint one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting. Any such committee shall have all the authority of the board, to the extent provided in the board of directors' resolution. Meetings and actions of committees of the board of directors shall be governed by, held, and taken under the provisions of the bylaws concerning meetings, other board of directors' actions, and the brown act, if applicable, except that the time for general meetings of such committees and the calling of special meetings of such committees may be set either by board of directors' resolution or, if none, by resolution of the committee.”

“There are no committees with the authority to act on behalf of the board.”

“The form 990 is prepared by the organization's outside public accounting firm based on information provided by management. Once the draft of the return is available, it is reviewed by management with any changes or revisions incorporated into the filing. The revised returned is then submitted to the board of directors for their review and approval prior to submitting to the irs. After filing, the organization stores the forms in their files.”

“Monitoring is performed yearly by the board of directors to identify potential conflicts of interest. A yearly training and review on the process is also done as well. Regarding the conflict of interest, a designated employee is an employee of the charter school, including governing board members and candidates for election and/or appointment to the governing board, who hold positions that involve the making or participation in the making, of decisions that may foreseeably have a material effect on any financial interest. Each designated employee, including governing board members and candidates for election and/or appointment to the governing board, shall file a statement of economic interest disclosing reportable investments, interests in real property, business positions, and income required to be reported under the category or categories to which the employee's position is assigned. An investment, interest in real property or income shall be reportable, if the business entity in which the investment is held, the interest in real property, the business position, or source of income may foreseeably be affected materially by a decision made or participated in by the designated employee by virtue of his or her position. When a non-governing board member designated employee determines that he/she should not make a decision because of a disqualifying interest, he/she should submit a written disclosure of the disqualifying interest to his/her immediate supervisor. The supervisor shall immediately reassign the matter to another employee and shall forward the disclosure notice to the charter school principal, who shall record the employee's disqualification. In the case of a designated employee who is head of an agency, this determination and disclosure shall be made in writing to his/her appointing authority. Governing board members shall disclose a disqualifying interest at the meeting during which consideration of the decision takes place. This disclosure shall be made part of the board's official record. The board member shall refrain from participating in the decision in any way and comply with any applicable provisions of the charter school bylaws.”

“The pay of the executive director is established by consulting with an independent firm to do a payroll study and facilitate a yearly review which includes input by each board member. The executive director is the only one who undergoes this process. The process described here was last completed in 2024.”

“The governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available upon request. Anyone wishing to access these documents may contact the school office and they will be made available.”

“Instructional vendors & consultants: program service expenses 3,272,121. Management and general expenses 1,150. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 3,273,271. Oversight fees: program service expenses 323,259. Management and general expenses 134,749. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 458,008. Professional services - non-instructional: program service expenses 211,657. Management and general expenses 273,202. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 484,859. All other fees for svcs: program service expenses 46,522. Management and general expenses 141,402. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 187,924.”

“The process for oversight and selection of an independent accountant has not changed from the prior year.”