Ontech Charter High School

“Ellen eagan (head of school) and steve kimatian (secretary/treasurer) have a family relationship.”

“Form 990 is reviewed by management and the finance committee of the board of trustees for approval. If changes are required, the school will then forward to the auditing firm and a final version will be distributed to all the board members prior to the irs submission.”

“The school has a conflict of interest policy which covers school trustees, officers, and employees. Under the general municipal law, no school trustee, officer or employee may have an interest, direct or indirect, in any contract with the school, when such officer, trustee, or employee, individually or as a member of the board, has the power or duty to (a) negotiate, prepare, authorize or approve the contract, or authorize or approve payment under the contract; (b) audit bills or claims under the contract; or (c) appoint an officer or employee who has any of the powers or duties set forth above. Any trustee, officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract with the board must publicly disclose the nature and extent of such interest in writing to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or commmitee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she leaves the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest. The chairperson of the governing board or committee, if appropriate, appoints a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee determines whether the school can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a trustee, officer or employee has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it informs the trustee, officer or employee of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose. If, after hearing the trustee, officer or employee's response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the trustee, officer or employee has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it takes appropriate disciplinary and corrective action. Each trustee, officer, and employee annually signs a statement affirming their receipt and understanding of the conflict of interest policy, as well as their agreement to comply with it.”

“The process for determining compensation for the organization's head of school and chief financial officer is conducted by the review committee and the board of trustees. Salary information from similar educational institutions and specifically from charter schools is used in this determination. Also considered are salaries of other ontech employees, in order to compare senior executives and senior administration. The discussions, deliberations and decisions are recorded in the minutes of the board and retained within the organization's book and records. The process for determining executive compensation was last conducted in fiscal year 2021.”

“The organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code. The return is posted on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the financial statements, conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation and by-laws are also available upon written request at 810 willis avenue, syracuse ny 13204, or by calling the organization directly at 315-420-3199.”

“The school has an audit/finance committee that is responsible for oversight of the audit and selection of the independent auditor. The process has not changed from the prior year.”