Westside Neighborhood School

“The form 990 is prepared by the school's outside public accounting firm based on information provided by management. The return is reviewed by management and any changes are incorporated into the filing. The form 990, excluding schedule b, is provided to the board chair, audit committee chair, and finance committee chair/treasurer for review prior to filing.”

“Each year, every board member, officer and key employee is required to complete and sign a conflict of interest statement. A board committee circulates the conflict of interest statements. Once collected, the signed forms are maintained in the business office. Such form describes types of conflicts of interest and requires disclosure of any such conflicts. All forms are shared with the board's executive committee chair, board chair, head of school, and the director of advancement. Conflicts, if any, are disclosed on the form 990. Every westside neighborhood school board member shall be required annually to provide full written disclosure of any financial interests or relationships that may in any way present a conflict between his/her business or professional roles and his/her role as a board member. Any trustee, officer, employee who has an interest in or is directly or indirectly a party to, a contract or transaction presented to the board of directors (or one of its committees) for authorization, approval or ratification, shall make a prompt, full and frank disclosure of his or her interest to the president of the board of directors, or in the president's absence, to the vice-president of the board of directors, prior to the board's (or school's) acting on such contract or transaction. Such disclosure shall include all relevant and material facts known to such person about the contract or transaction and the person's interest or relationship to the contract or transaction. Where a potential conflict of interest exists, it shall be the responsibility of the person involved or any other person with knowledge to notify the board of trustees of the potential conflict, so that the board of trustees can provide such guidance and take such action as it shall deem appropriate. Any trustee who has a potential conflict of interest may, and at the request of the president, will excuse himself or herself from any participation in the board's decision on that matter, other than to present factual information or to respond to the board's questions, before absenting him or herself from all discussion and voting.”

“The board of trustees determines the compensation of the head of school. Determinations are made by comparisons with data obtained from the national association of independent schools and california association of independent schools (cais). In addition, outside consultants are used on occasion and the head of school has a written contract. Other officers and key employees are reviewed by the head of school and compared with compensation at other local cais schools.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“There were no changes to the finance committees oversight process or selection process during the year.”