Board members must serve on at least one committee each year, and most volunteer for three or four additional committees suited to their interests and professional expertise. The president of the Board submits the final committee assignments to the entire Board for approval.
Each year, the Board encourages non-Board parents to volunteer for selected committees or subcommittees. In some cases, the Bylaws or the nature of the committee's work preclude non-Board participation. Non-Board parents have traditionally provided valuable input for the Communication and Community Relations, Curriculum, Development, Diversity, Buildings and Grounds, Technology, and Community Standards committees. Parents interested in serving on any Board committees must be willing to participate actively in the committee's work and make the time to attend regular meetings, usually held on weekday mornings.
Committee Membership (Non-Trustees)
In early March, the Board shall determine which Board committees and sub-committees will be open to non-Trustees the following year, and the President or his/her designee shall forward that information to the Parent Service Association ("PSA") for inclusion in the annual Volunteer Questionnaire. In early September the President shall request from the PSA the list of parents who have volunteered via the PSA Volunteer Questionnaire to serve on Board committees. The President shall also request from the chair of the previous year's Nominating Committee and Trustees and administrators, as appropriate, a list of candidates for development as potential Board members. The President shall distribute to committee chairs the list of potential non-Trustees for their committees and the committee chairs shall contact potential members to determine their qualifications and interests. In consultation with the committee chairs and the Head of School, the President shall assign any non-Trustees to Board committees. Committee chairs are responsible for contacting any volunteers for their committees who are not assigned to the committee to thank them for their interest and explain the limitations on committee spaces. Generally, non-Trustees may serve on only one Board committee, though exceptions are made at the President's discretion. With the approval of the President, a committee may meet without its non-Trustee members.
Standing Committees, Committee Authority, Practices and Responsibilities
The standing committees of the Board are set forth below. As the need arises, new committees may be established by the Board from time to time with such functions, power and authority as the Board may determine. Standing committees may be discontinued by the Board from time to time (and, thereafter, if the need arises established anew by the Board). The duties of each standing committee and its principal liaisons are set forth below. The dates and times of meetings for each standing committee shall be determined by each committee chair.
Committees
Executive Committee
Chair: Joseph Sellers
The Executive Committee shall be composed of five (5) members of the Board. The President shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee with power to vote. Four additional trustees, including at least one officer, shall be appointed to the Executive Committee by the Board. The Head of School shall serve as a member without a vote. The Executive Committee shall have only such powers as the Board, by a two-thirds majority vote, may grant. It may not take any action inconsistent with a prior act of the Board or any provision of the By-Laws. It may not remove or appoint the Head of School, dispose of any real property, or take any action that has been reserved to the Board by Board action or the By-Laws. The Executive Committee shall meet as needed between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. Meetings may be called by the President or by two or more members of the committee. To the extent practicable, all Board members will be notified of meetings and may participate in such meetings, but shall not have a right to vote. The majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, but the affirmative vote of the majority of the whole committee shall be necessary in every case to take action. The committee may formulate further rules governing the conduct of its business.
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Head's Performance Review
Chair: Don Baer
In March, the Head of School's Review Committee begins the process of Board evaluation of the Head of School. The committee is made up of the President and two additional Trustees appointed by the President. First, the committee requests from each Board member an evaluation of the Head of School. The Chair of the Committee then sets up interviews with senior administrative staff and the principals of each School division, as well as any additional desired faculty or staff interviews. After the interviews are complete, the members of the committee present a report to the Board during the May meeting. After discussion a final report is made and the Head of School's Review Committee meets with the Head of School to discuss the report.
Buildings and Grounds Committee*
Chair: Steven Snider
The primary purpose of this committee is the oversight of the physical facilities of the School, current and anticipated, in concert with the School administration. This includes the maintenance of such facilities, neighborhood and governmental relations as they relate to buildings and grounds, interaction with parents and faculty, and future plans for physical expansion of the institution.
The practice of this committee is to meet monthly (more often as required) and to report to the full Board as often as is necessary. The chair of this committee sets the proposed agenda for the year in September, with the agreement of other members. This agenda is often composed of tasks which are assigned to committee members and to the administration.
This committee is open to non-Trustees. However, because of the confidentiality of discussions of this committee, non-Trustee participation may be limited. The composition of the committee is expanded as major projects become likely. The Administration representatives are normally the operating officers of the School, including the CFO.
Curriculum and Student Life Committee*
Chair: Abha Sinha
This committee does not set curriculum; rather, committee members ensure that the School program, both formally and informally, supports the mission of the School and compares favorably with peer institutions. The committee meets monthly; usually about two thirds of the meetings are devoted to a pre-determined topic, and the others are for discussion, reactions, and review. Most topical meetings include a brief presentation by two or three staff members followed by Q&A and discussion. Topics are selected at the beginning of the School year by the chair in consultation with the Head of School and Director of Studies, considering suggestions by the previous year's committee. Topics include subject areas (major academic subjects, arts, physical education, community service, technology) as well as other practical and social concerns (such as learning differences, grading and assessment, multicultural education, tutoring, interdisciplinary education, athletics, extracurricular activities, the social curriculum).
The committee is composed of Trustees and non-Trustees who represent the three School divisions as well as gender and racial diversity. Non-Trustees serve a four-year term, as this enables them to understand and review all aspects of GDS program. The Director of Studies is usually the primary liaison and the division Principals frequently attend meetings.
Development Committee*
Chair: Joel Kanter
The principal role of the Development Committee is to provide support and counsel to the School's Development Office. It is also a "cheerleader" for the various development events, and it is the vehicle through which the Board is kept informed of the progress of development efforts. The committee meets in the fall with key members of the Development Office to review and approve development goals and programs for the upcoming year. This meeting also provides an opportunity to discuss any unusual development events (e.g., an event in lieu of the Auction) and offer ideas to improve traditional development undertakings. Usually at least one follow-up meeting in the fall is necessary to tie up loose ends from the initial meeting. There should also be a spring meeting to take stock of the year's development events and to begin thinking about the next year's agenda.
The Development Committee is comprised of Trustees and non-Trustees, typically including the chairs of major development events (e.g. Annual Giving, Country Market Day, Auction, or other spring events); other people with an interest and/or background in development, including people recommended by the Development Office. Development staff are frequently formed to serve as liaisons.
Subcommittees of the Development Committee that may support development needs have included a Capital Campaign Steering Committee and an Endowment Planning Committee. Subcommittees are often suggested by the Development Office.
Diversity Committee*
Chair: Eric Holder
The Diversity Committee is the primary forum of the Board for the discussion and formulation of policies defining and promoting diversity at the School. The Diversity Committee works closely with the Administration to support diversity initiatives and programs and to assist in the formulation of diversity policy at the School. The Committee is comprised of Trustees and non-Trustee parents interested in diversity matters at the School. The Co-Directors of Diversity are liaisons to the Diversity Committee.
The scope of the committee's jurisdiction and interests is wide ranging because the development of a diverse student body, faculty, administration and staff was one of the principal motives behind the founding of GDS, and diversity remains a consistent theme in all of the School's activities and programs. The committee works closely with the GDS Diversity Office and with parent and student organizations that support diversity at the School. The committee also supports outreach initiatives to communities in the Washington metropolitan area in order to increase diversity in the student population. The committee has an interest in promoting features of the curriculum and programs which will assist students in reaching their full potential. The committee also helps to develop a definition of, and rationale for, diversity that will more fully embrace and empower all members of the School community.
Finance Committee
Chair: Ben Hecht
The Finance Committee has primary responsibility for reviewing and monitoring the financial condition of the School and reporting on it to the Board. The committee's role is to review the budget, as prepared by the administration, and make recommendations to the Board as a whole regarding passage of the budget. The chair of the committee reports to the parent body at the annual parent corporation meeting as to the state of the School's finances. The Finance Committee may request more detail on certain areas of the budget and monitors the actual financial performance in comparison to the strategic financial model.
The budget is generally presented to the entire Board for consideration and adoption at the December Board meeting so that the administration can send out letters in January to current parents with re-enrollment contracts and the following year's tuition, and send out contract renewals to current teachers with the following year's salary offer. In order to present the budget in December, the Finance Committee generally meets about six times between September and early December. Once the budget has been passed in December, the committee usually meets 3-4 times from January to June to review specific budget topics in more depth. In the fall, the committee may meet jointly with other Board committees to receive their input into the key items in the budget.
The committee reviews the current year budget on a quarterly basis (after September 30, December 31, March 30, and then towards year-end), and makes revisions to the following year's budget, if possible, prior to the current fiscal year end. The Board generally approves the revised budget early in the fall. The committee receives the audited financial statements by the end of September and meets with the auditor as needed. The Treasurer reports the audit to the full Board and any recommendations made by the auditor.
The Finance Committee is also charged with investing all funds of the School, which responsibility is handled by the Investment Sub-Committee of the Finance Committee.
The Finance Committee consists solely of Trustees, as determined by the By-Laws, and the Chief Financial Officer is an administrative liaison. The chair of the Finance Committee is also the Treasurer of the Board. Non-Trustees may serve on subcommittees of the Finance Committee.
Subcommittees of the Finance Committee:
Investment Subcommittee of the Finance Committee*
The Finance Committee formed the Investment Subcommittee to recommend to the Board, and periodically review, a comprehensive investment policy for the School. The Subcommittee meets two to three times each year to monitor compliance with investment policies and to review and evaluate the investment portfolio and performance.
The investment policy has two components: a strategy for endowment funds and a strategy for operating funds. Within each category are the investment objectives, asset allocation and allowable investments. The policy recommends a target spending rate for endowment funds. The subcommittee also has the responsibility of interviewing, vetting, and recommending to the Board investment advisors to assist in the management of these funds. The subcommittee also periodically reviews investment performance. The Chair of this subcommittee should review performance in the form of written reports from investment managers on a monthly basis and the entire subcommittee should receive reports from the CFO on a quarterly basis. The Finance Committee may review and reject or amend recommendations of the Investment Subcommittee, but the subcommittee usually reports its recommendations directly to the Board for action.
The subcommittee is comprised of members of the Finance Committee and non-Trustees drawn from the ranks of current parents, alumni and alumni parents who have professional investment experience. The committee seeks continuity in its fully participating members from year to year. The Assistant Head and the Chief Financial Officer are liaisons. Audit Subcommittee of the Finance Committee Financial Aid Subcommittee of the Finance Committee This committee reviews the School's financial aid program in relation to GDS's stated mission and philosophy and its Strategic Plan. It does not discuss or receive information about specific cases. It also makes recommendations to the Finance Committee as part of the annual budget process.
The committee is composed exclusively of trustees; the Assistant Head of School and Chief Financial Officer normally attend meetings. Its proceedings are otherwise closed. The committee has at least one meeting a year to formulate its annual budget recommendation and whatever additional meetings are necessary to deal with policy matters.
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Governance Committee*
Chair: Caryolyn Martin
Subcommittees of the Governance Committee:
Nominating Subcommittee of the Governance Committee*
The Nominating Committee selects the candidates for vacant Board positions each year. In furtherance of its objectives, the Nominating Committee solicits from the Board and other Members of the GDS community a list of potential candidates seeking to serve on the Board. The committee acts on the recommendation of the Executive Committee with respect to the re-nomination of current Trustees for a second term. The committee is not bound by the Executive Committee recommendation (See Chapter II, Section 5).
The Nominating Committee is comprised of three (3) Trustees together with six (6) non-Trustees, at least two (2) from each of the three divisions of the School.
The Board subcommittee of the Nominating Committee consists of the Nominating Committee Chair and the other two Trustees on the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee Chair seeks recommendations for non-Trustee members of the Committee from the Board and the administration and sometimes from the parent body. In consultation with the other Subcommittee members, the Committee Chair recommends non-Trustee members of the Committee to the President, who then makes appointments subject to Board approval. The non-Trustees serve two consecutive rotating one-year terms; one new committee member and one returning member represent each division of the School each year. If a non-Trustee is unable to serve the second year of the term or is not asked to return because of non-attendance or other disqualifying issues, a replacement is appointed to serve a one-year term in order to maintain the rotation.
The Nominating Subcommittee recommends to the President its suggestion(s) for appointment to the Board to fill a vacancy that occurs as a result of a current Trustee being unable to complete his or her term of office. Following consultation with the Executive Committee, the President forwards to the Board a recommendation for the appointed Board position for the Board's approval. Nominations may also be submitted from the floor at the time the appointment is on the Board's agenda. The appointed Trustee will serve the remaining years of Board service created by the vacancy.
Click here to read more about nominations and the Nominating Committee. Trusteeship Subommittee of the Governance Committee
The Trusteeship Committee reviews the School's strategic goals, identifies the skills, experiences and relationships needed by the Board in the present and for the future, and provides information to the Nominating Committee in advance of their deliberations to select the nominees for the coming year. The committee also recommends Board development activities to the President, reviews the Manual annually and recommends changes to the Board, and conducts an annual self-evaluation of the Board. The Committee Chair leads periodic Board developmental activities and discussions, including assisting the President and Head of School with determining the agenda for the New Trustee Orientation. Non-Trustees do not serve on this committee, given the sensitive nature of most discussions.
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Strategic Planning Committee*
Chair: Brenda Turnbull
This committee monitors all stages of the strategic planning process, including inclusion of various School constituencies, the work of multiple subcommittees, production and dissemination of the final report, monitoring of implementation, adjustment of priorities and initiatives in light of future developments at and needs of the School, evaluation of the School's performance in meeting the objectives of the plan, and reports on progress toward meeting those objectives. The full process for the 2000 Strategic Plan is included in Appendix II.
* Open to Non-Board Membership
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