Board Member (Volunteer)

Title: Board Member

Department: Board of Directors

Position Type: Volunteer

Salary: Uncompensated

Compass Charter School's mission is to inspire and develop innovative, creative, self-directed learners, one scholar at a time. When we start with scholars, we start from a place of possibility. With scholars at the center, we have defined the desired competencies for Compass employees that support meaningful learning experiences and create the enabling conditions to bring our vision for scholars to life, creating a collaborative virtual learning community, inspiring scholars to appreciate the ways in which arts and sciences nurture a curiosity for life-long learning, and prepare scholars to take responsibility for their future success.

Core Values: Achievement | Respect | Teamwork | Integrity | Communication

Compass fosters a positive learning and work environment that is personalized, authentic, competency-based, inclusive, and equitable. Our Core Values guide our work every day. Those Core Values are teamwork and achievement for all community members; inclusive, respectful communication and collaboration; and mutual respect and integrity.

Description of General Responsibilities:

The Compass Board of Directors plays a crucial role within our community, tasked with ensuring the success of Compass Charter Schools' academic program and the fidelity of its operations to its charter. They provide organizational direction, and oversight, and secure necessary resources to uphold our mission.

Board members convene regularly for meetings, typically six (6) to eight (8) times a year. These meetings occur on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and take place in person at a designated location in Los Angeles County. Directors are expected to thoroughly review the Board Packet beforehand, arriving prepared to engage in discussions and pose relevant questions. Additionally, the Board may convene remotely or in person as needed throughout the year to address emergent situations. Rest assured, travel expenses incurred for these meetings are covered by the school.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Determine the mission and purpose of Compass Charter Schools and keep it clearly in focus

• Create and periodically review the mission statement which:

• serves as a guide to organizational planning, board and staff decision-making, volunteer initiatives, and setting priorities among competing demands for scarce resources.

• is used as the vehicle for assessing program activities to ensure that the organization is not drifting away from its original purposes.

• Understand and support the mission statement.

• Select the Superintendent and CEO

• Reach consensus on the Superintendent's and CEO's job description.

• Current Superintendent and CEO Job Description can be found in Appendix III.

• Undertake a careful search process to find the most qualified individual.

• Oversee and approve contract negotiation and renewal.

• Support and review the performance of the Superintendent and CEO

• Provide frequent and constructive feedback.

• Compliment for exceptional accomplishments.

• Provide input for an annual written performance review with a process agreed upon with the Superintendent and CEO well in advance.

• Set compensation for the Superintendent and CEO.

• Ensure effective organizational planning

• Approve an annual organizational plan that includes concrete, measurable goals consistent with the charter and accountability plan.

• Ensure adequate resources

• Approve fundraising targets and goals.

• Assist in carrying out the development plan.

• Make an annual gift at a level that is personally meaningful.

• Manage resources effectively

• Approve the annual budget.

• Monitor budget implementation through periodic financial reports.

• Approve accounting and personnel policies.

• Provide for an independent annual audit by a qualified CPA.

• Ensure the full board has the proper training to be effective stewards of public funding.

• Ensure adequate insurance is in force to cover students, staff, visitors, the board and the assets of the school.

• Determine, monitor and strengthen the programs and services

• Assure programs and services are consistent with the mission and the charter.

• Approve measurable organizational outcomes.

• Approve annual, attainable board and management level goals.

• Monitor progress in achieving the outcomes and goals.

• Assess the quality of the program and services.

• Enhance CCS's public standing

• Serve as ambassadors, advocates and community representatives of the organization.

• Ensure that no board member represents her/himself as speaking on behalf of the board unless specifically authorized to do so.

• Provide for a written annual report and public presentation that details Compass Charter School's mission, programs, financial condition, and progress made towards charter promises.

• Approve goals of an annual public relations program.

• Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability

• Approve policies to guide the organization's board members and staff.

• Develop and maintain adequate personnel policies and procedures (including grievance mechanisms).

• Adhere to the provisions of the organization's bylaws and articles of incorporation.

• Adhere to local, state and federal laws and regulations that apply to the organization.

• Ensure compliance with all federal state and local government regulations.

• Hear and decide student expulsion matters.

• Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance

• Define board membership needs in terms of skill, experience and diversity.

• Cultivate, check the credentials of, and recruit prospective nominees.

• Provide for new board member orientation.

• Participate in an annual evaluation of the full board and individual trustees.

Requirements / Qualifications

Requirements / Qualifications