Finance Advisory Group - Help Wanted

The Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education is seeking a diverse group of volunteers from the community who are willing to join a Finance Advisory Group. Volunteers must have a willingness to work hard and to work cooperatively with other members of the group in order to help identify for the school board what residents of the Chappaqua school district want and need to know about the school budget, to offer advice specific to the 2011-2012 budget proposal as it relates to the Board's strategic question (How can the district ensure continuing excellence in academic and extracurricular programs while developing a budget that is fiscally responsible?), to analyze and compare budget trends from similar districts, and to consider and evaluate the usefulness of a community survey on the budget and possibly assist in the development, implementation and interpretation of the survey.

The advisory group will be chaired by Randy Katchis and Jeffrey Mester the Board of Education's Finance Committee. The Board is seeking to have a diversified committee of no more than 15 members consisting of parents of current students, empty-nesters, parents of pre-schoolers, former Board members, representatives from community groups such as the PTA, the Chappaqua School Foundation, New Castle Citizen's for Responsible Education, students and other interested parties. While no experience is necessary, those volunteers with expertise in the areas of budgeting, financial analysis, surveying, and communications will be given priority consideration.

We anticipate that the advisory group will meet at least six times (Tentatively scheduled for November 9, November 23, December 7, March 8 and March 22 in the evening and one Saturday afternoon, January 22.) While attendance at all six meetings is not mandatory, we seek volunteers who are committed to the process.

All Finance Advisory Group meetings will be held in public with non-committee members of the community also urged to attend. The meetings are expected to be an additional avenue for members of the community to learn about the budget process, the proposed 2011-2012 budget in particular, and for members of the community to provide input to the board and administration in adopting a final budget proposal to be voted on by the community in May.

Those interested in volunteering, please submit your name, email address, phone number and a brief statement of your interest and background relevant to the advisory group to Theresa Markley, District Clerk at Board@ccsd.ws. The deadline for submission is Monday, October 25 at noon. We anticipate the Board will appoint the members of the committee at its October 26th regular Board meeting.

Additional information and details will be posted on the district's website (www.ccsd.ws). Questions may be directed to Jeffrey Mester at JeMester@ccsd.ws