Committed to helping our children excel in academic studies and social skills.
Our teachers partner
together to deliver a
creative, collaborative and
enriching learning experience
from the beginning of each
child’s education journey
through fifth grade.
General Info:
bydsinfo@byds.org
Seeking Employment:
careers@byds.org
Our average response time is within one business day. Please note that we do not respond during Shabbat.
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As an NAIS member and ISAS-accredited independent school, BYDS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. Trustees determine the BYDS vision and strategic goals, and act as fiduciaries for future generations of BYDS students—exercising oversight of the school’s financial health, approving the school’s annual budget, and overseeing the school’s physical assets and fundraising efforts. Importantly, the Board selects, evaluates and supports the Head of School, who is responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the school, including curriculum, admissions, disciplinary and personnel decisions to name a few. The trustees act as stewards of the school, while serving as ambassadors of the BYDS mission. Our board committees are a great way to become involved in our school, and those interested in doing so should email the Chair of the Board of Trustees at boardchair@byds.org for more information.
| 2018-2019 Board of Trustees |
Board Chair | Jennifer Deutsch |
| Edward Berzin | ||
| Barbara Bratter | ||
| Ron Brounes | ||
| Russell Diamond | ||
| Jason Feldman | ||
| Courtney Haas | ||
| Michele Hayes | ||
| Barbara Horwitz | ||
| Stacey Shidler | ||
| Jordana Slawin | ||
| Michelle Spoonemore | ||
| Roger Stern | ||
| Lisa Strauss | ||
| Michele Tesciuba |
| Ex-Officio (Voting Trustees) |
Past President | William Goldberg |
| Past Chair | Carolyn Plessner | |
| Past Chair | Susie Raizner | |
| Past Chair | Stewart Rosenthal | |
| Past Chair | Gary Swartz |
| Ex-Officio (Non-Voting Trustees) |
Head of School | Jennifer LeVine |
| CBY Board President Designee | Emily Blechman | |
| CBY Board President | Jerrad Bloome | |
| Cantor | Hazzan Meier Finkelstein | |
| Assistant Rabbi | Rabbi Sarah Fort | |
| PTO Co-President | Jessica Gordon | |
| Chapel Rabbi | Rabbi Daniel Horwitz | |
| Associate Rabbi | Rabbi Steve Morgen | |
| Rabbi Emeritus | Rabbi David Rosen | |
| Rabbi Emeritus | Rabbi Jack Segal | |
| Senior Rabbi | Rabbi Brian Strauss |
The board of trustees is responsible for four general areas relating to the school:
Mission
The board is responsible for and serves as the steward of the school’s mission.
Resources
The board serves as the ultimate steward of the school’s resources (people, facilities, finances), for now and for the future.
Strategy
The board, in conjunction with the head of school, sets the strategic direction of the school. This is done through a strategic planning process and through other decision making on a more frequent basis.
Head of School
The board hires, supports, and evaluates the head of school.
Together, the members of the board and the head of school share decision-making regarding financial policies, enrollment and size of school, and facilities needs. To that end, the board of trustees must vote on a number of key decisions every year, including—but not limited to—the budget, school tuition, and teacher salary increases.
Note that individual trustees do not have any authority; authority for decision making rests with the board as a whole.
The board of trustees does not involve itself in the following matters:
The board typically meets monthly. The head of school often invites members of his senior administrative leadership team to the meetings, depending on the matters to be discussed. To encourage candor, all discussions in board meetings are strictly confidential.
Because of the sensitivity of the issues discussed, and to encourage candid discussion, all board deliberations are maintained in confidence. This allows board members, the head of school, and the senior administrative team members to participate at the meetings in an open—yet safe—manner, and to address sensitive issues that may not be—or may not yet be—appropriate to share beyond the board meeting. Each trustee annually affirms her/his commitment to treat all matters discussed in the strictest confidence.
Our bylaws state that the board of trustees can have between 15 and 25 members. As of August2017, we have 15 Trustees and 8 Ex-Offi c io Voting Trustees who include 4 past Board Chairs, 2PTO Presidents and 2 CBY Board Members.
The Committee on Trustees is responsible for identifying potential new board members. Potential trustees are identified based upon criteria that include prior involvement in the school community and skillsets that they can bring to the board. The committee looks for new trustees whose skills and experience match the needs of the board. This can include legal and financial expertise, demonstrated philanthropic giving and capacity, ties to the broader Jewish community in the Bay Area, educational expertise, alumni connections with the school, and current parents and grandparents who have been very involved with the school. The Committee on Trustees nominates a slate of potential members to the entire board in the late spring, and the board votes on whether or not to approve this slate. Typically, new trustees are announced at the end of the school year.
Trustee terms are two years in length, and trustees typically serve three consecutive terms (for a total of six years).
The board has several committees, some of which are permanent, standing committees and some of which are ad hoc, convened to meet specific needs of the school at a specific time. Some committees—as per the school’s bylaws—are comprised of trustees only. Many committees have trustee and non-trustee members. Here is a list of our current committees for the 2016–2017 school year:
[insert list here]
If you have a specific skillset or interest that you feel would enhance the work of the board, please contact the chair of the Committee on Trustees.
