A H AN DB O O K F OR ME MBE R S OF BROOKLYN FREE SPACE a cooperative preschool
98 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 718.965.3135 | brooklynfreespace.org Revised August 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS About Brooklyn Free Space!
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Mission!
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Child-Centered Educational Approach!
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Teachers as Learners!
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Cooperative Community!
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Commitment to Diversity!
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Financial Aid!
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Philosophy of Learning!
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Governance!
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Communication!
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A Cooperative School!
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Basic Membership Requirements!
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General Meetings!
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Community Email Lists!
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Volunteering In Classrooms!
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Community & Fundraising Events!
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Cooperative Work Assignments!
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Buyout!
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Board of Trustees Member Representatives!
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Penalties for Non-Participation!
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School Policies!
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Admissions and Enrollment!
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Financial Aid!
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Pre-K for All!
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Pre-K for All and the Cooperative!
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Pre-K for All Admissions!
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The PreK For All Classroom Experience!
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Withdrawal and Separation!
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Financial Policies!
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Life at Brooklyn Free Space!
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School Hours and Calendar!
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Schedule!
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Classrooms!
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Sample Daily Schedule!
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Elements of Our Educational Program!
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Classroom Guidelines!
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Health, Toileting and Discipline Policies!
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Health!
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Toileting!
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Approach to Discipline - Understanding Preschool Behaviors!
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Cooperative Job Descriptions!
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Steering Committee!
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Buy Out Members!
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Cooperative Job Descriptions!
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Community Email Lists!
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Tuition and Fees: 2016-2017 School Year!
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Tuition
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Pre-K For ALl
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CoOp “BUY-OUT” OPTION
44 EARLY BIRD CARE (8 to 9 AM)
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AFTER SCHOOL CARE (3 to 6 PM)16
44 EXTENDED GRACE PERIOD (3 TO 3:30 PM)
44 FeeS
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By-Laws!
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Article I - Members!
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Article II - Board of Trustees!
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Article III - Steering-Committee, Officers, Employees and Agents!
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Article IV - Contracts, Checks, Bank Accounts and Investments!
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Article V - Office, Books and Records!
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Article VI - Fiscal Year!
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Article VII - Nondiscrimination!
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Article VIII - Indemnification!
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Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook
Article IX - Amendments!
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Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook
A BOUT BROOKLYN FREE SPACE Welcome to Brooklyn Free Space (BFS), a licensed non-profit cooperative preschool for children ages 2.5 to 5 years. Established in 1978, BFS has been caring for and educating young children in Park Slope and the surrounding neighborhoods for more than 30 years. Our school is a place where children grow and develop with the nurturing guidance of our dedicated and experienced administration and full-time teaching staff. As a cooperative, we are a community-based organization in every aspect of our operation, as well as our philosophy. Our school is run by a combination of committed member families, professional teachers and administrators who work together to create a warm, responsive and caring environment for our children.
Mission BFS is committed to providing child-centered education in a cooperative community that engages teachers and parents alike in learning. We are committed to serving a diverse population and offer financial aid to our families in need. C H I L D - C E N T E R E D E D U C AT I O N A L A P P ROAC H BFS is engaged in the international movement to defend early childhood education from the increased standardization and roll-back of rich, joyful play in the years before Kindergarten, while celebrating the innate desire of the young child to learn, interact and experience. We view children as active collaborators in learning, fully able and interested in developing their own theories and exploring them through play and hands-on exploration. We seek to meet the needs of each child, developing individual interests and encouraging each child’s creativity and self-direction through facilitating constructive play. This Reggio Emilia-inspired approach requires the thoughtful planning, careful observations and active participation of the teachers. TEACHERS AS LEARNERS BFS has a dedicated and experienced administration and full-time teaching staff, with an unusually long tenure for the field of early childhood education. We seek to create a respectful and engaging workplace, that acknowledges the importance of the teacher’s role in our educational community. Our teachers are continual learners, and this is demonstrated by the active, ongoing professional development engaged in by the staff and facilitated by our educational directors. Teachers and directors see themselves as co-learners and coresearchers with the children as they explore the world around them. C O O P E R AT I V E C O M M U N I T Y As a cooperative, we are a community-based organization in every aspect of our operation, as well as our philosophy. Our school is run by a combination of committed member families, professional teachers and administrators who work together to create a warm, Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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responsive and caring environment for our children. Cooperative involvement enables the children to see their families as important and involved partners in their school, and models for them a civic notion of people working together to create and better the institutions that serve a community. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY We believe that all forms of diversity- whether it be economic, racial, gender or in regard to family structure- benefit the entire community. Creating a heterogeneous school environment for our children, which reflects the make-up of our city and the world at large, is crucial for their healthy development of self and cultural competency. To do this, we seek out a diverse applicant pool, paying close attention during our lottery to the racial and ethnic makeups of each classroom. We also pay close attention to ensure that our workshops and events represent many different voices and are accessible by all. To realize goal in practice, our teachers work to provide classroom resources that provide opportunities for our young children to learn about the diverse world around them and to question the unavoidable exposure of stereotypical thinking around issues of race, culture & gender. FINANCIAL AID We are committed to making our educational program accessible to children and their families regardless of their ability to pay. Financial aid is a rarity among preschools, but we see it as an essential part of our school’s mission. The money for our financial aid fund come through a school-wide fundraising effort that prioritizes the desire to make our childcentered educational philosophy accessible to our community at large.
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Philosophy of Learning In a caring and positive atmosphere, we create a warm and happy place for preschoolers to learn. As we create a bridge from home to school, we guide the children through the continual development of positive self-image while building collaborative social relationships. We promote the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of the children by giving them the opportunity to make sense of the world around them by doing, interacting, exploring and experiencing. Based on the knowledge that children learn best through play, we create classroom environments that support this belief and allow children to interact with peers and learning materials in the many manifestations of play. While recognizing that children grow in predictable stages, we treat each child as an individual. All children have their own learning styles and interests, and we believe that when we meet each child where they are developmentally and respect their interests, ideas and self-expression, we help plant the seed for a life-time appreciation for the joy of learning. Classroom routines are designed to balance structure and free choice, include active and quiet times, and celebrate process rather than the product, which fosters a sense of accomplishment and pride. The learning journey is based on the interests of the children, and is facilitated by the thoughtful planning, observations and participation of the teachers. As educators, we see ourselves as continual learners, and this is demonstrated by the active, ongoing professional development of our teaching staff. We view ourselves as co-learners and co-researchers with the children as we explore together the world around us. We value the active involvement of families in our program, both through the cooperative and classroom participation. This involvement enables the children to see their parents as important and involved members of the school community. Parents may gain valuable insights and techniques from the expertise of the staff and, at the same time, share their own insights, talents and interests so that we work together to create a warm, dynamic learning environment at Brooklyn Free Space. School then becomes a shared experience that we hope will continue throughout the educational process.
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G OVERNANCE This is your school. Your ideas, comments, questions and complaints are both important and necessary contributions to the wellbeing of BFS. To facilitate this exchange, the Educational Director, Assistant Director, Director of Operations, Steering Committee and Board of Trustees work in cooperation with each other to support BFS’ main goal: to provide a wonderful school experience for our children. Educational Director - Hires, trains, supervises and collaborates with the other teaching staff at BFS. She sets the educational practices and policies for all classrooms. She works together with the head teachers and assistant teachers in each class to realize BFS’s children-first educational philosophy. The educational director is responsible for meeting all licensing requirements of the Department of Health Bureau of Child Care, as well as meeting the educational requirements of our DOE Pre-K for All contract. She is responsible for communicating with parents, staff, and the Board of Trustees in a timely and appropriate manner. The Assistant Educational Director supports the Ed. Director in all the above responsibilities. Director of Operations - Is responsible for the financial management of BFS, which includes budgeting, tuition, payroll, banking, and bill payment. She oversees the annual audit and tax, pension plan and other required filings. She also manages the administrative aspects of BFS, including employee contracts and benefit plans, business insurance, the student application and enrollment processes, and record keeping. She acts as supervisor of the custodian and oversees all issues concerning the physical plant, including communication with property management. In addition, she is responsible for communicating with parents, staff and the Board of Trustees in a timely and appropriate manner. Board of Trustees - Is made up of current and past members of BFS as well as individuals from outside the BFS community. The Board’s role is to secure the long-term interests of the school, and to provide consistency and institutional memory for BFS. The Board is also responsible for the supervision of the Educational Directors and Director of Operations. Three current members serve on the Board of Trustees each year; one of these is the Steering Committee’s Member-at-Large and the other two are volunteers from the membership. Refer to the By-Laws (Addendum B) for a full discussion of the roles the Steering Committee and the Board of Trustees have in managing BFS.
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Steering Committee - Comprised of six current member parents, Steering manages the day-to-day operation of BFS, oversees the member cooperative and adopts the school’s annual budget. The Steering Committee holds monthly meetings to address specific topics, vote on policy and discuss finances. Steering Committee members are elected by the membership at the May Annual Meeting and hold office for a term of one full year, from June through June. Any current BFS member is eligible to be elected to and serve on the Steering Committee. The Educational Director, Assistant Director and Director of Operations are non-voting members of the Steering Committee. STEERING OFFICERS - President (officer) -
Vice President (officer)
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Treasurer (officer)
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Secretary (officer)
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Member-At-Large
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Membership Coordinator
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COMMUNICATION There are many ways in which the school sends information to BFS members—email, websites, classroom mailboxes, bulletin boards and U.S. mail. Please read all communications from the Co-op carefully and respond promptly. We require current contact information from all members. If any part of your contact information changes, please tell BFS ASAP and/or use the contact change form located on the private members’ website (under Members Directory). A hard copy of the member list is distributed to all families periodically.
EMAIL Please respond promptly to emails concerning Co-op business and work duties. This includes emails regarding important school news and information, as well as announcements and minutes from General and Steering meetings. It is a stated requirement of Co-op membership to participate in the BFS community email list. Please check daily, and keep your info current. Other important group email lists assist in the communication with and among working groups and committees, classrooms or the Co-op as a whole. Please see the last section of the handbook for a list of these groups and descriptions for their use.
WEBSITES The school has two websites, one public and the other private. 1. The public website (brooklynfreespace.org) contains news and information that is relevant to a general, public audience. 2. The private website (members.brooklynfreespace.org) is accessible only to current BFS members and is password protected. The private site contains the full member directory, information about school business and events, and important forms and documents. The private site also functions as a shared workspace with a section to create, store and archive shared documents.
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CLASSROOM MAILBOXES The teachers, directors and parents often put notices in children’s classroom mailboxes. These mailboxes are an official means of notice for school issues. Please check daily. BULLETIN BOARDS The directors and teachers frequently post important notices on the bulletin boards outside the classrooms. Please check daily. -
The Co-op maintains a BFS community bulletin board on each floor. Families are welcome to post events, rentals, services—anything that might be relevant or interesting to other members of the community.
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The Co-op also offers access to a virtual bulletin board through the private website (see above) to which members must opt-in in order to participate.
WHOM
TO
CONTACT
ABOUT
W H AT
If you need information or have a question or comment, it is almost always best to go directly to the person(s) involved first. Examples: If you have a suggestion about a classroom detail, talk to your child’s teachers themselves. If you have a question about a Co-op policy, contact a member of the Steering Committee. IF IT CONCERNS..
CONTACT
Yo u r c h i l d ’ s c l a s s r o o m e x p e r i e n c e
Yo u r c h i l d ’ s t e a c h e r s
BFS staff concerns
Educational Directors
BFS’ educational policy Ad Hoc Extended Day Payments or enrollment materials
Director of Operations
Physical plan Custodial
issues
General Coop Questions
Steering Presidents
Membership Requirements
Steering Membership Coordinator
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A COOP E R AT I V E S CHOOL Brooklyn Free Space has been a cooperative school since it was founded in 1978, and this spirit remains at the core of our philosophy. We work together as a community to ensure that our highly skilled and valued classroom staff and our own children as students in BFS classrooms receive the support they need. It is up to us to facilitate the smooth running of the school, and it is we who get the deep satisfaction of working together to do so. Being a member of the cooperative means: -
Volunteering Your Time: Parents have an obligation to volunteer their time to help the school. Parents are asked to take their commitment seriously and to fulfill their obligations in a timely, quality manner.
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Working Collaboratively: As members of this cooperative, parents take pride in knowing that they all have a say in creating something truly wonderful. When parents work together, share ideas, and remain open-minded to new ways of doing things, they can make something already great even better for their children.
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Creating a Community: When it all comes together, the most amazing result is having access to a strong, like-minded community and being able to turn to that community for help, support and even friendship.
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Keeping Costs Down: BFS is one of the more affordable schools of its kind in the neighborhood, largely because we operate as a Co-op. We cannot function properly without the support, time and commitment of each member family.
Basic Membership Requirements All BFS families are full voting members of the Co-op and are expected to honor their responsibilities to the Co-op. If individual members fail to perform their jobs or perform their jobs inadequately, other members, the staff and the children are unfairly disadvantaged. There are four basic member requirements: 1. Attend each General Meeting 2. Subscribe to the BFS community email list 3. Volunteer whenever possible 4. Fulfill your coop work assignment Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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GENERAL MEETINGS Four to six (usually five) General Meetings of the membership are held per year, usually scheduled at eight-week intervals. A General Meeting typically includes classroom reports from the Educational Director, a President’s report, committee reports, a financial update and membership votes to decide various important issues as a group. Notice of meeting dates and times is distributed at the beginning of each school year and is available on the BFS website. Reminders are sent and posted in advance of each meeting. Penalties are imposed for repeat absences. The BFS Annual Meeting is held in May. At this meeting, the Steering Committee for the following school year is elected. Please plan ahead to attend meetings. COMMUNITY EMAIL LISTS Our community email lists help facilitate the communication between members of our community. For member families, it is required that both parents must individually be on the all school email list and classroom lists. VOLUNTEERING IN CLASSROOMS Volunteering in your child’s classroom is a big part of any school community. Parents are encouraged to chaperone class trips and assist with classroom parties or activities, as requested by classroom staff. Members may also volunteer by acting as the member representative on our Board of Trustees. COMMUNITY & FUNDRAISING EVENTS It is a strong tradition at Free Space to participate in school-wide events as each family’s time and finances allow. This may mean volunteering to help out, purchasing tickets to BFS events whenever possible, inviting others to these events, requesting donations of merchandise or services for the Silent Auction/Raffle, or supplying children’s and household items that you no longer need to be sold at a Stoop Sale. You are also welcome to donate money in response to the Annual Appeal or volunteer time to staff an event. C O O P E R AT I V E W O R K A S S I G N M E N T S We believe that collaboration is an important part to the success of our cooperative community. A complete list of committee roles and job descriptions is available at the end of the handbook. All require an average of 2-3 hours per family per month, but may be higher or lower at times, depending on your duties and responsibilities. Each BFS member takes on a function vital to the school. Please refer to these detailed descriptions before selecting how you would like to fulfill your coop work responsibilities preferences. * *Members may “Buy Out” of this requirement for an additional monthly fee. BUYOUT We recognize constraints on some members’ time and ability to contribute actively to the functioning of the cooperative. To help meet this need, there are limited spaces available to be a Buyout Member and pay a monthly fee in lieu of participating in regular Co-op duties. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Interested families must first submit a request to the Steering Committee to be approved for Buyout. Approval is based on the make-up of the membership and the needs of the Coop in a given school year. Once buyout is approved, the fee is considered a tuition surcharge and is regarded as a part of tuition. Buyout members MUST attend all General Meetings and subscribe to the BFS community email list, but are not expected to take part in the Clean-ups. Although it is not mandatory, they are urged to participate in Classroom Community Forums and are encouraged to further our fundraising efforts in some manner.
Board of Trustees Member Representatives In addition to the basic membership requirements, two member families have a dual role of also acting as Board of Trustees Members. These families are typically selected and approved at the May Annual Meeting. Member representatives must: -
Attend Board meetings (usually quarterly), and, in conjunction with the Steering Member-At-Large, represent the current BFS membership on the Board of Trustees..
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Assist Member-At-Large in conveying to current membership, and promoting as is relevant, long-term priorities of Trustees
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Assist Member-At-Large in creating monthly report to update Trustees on classroom issues and issues relevant to members and Steering
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Assist Member-At-Large in conveying to Trustees and promoting, as is relevant, current concerns and priorities of Co-op membership
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Understand Article II of the By-Laws (as it pertains to role of “Member Trustees”)
Penalties for Non-Participation If a family is not fulfilling its membership requirements, as determined by the Steering Committee’s Membership Coordinator, the family shall be assessed the following penalties: A B S E N C E AT G E N E R A L M E E T I N G S Each family, including buyout families, may miss one General Meeting per school year with no penalty assessed. (For these purposes, the school year begins at the time of enrollment, and attendance at the Annual Meeting in May before the start of the upcoming school year is mandatory. Failure to attend the Annual Meeting is considered a missed meeting for purposes of this section.) Any family absent for more than one General Meeting will be charged a Missed Meeting Fee for all absences following the first or may opt to take on an additional work assignment (to be determined by the Membership Coordinator) within a specified time frame. If a family chooses the service option, the Membership Coordinator will assign and ensure completion of the work project. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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NON-PERFORMANCE OF WORK ASSIGNMENT If a family is not fulfilling their coop work obligations by contributing to their committee, not doing the work required in their full time role or additional work assignments, the family will be issued a written warning. If significant improvement does not occur within four to six weeks after the warning, the family, by default, become a “Buyout Member” and be charged the monthly Buy Out rate for the remainder of the year.
S C H OOL POLICIES Admissions and Enrollment BFS values diversity in its membership and staff and strives to ensure that the school population represents families and children from diverse backgrounds. We seek to provide our students with the opportunity to meet and make friends with children from all backgrounds, and to see a reflection of themselves in their classroom community. We use our director administered lottery to ensure this balance. We hold an Open House in the late fall and offer tours for several weeks following this date. We begin accepting applications for the upcoming school year after the Open House. Applications are available on our website or by requesting one at the school. The information packet that accompanies the application will state the application deadline, which is generally in January-February. Currently enrolled members may pre-enroll by paying the required deposit prior to the New Members application deadline to ensure their place in school for the following year. Siblings of current or former students receive next priority for pre-enrollment. so long as there is space available in an age-appropriate classroom following the pre-enrollment of current students. The rest of the spaces are filled through a lottery-based selection process administered by the directors. Applicants are notified in February of their acceptance status. First-round acceptees are given approximately two weeks to enroll by submitting a signed Statement of Agreement and paying one month’s tuition as an initial deposit. After the first-round deadline has passed, if any spots remain open we offer admission to applicants on the wait list. At this point, each accepted applicant is given approximately one week to submit a signed Statement of Agreement and deposit. Following enrollment, families are asked to provide additional information concerning their child for the school's records and to ensure our compliance with NYC licensing Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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requirements. Families must also pay a second tuition deposit of one month’s tuition (no later than June 15) and the annual Materials Fee (with the September tuition payment approximately one week after the start of school). Membership for families begins upon the school’s receipt of a signed Statement of Agreement and the payment of the first tuition deposit and continues as long as the child is enrolled in BFS. For purposes of membership, the family consists of adults who are listed on the Statement of Agreement. It is our policy that all tuition and fees are completely non refundable once paid. Our annual Financial Policies handout and the Financial Policies section of this handbook contain complete information concerning tuition and fees, payment schedules and procedures to be followed. FINANCIAL AID Brooklyn Free Space offers limited financial aid in the form of reduced tuition to families who could otherwise not afford to attend. A tuition reductions of 10% to 50% are awarded to new and returning families according to financial need. This need is assessed by a review of financial information submitted through the National Association of Independent Schools' School and Student Services (SSS) program. BFS encourages applications for tuition reduction from all families who feel they need assistance. Families who would like to apply for financial aid should submit the required paperwork by the deadline specified on yearly admission materials. BFS will inform the family whether or not they are eligible for funds before the deposit due date.
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Pre-K for All BFS partners with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) as a New York City Early Education Centers (NYCEEC) . This means that we are an independent organization that is contracted to provide free a Pre-K program to eligible children and families. BFS has been a NYCEEC offering Pre-K for All since September of 2015. Prior to this, we were considered a Community Based Organization (CBO), and contracted with the DOE to offer half day Universal Pre-K (UPK) for 9 years. Pre-K for All at BFS includes all children turning four during the year of admission. For the 2016 - 2017 school year, this includes all children born in 2012, or those turning four in 2016. Our 4 year olds are in both the Sunshine or Rainbow classrooms. P R E - K F O R A L L A N D T H E C O O P E R AT I V E Because of our Pre-K for All contract, we cannot mandate that Pre-K families fulfill the coop responsibilities that are required from the rest of our membership. That being said, as a cooperative since 1978, the cooperative spirit remains at the core of our philosophy, and we depend on the participation of all families to continue to thrive as a school community. We are hopeful that the pre-k families at BFS share this belief and participate as full members of the coop. Whatever each family decides, we will continue to extend voting privileges to all families. PRE-K FOR ALL ADMISSIONS In addition to completing a BFS application, families with children eligible for Pre-K for All must apply using the centralized DOE online application and should indicate BFS as a top choice. The DOE and BFS give admission priority to currently enrolled pre-k eligible children, as well as to siblings. When your application is accepted based on this priority, BFS will provide families with the additional Department of Education registration packet needed to complete their enrollment. THE PREK FOR ALL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE The Pre-K program runs from 8:50-3:10, and is fully integrated into our regular school day. Educational requirements that the Pre-K for All program at BFS meets include; an entry developmental screening of Pre-K children, completion of regular assessment checklists, and adherence to the New York State PreKindergarten Foundation for the Common Core Standards. The BFS Educational Director ensures that the classrooms with Pre-K for All enrolled children meet all educational requirements, while upholding the educational philosophy and principles of BFS at all times. Pre-K for All families are strongly encouraged to attend an orientation session in September facilitated by the Educational Director to understand the relationship between Pre-K for All and BFS.
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Withdrawal and Separation E A R LY W I T H D R AWA L Changes in personal circumstances may lead to an early withdrawal. It is the policy of BFS that all tuition and fees are completely non-refundable once paid regardless of the circumstances that cause a family to withdraw. In addition, if a family withdraws from BFS on or after July 1 of the school year for which they are enrolled, the family is liable for monthly tuition and other expenses for the balance of the school year unless, and until, a substitute member is enrolled.. If the family is participating in the Pre-K program, they must submit an additional form as per the NYC Department of Education; please see a PreK Coordinator for more info. I N V O L U N TA RY S E P A R AT I O N It is our intention that involuntary separation of a student from the school should not occur. Nevertheless, we recognize that there may be rare occasions in which such action may be required. Involuntary separation may be necessary due to financial or other reasons. The following procedures shall be followed if the Steering Committee determines that such action is required: Separation for Financial Reasons Grounds for separation for financial reasons are declared when a family is 60 days delinquent in tuition payment or in clear default on a mutually agreed upon tuition payment plan. On the 30th day of delinquency, written notice will be sent by the Steering Treasurer or the Director of Operations to remind the family of the BFS policy. If the family wishes to set up a conference to arrange a payment plan, it must be scheduled at this time. On the 45th day of delinquency, a second written notice will be sent to the family advising them of school policy. Separation will occur on the 60th day of nonpayment of tuition or immediately upon default of a mutually agreed upon tuition payment plan. S E PA R AT I O N F O R N O N - F I N A N C I A L R E A S O N S Grounds for such separation include a determination that one or more of the following have occurred: 1. A determination that a student needs specialized attention or alternative placement such that continuation of enrollment at BFS is not appropriate; 2. Deliberate or grossly negligent misrepresentation of, or a willful failure to supply, critical information concerning a student; or 3. Such other grounds as the Steering Committee, by a two-thirds majority, shall determine are mandated by the best interests of BFS.
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In order to avoid involuntary separation, BFS commits itself to work with members in a non-confrontational manner to resolve persistent problems. At a minimum, the following procedures must be followed prior to involuntary separation: 1. Oral advice – Initially, a member of the Steering Committee shall orally advise families as to the existence of one of the foregoing problems. 2. Written notice – If oral advice is unsuccessful in the opinion of either party in resolving the matter, the Steering member shall present the family with a written statement of the problem, after which there will be additional discussion. 3. Opportunity to submit documentary response–Should the family desire to submit any written materials, the family shall do so within fifteen days of receipt of written notice. 4. Mediation – At any time after receipt of written notice and prior to arbitration as set forth below, the family or Steering member may request that a member of the Steering Committee or a mutually chosen individual outside the school serve as mediator without compensation. The mediator shall attempt to achieve a resolution of the matter by mutual consent. 5. Arbitration – At any time after thirty days following the initiation of mediation, or at any time more than fifteen and less than thirty days following the family’s receipt of written notice if mediation is not chosen, a dissatisfied family shall have the option to request in writing that the President of the Steering Committee appoint a Review Committee of three families, none of whom shall have been a mediator in this matter. At that time, a dissatisfied family may present any documents or person to support their position. The President of the Steering Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that the school’s position is adequately presented. The Review Committee shall expeditiously complete any proceedings and shall issue a written decision explaining its reasons within thirty days of the close of the record. The decision of the Review Committee shall be mailed to the family and shall constitute the final decision in this matter.
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Financial Policies The Steering Committee sets tuition and other fees. A summary of these policies and procedures is shown below. Fees are subject to change annually, both in amounts and how fees are applied. General All payments must be made by check. It is our policy that all tuition and fees are completely non-refundable once paid. Materials Fee This is an annual charge intended to cover a large portion of the school’s expenses for supplies and equipment. It is payable with September tuition. Monthly Tuition Payments" Families will receive a monthly invoice itemizing that month’s tuition and Extended Day preregistered use, as well as any Extended Day ad hoc use from the previous month or other additional monthly charges. Payment is due between the 1st and 10th calendar day of each month. Starting on the 11th day of each month, BFS will impose a Late Payment Fee. It is important to notify the Director of Operations if your payment will be significantly delayed. Buy-Out Fees A pre-approved Buy Out member pays a monthly fee in lieu of participating in regular Co-op duties. Members that fail to fulfill their Coop Work responsibilities, after a warning, will, by default, opt into this program and will be charged the monthly Buy-Out fee with their monthly tuition. Buy out fees are considered a tuition surcharge and is regarded as a part of tuition. Early Bird and After School Regular users of the Early Bird and/or After School programs receive a discounted rate, but must commit one term in advance by signing a three-month written agreement and cannot withdraw part way through the term. Fees are prepaid each month for scheduled days of use and refunds are not given for absence. Ad hoc users are accommodated if space is available. Extended Grace Period We recognize that some families are unable to arrive promptly at 3 pm due to an ongoing schedule conflict but can arrive shortly thereafter. To accommodate these situations, a Grace Period is available on a prepaid basis (extending pick-up to 3:30 pm) for an extra monthly fee. This service may not be used on an ad hoc basis. Late Pick-Up This applies to any pick-up after 12:40 pm (part-time students), after 3:10 pm (full day students who are not enrolled for the Extended Grace Period or After School), or after 6 pm (After School students). There is no fee for the first late pick-up provided an acceptable reason is given. After the first instance, the family will be charged the ad hoc after school fee. Bounced Checks This fee is due if we receive notice that your bank did not honor your tuition check for any reason. If more than two instances occur, future payments must be made by bank check or money order.
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Expense Reimbursement Member families may occasionally be asked to purchase materials or services for use at school. Since BFS is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization, purchases should be made whenever possible using our New York State Tax Exempt Certificate, which can be obtained from the Educational Director, the Office Administrator, or the BFS member website. These expenses will be reimbursed upon submission of an Expense Reimbursement Request form (available through the same methods) and a receipt for the item(s) purchased. In cases where a large payment is needed for an outside vendor, BFS prefers to have the vendor submit an invoice in order to receive payment. If a check is required in advance, a written estimate must be provided to the Director of Operations, and a final invoice submitted once the work is complete. Financial Hardship Policy BFS recognizes that the financial health of families might drastically change during the school year. If a family finds itself in a position that makes paying tuition a difficulty, that family should contact either a Steering member or the Director of Operations to ask that the Hardship Policy be put into effect. The family’s identity will be kept private. On the family’s behalf, a message will be sent out to the membership asking members to voluntarily over-pay their own tuition if they can afford to do so. Any money collected will be used to help cover the tuition of the family in need that month. This policy will be enacted on an as-needed basis.
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L I FE AT BROOKLYN FREE SPACE School Hours and Calendar BFS follows the New York City Department of Education elementary school calendar. One exception to the DOE calendar is that BFS does not follow the DOE clerical half-day closings. Children attend school Monday to Friday from September through June. Additionally, we offer Early Bird and After School programs and a summer camp. When the New York City public schools are closed due to inclement weather, BFS closes as well. In rare instances, it may be necessary to close the school for other reasons. If this occurs, an email announcement and a telephone tree will be used to notify families.
Hours of Operation Jitterbug and Dragonfly Rooms: 9 am–12:30 pm (part-time) / 9 am–3 pm (full day) Sunshine and Rainbow Rooms: 8:50 am–3:10 pm (all full day) Early Bird (all classrooms): 8–9 am After School (all classrooms): 3–6 pm
SCHEDULE Entering preschool is an important experience for your child. It means leaving a familiar home routine and depending on adults other than her/his own family. It means finding a place among a group of other children. There are new learning materials, different toileting arrangements and unfamiliar (at first) settings. One of the consuming tasks for the child entering school for the first time is to learn to make new connections with peers, and to share the environment, learning materials, and attention of the teachers. We plan our schedule during the first few days of school to help all children adjust as comfortably and pleasantly as possible. During the first week, the program is limited to a phase-in schedule of partial days so as to provide time for the children to become acclimated to their new environment, and for teachers to become familiar with the children. Each family should plan to have someone available at the beginning of the school year to ease the child’s adjustment to school. The classroom teachers will work in partnership with your family to find the best transition routine to meet yours and your child’s needs. The specific phase-in schedule regarding the first few days of school will be provided to parents well in advance of the beginning of the school year. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Before and during the phase-in schedule, your child’s classroom teachers will be conducting pre-arranged home visits. While optional, we strongly suggest being open to this powerful way to create a bridge between home and school for the child. The home visits enable the teachers to connect with your child about their family, favorite toys, pets, etc. We find this to be invaluable in creating a sense of trust, familiarity and comfortability for children, teachers and parents/caregivers. The teachers use what they learn from the home visits throughout the year to connect with the child’s social and emotional life. Staff Hours! – Staff hours vary according to the needs of the school. The Educational Director and Director of Operations are generally at BFS from 8:45 am–4:30 pm. The Assistant Director, who is a head teacher from 8:50 am–3:10 pm, is generally at BFS from 8:30 am–3:10 pm plus some after-school time at least twice a week. Classroom teachers work 8:50 am- 3:10 pm daily. The Early Bird teachers work 8-9 am, and the Afterschool teachers work 3-6 pm. Family-Teacher Conferences – Twice a year, BFS holds family-teacher conferences to discuss each child’s progress. Families may also schedule informal conferences at a time mutually convenient to themselves and their child’s teachers. Classroom Community Forums – The teachers will host meetings twice a year with parents of children attending their class. These meetings give parents an opportunity to connect with the teachers about what is happening in the classroom regarding curriculum, childhood development and plans for the year. It is also an opportunity for parents with children in the same class to get to know one another, which helps to build community for the children and the Co-op. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend. Summer Camp Program – We offer a summer camp for usually 8 weeks in July and August. The dates and duration of camp may change each year depending on demand. Summer camp is open to BFS students who meet the program’s age requirements (generally 3.3 and up) and who were enrolled during the prior school year. The program, taught by our regular, after school and substitute teachers, is built around activities inside and outside of the classroom. As weather allows, children visit local playgrounds, parks and various other neighborhood destinations, as well as take field trips to fun and educational destinations such as museums and puppet shows. As during the regular school year, some member Co-op work is required on a weekly basis in addition to tuition. Families who are already participating in yearlong Co-op jobs (such as Steering and Pre-K for All Coordinators) usually will continue those roles while enrolled in summer camp.
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The School Day at BFS – In all areas of preschool play, there are concepts of living, sharing, and understanding that take on added dimensions with the growth and development of your child. It is our belief that children need both freedom and a sense of order in the events of the day. A fixed daily schedule gives children confidence because they know what to expect. However, the schedule is just a framework. It gives a sense of sureness and order to the day but can be modified easily as needed. Throughout the day, children are free to make many choices within the basic structure. CLASSROOMS The Jitterbug Room – is for our 2’s students. This class has 12 children; four are part-time, and the rest are full day. The Dragonfly Room – is our older 2’s/younger 3’s room. This class has 15 students; up to four may be part-time, the rest are full day. The Sunshine Room – is for older 3’s and younger 4’s. This class has 17 full-day students.* The Rainbow Room – is our “oldest” class. All children are 4’s and a small number may be slightly older. This class has 18 full-day students.* *Age-eligible Sunshine and Rainbow students (3.9–4.8 in September) in these classes will receive partial tuition reimbursement through Pre-K funding while we have an active Pre-K contract with the Department of Education and upon completion of the required forms.
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S A M P L E D A I LY S C H E D U L E The following is a sample of our daily schedule and descriptions of many of the activities we offer our students. Some students in the Jitterbug Room and the Dragonfly Room attend part-time (until 12:30 pm). All other students attend BFS for the full day. Pre-k classrooms school day begins at 8:50 and ends at 3:10.
9–10 am
Free Play (puzzles, toys, blocks, painting, library area, dramatic play)
10–10:30 am
Clean-up and Circle Time (songs, stories, rhymes, games, discussion, show and tell)
10–10:15 am
Snack Time
10–11 am
Enrichment Activities when scheduled (Art, Music, Dance/ Movement)
11–11:50 am
Outdoor Play and/or Nature or Neighborhood Walk (as weather permits) or Indoor Gross Motor Play in the Big Room
11:50 am–12 pm
Toileting, Washing Hands, Preparation for Lunch
12–12:30 pm
Lunch and Clean-up
12:30–12:45 pm
Story Time (12:30 Dismissal Half-Time Students)
12:45–2 pm
Rest Time with Music, Stories, Poetry readings
2–2:15 pm
Snack Time
2:30–3 pm
Child-selected Activities
3–3:10 pm
Dismissal
Your classroom teacher will have an updated daily schedule posted on the bulletin board located outside the classroom.
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E L E M E N T S O F O U R E D U C AT I O N A L P RO G R A M After the first days, students from all classes have many opportunities to interact as part of the larger school community during periods such as Outdoor Play. We also begin to incorporate art and music/movement, taught by specialized enrichment teachers. Classes divide into smaller groups for collaborative project work, cooking experiences and perhaps also for short local trips (such as to a dentist’s office or neighborhood library). Free Play Inside or outside, your child has the freedom to make choices, express him/ herself in dramatic play and relate to and negotiate with others. Our materials include puzzles, games, manipulatives, blocks, dolls, books, musical instruments, as well as art, natural and recycled materials to explore and to use to create. Visual Arts A variety of materials are provided to stimulate the child’s imagination and help express his/her feelings and ideas through artistic creation. The mediums that children explore include painting and drawing, collage, sculpture, clay and dough. There is a parttime professional artist on staff who collaborates with classroom teachers and children to delve deeper into individual and collective artistic processes. Music and Movement We encourage the natural inclinations of children to sing, move and express with sound. Musical instruments are made available for exploration at free play time. Singing songs alone or together and listening to and appreciating various genres of music are part of the everyday curriculum. This everyday experience is enriched by a visiting teaching artist who helps the children to sing tunefully, develop age-appropriate musical concepts, move expressively and rhythmically, and create their own music and movements. Dress Up/Pretend Playing “pretend” is a very important way that children express their understanding of the world around them. We invite children to imagine, re-live and role-play adult home and community activities using a variety of child-sized equipment and materials, including kitchen equipment, fabrics and dress-up clothes. Building Toys In the manipulation and control of blocks and other building toys, many possibilities exist for the exploration of mathematical concepts as well as imaginative expression. Many different types of building blocks and toys are available. Cooking This very important activity is closely linked to home and family life, and it also provides hands-on exploration of many scientific concepts. Projects may include soup, applesauce, fruit salad, cookies, pretzels, etc. Families are invited to come and share their cultural foods and culinary talents with the class. Science and Math At BFS, we create a learning environment where the children can explore science and math concepts as they are moving through their immediate surroundings. Wooden unit blocks create invitations for the discovery of measurements and comparisons. Manipulatives bring forth the urge to categorize, sort and classify. Snails, Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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leaves and insects inspire the children to observe and collect data. The teachers facilitate and watch/listen carefully and find entry points for extending the children's learning and challenging them to ask questions, make predictions and create and test their own theories. Literacy Children desire to express themselves and to be understood by others and vice versa. We facilitate this desire by providing endless opportunities to have conversations, share ideas, dictate thoughts, enjoy authentic children's literature, learn from reference books, and see the written language being used daily in authentic contexts. The exploration of letters and our alphabetic code is child-directed and teacher facilitated. We support the children’s need to deconstruct and reconstruct their understanding and representation of words and letters. We share in their enjoyment of the expression of phonetic and phonemic awareness. Circle/Meeting Time This is a time to coalesce and reconnect as a classroom community. It is a time to share ideas thoughts, personal items or anecdotes or a story or a song, a time to introduce a new learning concept, a time to reflect on a small group or whole group activity, and a time to gather cohorts and coworkers to engage in small group project work. Outdoor Play The children go outdoors daily, weather permitting. They may visit a nearby playground or take a walk, both of which offer children the large muscle activities so necessary to their proper physical development. During inclement weather, similar experiences are offered in our well-equipped indoor play space, the "Big Room." Sand and Water Play Sensory, science and soothing! These natural elements can provide a calming, stimulating or explorative experience, depending on the child’s mood. Family Enrichment Families are encouraged to share their talents, skills, stories, cultural celebrations or other interests with children in the classroom. Teachers welcome family support in the projects and explorations of the children and greatly appreciate when families share in the classroom experience through reading the classroom reflections and updates as well as being active participants in the documentation of project work. Trips The children go to local parks on a regular basis—most frequently to the playground in JJ Byrne Park and the meadow behind the Old Stone House—both of which are around the corner from BFS. Teachers also integrate the surrounding neighborhood into the classroom curriculum. Classes may visit the local hardware store to purchase a tool for a project or the local market to purchase ingredients for a recipe. In the spring, we take children on field trips that are related to the areas of study they are exploring. A class that has been engaging in a study of subway trains might go to the Transit Museum, and another that has been interested in farm animals might go to the Queens County Farm. Trips are taken only if enough parent or caregiver volunteers are available to chaperone. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Celebrations We support the children in their celebration of many cultural and family holidays within the school. We believe that sharing different cultural backgrounds in this way develops healthy self-awareness and a positive awareness of others. We provide children with information about the traditions that surround such events through activities and stories. Families are encouraged to participate and to share how they celebrate at home. We also celebrate each child’s birthday if her/his family wishes. Teachers must be notified two days or more in advance to avoid conflicts in programming. Special birthday treats may be served during snack time, or you may choose to send small tokens or gifts for your child’s classmates. Please adhere to BFS policies regarding food allergies, etc. Families need not be present during the class celebration, but those who wish to celebrate with the children are welcome. For children whose birthdays fall during the summer months, a special day can be set aside (in consultation with teachers) to permit celebration. Graduation Day On the last day of school each year we hold a school-wide performance and buffet lunch. The children attend class from 9-11 am and the performances start at 11 am and last until 12 noon, when children are joined with their families for sharing in a buffet lunch. The day ends at 1 pm.
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CLASSROOM GUIDELINES The following is a basic set of guidelines for each child’s classroom experience. Your role in providing for these items and in being considerate of the classroom schedule is essential to the basic functioning of your child’s classroom. These guidelines apply to all BFS families— regardless of your child’s classroom and regardless of whether your family has chosen to “buyout” of certain Co-op duties. Attendance Arrival to school is 9- 9:10 am, and the expectation is for your child to arrive promptly. The morning free play is a very important time for your child to make the transition from home to school. If your child/family has a morning obligation or appointment, please let us know in advance that you will be late (after 9:15 is considered late). Please note that 10:30 am, even with prior notice, is the cut-off time for late arrival, as at this point it is disruptive for the child and the classroom. If your child will be absent for the day, please notify the directors and/or teachers by phone or email no later than 10 am. Pre-K for All families, please note that Pre-K attendance records are shared with the DOE monthly. Pick-Up Pick-up time is 12:30 pm (part-time) or 3 pm (full-time), and a parent or caregiver must pick up children no later than 12:40 pm (part-time), 3:10 pm (full day), or 6 pm (After School) each day. A financial penalty is imposed for late pick-ups (see Financial Policies for information about the Extended Grace Period). Teachers must be advised in advance if someone other than the usual person is picking up a child from school. Nut-Free BFS is nut-free on a year-to-year basis, depending on the needs of our enrolled children. If BFS is to be nut-free for the upcoming school year, all families will be informed before the start of school and will be given detailed instructions. Lunch and Snacks Children bring their own lunch and beverage daily in a lunchbox or lunch bag. BFS provides healthy snacks and asks that each child also bring a filled water bottle to school daily for use during snack time. Pre-K for All Lunch For DOE Pre-K for All, families can opt to enroll in a free lunch option provided by Red Rabbit, a DOE approved lunch vendor. Lunches are delivered daily. Clothing Children should be dressed appropriately for the weather and a seasonally appropriate change of clothing should always be available in the child’s cubby. Please remember to take home wet or soiled clothing! Rest Time Children staying at school until 3 pm have a rest period after lunch. Families should bring a twin size sheet and a blanket from home to be kept in the cubby for rest time. These items should be taken home and laundered at least every two weeks. Please note that pillows, baby bottles and pacifiers are not permitted in preschools, per the Department of Health. “Blankies,” water bottles and soft animals are welcome, however. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Children are not required to sleep, only to rest on their cot. Please note that we will not keep a child awake if they desire to sleep. Parent/Caregiver Availability A parent or caregiver must be able to respond promptly in the event that a child becomes ill or otherwise needs to be picked up from school early. All families must provide current emergency contact numbers and relevant information in writing concerning allergies, medications, restrictions, etc. Parent Participation From time to time, parents will be asked to chaperone a class trip or help out with a special classroom activity. In addition, teachers welcome voluntary participation in the classroom, whether it is to offer a special talent or skill or just to lend an extra hand. Family participation should be coordinated with the teacher in advance and will be done on a non-compensated basis. Special Needs Brooklyn Free Space welcomes children who receive support services through Early Intervention (EI) and the Committee for Special Preschool Education (CPSE). We work in partnership with the special education teachers and therapists from outside agencies that support children with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) to ensure that they are comfortable and productive in our learning environment. In addition, BFS plays an active role in advocating for children to receive services if needed. We work in partnership with families so that a child can receive the support s/he needs. We will assist in finding qualified services, and contribute input to advocacy meetings. If a child’s needs are beyond our resources, we will work with the family to identify a setting where the child’s needs can be met.
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H E A LT H , T O I L E T I N G
AND
DISCIPLINE POLICIES
H E A LT H At some time during the school year, your child is going to become ill. These guidelines are to help you understand how to deal with illness while your child is enrolled in our program. We strongly suggest that you consider plans for sick care of your child now, before they become ill. Consider whether you will be able to take a day off from work or make arrangements with family members or friends to care for your child. We suggest that this kind of care take place in your home and that you prepare ahead for this eventuality. It is very important to inform the school as soon as possible when your child is ill or even if they are not feeling well. This helps us plan for the health and safety of your child and the other children in the school. If your child was not feeling well the night before but is well enough to attend school in the morning, please inform the classroom teachers. Please do not give children a fever reducer in the morning before attending school. A fever is a sign of illness, and the fever reducer is not going to treat the illness. If your child is staying home with an illness, please let us know what symptoms are presenting, and whether a pediatrician was seen. For most mild illnesses, your child will be allowed to attend school. However, when s/he has any of the following symptoms, we ask that you keep your child home: -
Diarrhea or vomiting
-
Unusual spots or rashes
-
Fever over 101 degrees
-
Infected skin patches
-
Severe coughing or trouble breathing
-
Headache
-
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
-
Stiff neck
-
Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
-
Loss of appetite
-
Head lice or nits
-
Unusual behavior
If your child is at school, we will call you to pick them up if: -
Any of these these specific symptoms present at school.
-
Any symptoms presented prevent the child from participating comfortably in activities.
-
Any symptoms presented result in a need for care that is greater than the staff can provide.
-
There is a risk of spread of illness to others.
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Remember...Keep all your emergency telephone contact numbers at the school up to date. This lets us reach you in case of an emergency. A child must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school. This policy is strictly enforced to protect the health of all of our children and staff. If we are concerned that the symptoms presented indicate a threat of spread of illness to others, we will ask families to take the child to their pediatrician to confirm if the illness is communicable and the time frame of when they are able to return to school. TOILETING At BFS, we accept all children without regard to their toileting readiness. We understand that all children will reach their independence in toileting when they are physically, socially and emotionally ready. It is our policy to encourage and support each child individually as they become ready, and we do so together with the child’s family as a team, using the same techniques, language and positive reinforcements. Most of our youngest students start school not fully toilet trained. As the weeks and their comfort levels progress, some start the toileting process while encouraged by the teachers and their peers. Diaper changes and toileting take place regularly after morning snack and/or before leaving for the playground; before and/or after lunch; after rest time in all the classrooms; and during the after school program. Depending on a child’s level of independence, teachers in all classrooms provide a full range of support: helping to undress, removing diapers, helping a child to sit properly on the potty or a toilet, teaching how to get the right amount of toilet paper, guiding the child to wipe properly and in the right direction after urinating, wiping or checking with a wet wipe after a bowel movement, and making sure the child flushes the toilet and washes his/her hands. The amount of the teacher’s physical involvement diminishes in time with the child’s ability and growing independence. As a child develops self-sufficiency in this area and a complimentary desire for privacy, the teachers will respect this and respond accordingly, while still maintaining a presence in the bathroom area to oversee the general process.
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APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE - UNDERSTANDING PRESCHOOL B E H AV I O R S Disruptive behavior, lack of cooperation and broken rules are not only part of being a child, but are also discipline challenges that face parents and teachers of young children. At Brooklyn Free Space, we meet these challenges head-on by helping the children to develop self-control. We feel that children learn to build self-control when they see the possible consequences of their actions, when they are offered alternative behaviors, and when they actively participate in problem-solving negotiation and conflict resolution. This technique allows the children to learn to balance their needs with those of other people, feel good about themselves and become increasingly independent in building self-control. It also helps the children maintain and enhance their self-esteem. Corporal punishment, humiliating or frightening methods of control, usage of food, rest or isolation as punishment or punitive methods of toilet training are not only prohibited at Brooklyn Free Space, but they fail to develop the inner controls that are necessary for young children to learn to handle future problems and are one of the major causes of poor development of self-concept. We feel that the key to discipline is not the use of these methods, but mutual respect, acceptance, encouragement, kindness, firmness and admiration.
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Cooperative Job Descriptions STEERING COMMITTEE The Steering Committee oversees and facilitate the smooth functioning of the BFS cooperative and actively works to build and strengthen the cooperative community. Through their roles, members or the Steering Committee become a vital presence at BFS. Serving on Steering is an opportunity to have a more visible and deeper involvement in the operations and stewardship of BFS. Steering members make a year-long commitment to their role. Along with the school’s operational and educational directors, the committee meets monthly to shepherd ongoing school needs and may be called upon to participate in problem solving discussions outside of these meetings. Additionally, Steering is responsible to liaising with the parent community and supporting events as needed. President (Officer of Steering) - Serves as overall leader, coordinating with operational and educational directors to set yearly direction and liaises with the Board of Trustees, Steering Committee, and parent community to effect action and meet school objectives and goals. Meeting support -
Chair Steering and General meetings
-
Plan Steering and General meetings; coordinate messaging with the Board and Steering and relay key information to the parent membership community
-
Meet regularly with educational and operations directors
Liaison support -
Act as Liaison to Development Committee and Pre-K Coordinator
-
Drive Pre-K RFP process and integration of BFS with Pre-K program (upon acceptance)
Tactical support -
Work with Directors to update and distribute membership information materials (such as Member Handbook, etc.)
-
Determine issues of general non-performance of co-op duties, as well as penalty owed due to missed meetings or flex-time work, giving required written notice to members in either situation and coordinating financial penalties with Director of Operations
-
Authorized to sign checks, contracts, and other legal documents on behalf of BFS
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Vice President (Officer of Steering) - Serves as execution lead, working directly with Steering president and the Steering Committee to carry out school goals by supporting the coordination and execution of BFS events and nurturing the relationship with BFS’ alumni community. Meeting support -
In absence of President, chair Steering and General meetings
Liaison support -
Oversee BFS Community Events Calendar and support coordinators
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Facilitate communication between event coordinators and members in charge of publicity
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Work with community to enrich BFS relationships with alumni
Tactical support -
Coordinates annual School Picture Day
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Coordinates staff appreciation, such as the staff holiday and end of year gifts
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Determine issues of general non-performance of co-op duties, as well as penalty owed due to missed meetings or flex-time work, giving required written notice to members in either situation and coordinating financial penalties with Director of Operations
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Authorized to sign checks, contracts, and other legal documents on behalf of BFS
Treasurer (Officer of Steering) - Works closely with the Director of Operations to manage BFS’ finances in relation to supporting and executing school near-term and longerterm goals. Meeting support -
Meet with the Director of Operations regularly to discuss school’s finances and budget
-
Sets agenda for yearly budget review with the Steering Committee (topics for yearly budget review include: financial aid allocation, BFS employe benefit package planning, expenditure management, financial goals targeting) Liaison support
-
Assist Director of Operations in submitting budget reports and invoices for BFS’ PreK contract with NYC DOE, in partnership with Pre-K Grant Coordinator
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Act as co-liaison, along with Steering President, to Pre-K Grant Coordinators
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Act as liaison to members participating in fundraising events (such as annual gala, stoop sale, swaps, etc.) Tactical support
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With Educational and Operations Directors, review financial aid applications and determine award amounts in accordance with review policies
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Evaluate and update BFS employee benefit package (health insurance, pension, etc.) and relationships with financial institutions (banks, other)
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Authorized to sign checks, contracts and other legal documents on behalf of BFS
Secretary (Officer of Steering) - Acts as the glue between the Steering Committee and the parent community, holding Steering accountable for following up on and supporting the execution of key actions and goals. Meeting support -
Prepare Steering and General Meeting schedules and agendas, in coordination with Steering President and ongoing discussions during Steering Committee meetings
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Post, distribute and email reminders to membership and trustees concerning Steering and General Meetings at least one week in advance
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Attend all Steering and General Meetings, record minutes, archive them on the member website and distribute them to all members of BFS community, usually via email
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Keep attendance records for General and Steering meetings; communicate attendance with Membership Coordinator following each General Meeting
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Send reminders to fellow Steering officers as needed about outstanding business from earlier meetings
Tactical support -
Arrange for childcare for members at General Meetings and other BFS events with wide mandatory attendance
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Authorized to sign checks, contracts, and other legal documents on behalf of BFS
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Membership Coordinator - Serves as lifeline to the parent community, working closely with Steering Vice President to understand parent community needs in support of meeting BFS co-op responsibilities and enriching the community through events; supports annual Parent Survey and coordinates with Steering President and Director of Operations to translate survey results into yearly goals / changes. Liaison support -
Ensure that work assignments are being fulfilled, by checking in with members, staff and event coordinators throughout the year
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Determine issues of general non-performance of co-op duties, as well as penalty owed due to missed meetings or flex-time work, giving required written notice to members in either situation and coordinating financial penalties with Director of Operations
Tactical support -
Work with Operation Director to coordinate member work assignments in the Fall - based on work survey, assign members to jobs, committees or flex work
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Work with Director of Operations to administer annual Parent Survey in the Spring and prepare report for broader analysis and review
Member-At-Large (aka Trustee Liaison) - Acts as the voice of BFS, creating a connection between key BFS topics and goals with the Board of Trustees; liaises with the Board of Trustees in an advisory fashion to set strategic vision and support execution of BFS near- and longer-term goals. Meeting support -
Serve as Member of Board of Trustees - - attend quarterly Board of Trustees meetings, reporting news from Steering and replaying news from Board of Trustees meetings back to Steering (during monthly Steering Committee meetings) and current membership (during general meetings)
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Schedule quarterly Board of Trustees Meetings
Liaison support -
Act as Liaison between Trustees, the Steering Committee, and current membership; work independently or with other current parent co-op member Trustees to convey to current membership, and promote as relevant, long-term priorities of Trustees
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Tactical support -
Understand and maintain compliance with Article II of BFS By-Laws as it pertains to Trustees
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Alert Trustees if Steering anticipates any expenditures greater than $5,000 that re not in school budget
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Maintain minutes from Board of Trustees meetings, distribute to Steering, and upload to online archive
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Work with treasurer and directors to coordinate relationships between the Development team and Capital Campaign efforts
BUY OUT MEMBERS Buyout members are not required to participate in BFS cooperative work. -
Pay monthly Buyout surcharge in addition to monthly tuition
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Attend all General Meetings
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Subscribe to BFS community email list
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Attend Classroom Community Forums (strongly encouraged)
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Participate in fundraising events and related activities (optional according to member’s interest and ability to do so)
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Cooperative Job Descriptions DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE PreRequisites
Description The Development Committee will work with the Board of Trustees towards developing a plan that will set fundraising goals and assess progress toward meeting those goals. They will also organize the solicitation of gifts at the various levels required for annual, special, and planned giving programs
COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE PreRequisites
Description Every Coop Member, on this committee or not, will hopefully volunteer time to make the most of every BFS event, but the Community Building Committee will be principally responsible for creating, organizing, and operating events throughout the year. This includes community events, special gatherings to foster the connections in our BFS Membership, such as Movie Nights, Book and Clothing Swaps, or picnics, as well as events that raise funds for the school - these are typically open to the public and include our annual Stoop Sales or performances in the Sanctuary. They will also assist the Admissions Liaison with the Open House and school tours. Individual Members will be chosen to spearhead certain events, and new events will be generated out of the Team for others to organize.
G A L A C O O R D I N AT I N G C O M M I T T E E PreRequisites
Description The Gala Coordinating Committee will focus exclusively on all aspects of the Annual Spring Gala, organizing Auctions, Entertainment, Decoration, Food/Drink, and everything necessary for our largest fundraising and community event. They will be encouraged to begin coordination early to maximize potential in all aspects.
PUBLICITY JOBS Jobs
Pre-Requisites
Description
Print Design
Must have experience with graphic design.
Graphic design of all event flyers and email campaigns
Social Media Coordinator
Experience trouble shooting Macs & PCs, & Google Aps
Will work closely with the print designer and event leaders to send Mailchimp email blasts and event posting on the BFS facebook page and other appropriate site. Will encourage community participation with fundraising partners like Amazon or Good Search.
Website Content Maintenance
Experience editing, editing website, tech savvy
Produce two or three short promotional videos, focusing on school goals and fundraising, for BFS
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COMMUNITY SUPPORT JOBS Jobs
Pre-Requisites
Admissions Liaison
None - knowledge of school
Coordinate Open House and Tours. ensure admissions info on the website is up to date, and respond to email inquiries, throughout the year, from prospective families. Create unified brand identity for school.
Branding Coordinator Legal Council
Description
Should be licensed to practice in NY State
Provide counsel and help draft BFS documents, including contracts, leases and UPK contract. Review BFS application for Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) funding, and the like, as necessary
Pre-K Enrollment Coordinator
Work with Directors, Treasurer, Legal Counsel, Steering, and others to ensure BFS’ compliance with UPK Program requirements, such as updating staff information in the DOE database, preparing for and responding to site visits and responding to DOE requests for information • Collect, submit and maintain hard copies of all forms and paperwork required by the NYC Department of Education (DOE) as part of the school's Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) contract • Communicate with UPK-eligible families to ensure that they complete UPK paperwork and submit updated information related to immunizations, discharges from BFS and/or kindergarten enrollment • Attend DOE UPK Directors' Meetings and represent BFS when the Educational Director is unable to attend; take meeting minutes and circulate them among BFS staff • Report monthly UPK attendance to DOE and work with UPK teachers to document attendance information • Advise Treasurer when monthly attendance report has been completed so that Treasurer can submit a timely invoice to DOE for payment to BFS under UPK contract
Website Builder
Work with branding coordinator to build website for BFS
Workshop Series Coordinator
Work closely with directors to coordinate a series of 4 - 6 early childhood related workshops for the community.
HOUSEKEEPING JOBS Jobs
Pre-Requisites
Description
Art Materials Assistant
A love for art and organizing!
Monthly assistance with organizing and inventory of art materials.
Carpenter
Tools!
(saving shelf, plant stands) / Classroom Construction (depending on number of projects and builders, could be two people)
Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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HOUSEKEEPING JOBS Jobs
Pre-Requisites
Description
Costo Runner
Must have a Costco membership and vehicle.
Monthly or bi-weekly shopping trips to Costco.
Gardener
Prior gardening experience suggested.
Care and maintenance of new flower boxes in front of school building. May be asked to consult with teachers for classroom planting projects.
Laundry
Must have washer/ dryer in home.
Cleaning of classroom vest done twice monthly. 1 family needed per classroom.
Purchaser
No experience needed.
Purchase weekly snack. Occasionally asked to purchase other items as needed
Toy Cleaner
No experience needed.
Monthly cleaning of classroom toys. Must have dishwasher. 1 family needed per classroom.
Wheatpaster
No experience needed.
Someone who flyers the neighborhood with posters and postcards for events (could be two families for wider reach)
Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Community Email Lists GROUP NAME
ADDRESS
DESCRIPTION
Bulletin Board
[email protected]
An opt-in list for members to share any information that might be of interest to our community.
Dragonfly Classroom
[email protected]
Dragonfly families and teachers
Dragonfly Parents
[email protected]
Dragonfly families only
Dragonfly Teachers
[email protected]
Dragonfly teachers only
Everyone
[email protected]
Announcements to the whole community. (No personal messages)
Jitterbug Classroom
[email protected]
Jitterbug families and teachers
Jitterbug Parents
[email protected]
Jitterbug families only
Jitterbug Teachers
[email protected]
Jitterbug teachers only
Legal
[email protected]
Parent legal resource
Parents
[email protected]
Announcements to all BFS parents about BFS matters. (No personal messages)
Publicity & Design
[email protected]
Design and placement of advertisements, flyers, website postings, etc. Group includes Print Designer & Social Media Coordinator
Rainbow Classroom
[email protected]
Rainbow families and teachers
Rainbow Parents
[email protected]
Rainbow families only
Rainbow Teachers
[email protected]
Rainbow teachers only
Staff
staff@brooklynfreespace.org
BFS teaching and administrative staff
Steering Committee
[email protected]
Overall matters regarding problems, concerns or opportunities for BFS.
Sunshine Classroom
[email protected]
Communication with all Sunshine families and teachers
Sunshine Parents
[email protected]
Sunshine families only
Sunshine Teachers
[email protected]
Sunshine teachers only
Teachers
[email protected]
Classroom, enrichment, after school and substitute teachers, and the Educational Director
Trustees
[email protected]
Board of Trustees
Pre-K Coordinator
[email protected]
For matters regarding BFS and the PreK program. Members include the PreK Attendance and Enrollment Coordinator, as well as the Treasurer.
Pre-K Parents
[email protected]
This group includes all parents with a child in either Sunshine or Rainbow whose child was born in 2008
Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Brooklyn Free Space Tuition and Fees: 2016 - 2017 School Year TUITION Full day - Jitterbug
$1,820 per month (9 am - 3 pm)
Half day - Jitterbug
$1,380 per month (9 am - 12:30 pm) Limited spots available
Full day - Dragonfly
$1,720 per month (9 am - 3 pm)
Full day - Sunshine (non-pre-k) $1,650 per month (9 am - 3 pm) Full day - Pre-K
free of charge (9 am - 3 pm)
PRE-K FOR ALL BFS contracts with the New York City Department of Education to offer free, full-day Pre-K for children who turn 4 by December 31st of the 2017 calendar year. Families must apply through the DOE application portal, and should also complete a BFS application (No fee).
COOP “BUY-OUT” OPTION $200 per month if approved. There may be availability for families to pay this additional monthly fee in lieu of performance.
EARLY BIRD CARE (8 TO 9 AM) Prepaid rate - $12 per day (pre-registered) Pre-register is divided up into 3 sessions during each school year (September - December, January - March, & April - June) Ad Hoc rate - $16 per day
AFTER SCHOOL CARE (3 TO 6 PM)16 Prepaid rate - $24 per day (pre-registered) Pre-register is divided up into 3 sessions during each school year (September - December, January - March, & April - June) Ad Hoc rate - $34 per day
EXTENDED GRACE PERIOD (3 TO 3:30 PM) Prepaid rate - $6 per day (pre-registered) Pre-register is divided up into 3 sessions during each school year (September - December, January - March, & April - June) Ad Hoc rate - NA (this service is only available on a prepaid basis)
FEES Application Fee - $60. Fee charged with BFS Application. Fee waived for alumni and returning families Late Payment Fee - $30. A fee will be imposed if tuition is not paid by the 11th of each month Late Pick Up Fee - $24. There is no fee for the first late pick-up provided an acceptable reason is given. After the first instance, the family will be charged the ad hoc after school fee. Materials Fee - $400 per year (due in September) Missed Meeting Fee - $100. Any family absent for more than one General Meeting will be charged a Missed Meeting Fee for any and all absences after the first. 2 9 8 6 t h Av e n u e , B r o o k l y n , N Y 11 2 1 5 / p . 7 1 8 . 9 6 5 . 3 1 3 5 / f . 7 1 8 . 9 6 5 . 0 3 8 1 / w w w. b r o o k l y n f r e e s p a c e . o r g
B Y- LAWS Brooklyn Free Space, INC. By-Laws Dated May 25, 2006
ARTICLE I - MEMBERS ! Section 1. Membership. All families (parents/guardians) of the children enrolled in Brooklyn Free Space, Inc., (hereinafter “BFS”) shall be members of BFS. The Board of Trustees of BFS (hereinafter “Board”) may establish such other criteria for membership as it deems appropriate.! ! Section 2. Organization. The President of the Steering Committee, defined herein, shall preside at all meetings of the members or, in the absence of the President, the VicePresident, and if neither is present an acting Chairperson shall be chosen by the members present. The Secretary of the Steering Committee shall take the minutes at all meetings of the members, but in the absence of the Secretary, the presiding officer may appoint any person to take the minutes of the meeting. ! Section 3. Meetings. The annual meeting of the members shall be held each year at the place, time and date, in the month of May, as may be fixed by the Board. Special meetings of the members for any purpose may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, or any two Board members, or convened by ten percent of the members or as otherwise provided by law. ! Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the place, date and hour of any meeting shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meeting not less than seven nor more than 50 days before the date of the meeting. Notice of special meetings shall indicate the purpose for which they are called and the persons calling the meeting. ! Section 5. Quorum, Adjournment of Meetings. At all meetings of the members, one-third of all voting members, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the members present in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting. At any previously adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. ! Section 6. Voting. At any meeting of the members, each member family present in person or by proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each child enrolled in BFS. Upon demand of any member, a vote on any issue shall be by written ballot. ! Section 7. Action by the Members. Except as otherwise provided by law or by these by-laws, any corporate action authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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members where a quorum is present shall be an act of the members. Action may be taken without a meeting by unanimous consent of all members setting forth the action so taken. ! Section 8. Proxy Representation. Every member may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a member is entitled to vote. Every proxy must be signed by the member.
ARTICLE II - BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
! Section 1. Powers. BFS shall be managed by its Board that shall be authorized to take any action and do all such lawful acts on behalf of BFS unless provided otherwise by these by-laws. ! Section 2. Composition of the Board. The Board shall be composed of nine Trustees, six of which shall be Independent Trustees and three of which shall be member Trustees. At least two of the Independent Trustees shall be a parent or guardian of a child formerly enrolled in BFS. For purposes of this paragraph, “Independent” shall mean that such Trustee is not currently a member with a child attending BFS. ! Section 3(a). Election of Independent Trustees. Independent Trustees shall be elected by the BFS members at the annual meeting. In electing Trustees, members shall not be permitted to cumulate their votes by giving one candidate as many votes as the number of votes among any number of candidates. Trustees shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he or she is elected or until his or her death, disqualification, resignation, or removal. For the 2006-2007 school year, the current BFS President, in consultation with the current officers of BFS, shall appoint the initial Board of Trustees. The Independent members of the Board of Trustees so appointed, at its initial meeting, shall divide into three groups of two Independent Trustees each with one group designated to serve one year, a second group two years and a third group three years. Thereafter, all shall serve three-year terms. Each term shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th three years following. ! Section 3(b). Election of Member Trustees. Member Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the members. Each term shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th of the following calendar year. ! Section 4. Newly Created Trusteeships and Vacancies. Newly created vacancies among the Trustees for any reason may be filled by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office, and the Trustees so elected shall serve until the expiration of the departing Trustee’s term of office. ! Section 5. Resignations. Any Trustee may resign from office at any time by delivering a resignation in writing to the Chairperson and the acceptance of such resignation, unless required by the terms thereof, shall not be necessary to make such resignation effective. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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! Section 6. Removal. Any Trustee elected by the members may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the entire Board, at any special meeting of the Board called for that purpose, or at any special meeting of the members or without cause, by a two-thirds vote of the members. ! Section 7. Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at any place within or without the State of New York as the Board may from time to time fix, or as shall be specified in the notice or waivers of notice thereof. The annual meeting of the Board shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of the members. In addition to the annual meeting, the Board shall meet at least three additional times a year at such time and place as the Board shall determine. Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever called by the Board, or the Chairperson of the Board, in each case at such time and place as shall be fixed by the person or persons calling the meeting. ! Section 8. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time and place of each regular or special meeting of the Board, together with a written agenda stating all matters upon which action is proposed to be taken and, to the extent possible, copies of all documents upon which action is proposed to be taken, shall be delivered to each Board member at least forty eight hours in advance of the meeting, provided, however, that notice of special meetings to discuss matters requiring prompt action may be given personally or by telephone, no less than forty eight hours before the time at which such meeting is to be held. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee who submits a signed waiver of notice whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him or her. ! Section 9. Quorum and Voting. Unless a greater proportion is required by law, four or more independent Trustees must be present to constitute a quorum and therefore empower the Board to transact business on behalf of BFS. Further, except as otherwise provided by law or by these by-laws, the vote of a majority of the Trustees present at the time of the vote, if a quorum is present at such time, shall be the act of the Board. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. ! Section 10. Action by the Board. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto by the members of the Board shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board. ! Section 11. Committees of the BFS Board. The Board may create committees of the Board. Committees created by the Board shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Board with the consent of the Board and shall include an Audit Committee, the Chairperson of which shall be an Independent Trustee.
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! Section 12. Steering Committee Members. Steering Committee Members shall be entitled to attend all Board meetings unless the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees reasonably determines that it is in the best interests of the corporation to exclude Steering Committee Members of the corporation from a specific Board meeting or discussion of specific issues before the Board. Steering Committee Members shall have no right to vote at Board meetings. ! Section 13. Selection of Board Officers. The Board of Trustees shall select its own officers which shall include a Chairperson and a Secretary; no officer may hold more than one position. ! Section 14. Nomination of Trustees to Serve on Board. Only those Trustees that have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated or elected to such office. ! Section 15. No Compensation. No Trustee of BFS shall receive any salary, compensation or emolument for any service rendered to BFS, except that the Board may authorize reimbursement of expenditures reasonably incurred on behalf of activities for the benefit of BFS.
ARTICLE III - STEERING-COMMIT TEE, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS ! Section 1. Number, Qualifications and Powers. The Steering Committee of BFS shall be composed of the officers of BFS (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary) and also include a Member-at-Large (defined below), the Executive Director and such other members, if any, as the Board may from time to time appoint. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of BFS. ! Section 2. Executive Director. The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Executive Director who shall have direct charge of the daily affairs of BFS. The Executive Director is not eligible to serve as a Trustee of the Board but shall be a member of the Steering Committee. The Executive Director shall provide the Board with annual staff evaluations. ! Section 3. Election and Term of Office. The members of the BFS Steering Committee, other than the Executive Director, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the members. The members of the Steering Committee so elected shall determine among themselves their respective offices. The Steering Committee members shall serve during the period beginning July 1st immediately after their election and ending June 30th of the following year. ! Section 4. Employees and Other Agents. The Steering Committee may appoint from time to time such employees and other agents, as it shall deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office at the pleasure of the Steering Committee, and shall have such authority, perform such duties, and receive such reasonable compensation, as the Steering Committee may from time to time determine. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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! Section 5. Vacancies. In case of any vacancy in any office, a successor to fill the unexpired portion of the term may be selected by a majority of the remaining members of the Steering Committee. ! Section 6. Steering Committee Member Removal. Any Steering Committee Member elected by the BFS members may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the entire Steering Committee, at any special meeting of the Steering Committee called for that purpose, or at any special meeting of the members or without cause, by a two-thirds vote of the members. ! Section 7. President: Powers and Duties. The President of the Steering Committee shall preside at all meetings of the members, shall have general supervision of the affairs of BFS, and shall keep the Steering Committee fully informed about the activities of BFS. He or she shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the Steering Committee. ! Section 8. Vice President: Powers and Duties. The Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Steering Committee. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. ! Section 9. Secretary: Powers and Duties. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Steering Committee and members. He or she shall be responsible for the giving and serving of all notices of such meetings and shall perform all the duties customarily incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Steering Committee, and shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the Steering Committee, including but not limited to maintaining the records of BFS, handling the official correspondence of BFS, and keeping minutes of all meetings held by the Steering Committee and the members. ! Section 10. Treasurer: Powers and Duties. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements of BFS, and shall deposit or cause to be deposited all moneys and other valuable effects of BFS in the name and to the credit of BFS in such banks or depositories as the Board may designate. The Treasurer is responsible for preparing or overseeing the preparation and maintenance of the payroll and taxes and ensuring that all federal and state requirements relating to the same are met. At the annual meeting of the members and whenever else required by the Steering Committee or the Board, the Treasurer shall render a statement of BFS’s financial condition by producing a full set of financial statements including a statement of the income and expenditures of BFS for the prior year, a balance sheet, and cash flow statement. The Treasurer shall present a budget annually for review and approval by the Board. The Treasurer shall also present the budget to the members. He or she shall at all reasonable times exhibit BFS’s books and accounts to any officer or Trustee of BFS and shall perform all duties incident to the position of Treasurer subject to the control of the Steering Committee and the Board. He or she shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the Steering Committee. Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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! Section 11. Member-at-Large. The Member-at-large shall be a parent or guardian of a child currently enrolled at BFS. The Member-at-large is elected by the members to serve both on the Steering Committee and the Board of Trustees. The Member-at-Large shall attend meetings of the Steering Committee and act as the official liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Steering Committee.
ARTICLE IV - CONTRACTS, CHECKS, BANK ACCOUNTS INVESTMENTS
AND
! Section 1. Checks, Notes and Contracts. The Steering Committee is authorized to select such depositories as it shall deem proper for the funds of BFS and shall determine who shall be authorized to sign checks, contracts, bills, notes, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, releases, and other legal documents in behalf of BFS. Checks, contracts, and other legal documents shall require the signature of two of the following Steering Committee Members: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Executive Director or any other person so designated by the Steering Committee. ! Section 2. Investments. The funds of BFS may be retained in whole or in part in cash or be invested and reinvested from time to time in such property, real, personal or otherwise, including stocks, bonds or other securities, as the Board may deem desirable.
ARTICLE V - OFFICE, BOOKS
AND
RECORDS
! Section 1. Office. The office of BFS shall be located at such place within the State of New York as the Steering Committee may from time to time determine. ! Section 2. Books. There shall be kept at the office of BFS correct books of account of the activities and transactions of BFS including a minute book, which shall contain a copy of the Charter issued by the Board of Regents, a copy of these by-laws, and all minutes of meetings of the members, Steering Committee and of the Board. ! Section 3. Records. All pertinent records of BFS shall be filed at the office of BFS in a timely manner, including but not limited to tax returns, financial records, payroll records, reports filed with government agencies, minutes of meetings, and official correspondence.
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ARTICLE VI - FISCAL YEAR ! The Steering Committee shall determine the fiscal year of BFS.
A RT I C L E V I I - N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N ! Section 1. Students. BFS admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. BFS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation of students' families; in the administration of its educational and admissions policies. ! Section 2. Employees. BFS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation in the administration of its hiring policies and personnel policies.
A RT I C L E V I I I - I N D E M N I F I C AT I O N ! BFS will, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding in connection with actions taken in such person’s official capacity as Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of BFS against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS ! These By-laws may be amended by the members of BFS at a meeting duly called for the purpose of amending these by-laws, providing notice of the proposed amendment has been included in the notice of the meeting. The By-laws may only be amended by a twothirds vote of the membership.
Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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Brooklyn Free Space Member Handbook !
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