Connecticut Association Of Independent Schools (CAIS) Annual Conference On Governance

September 22, 2018 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Hopkins School, New Haven, CT

Sara Goldsmith Schwartz will present two breakout sessions at the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Annual Conference on Governance on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the Hopkins School in New Haven, CT.

Compensation and Contracts for the Head of School: Tips, Traps And Best Practices

This interactive session will explore the Head of School contract process – both initial and renewal contracts. Sara will outline the key terms to include in Head of School contracts, benchmarking requirements and best practices, address rebuttable presumption obligations, and also review the current trends in benefits being provided to Heads. Will the Head be residing on campus? Sara will review best practices and legal requirements for faculty housing arrangements, including housing guidelines and an analysis of the tax consequences of conferring this benefit. Real world examples of legal disputes between schools and Heads will be discussed and used as learning opportunities. Attendees will be provided with checklists of issues to address in Head of School contracts, as well as in contracts with search firms.

Top Legal Risks For Trustees In 2018

This lively and interactive session will provide an overview of this year’s top legal issues facing independent schools and trustees, including real life solutions for preventing and resolving these challenges. For example, Sara will discuss ways to prevent and respond to environmental hazards on campus, donor lawsuits, Head of School misconduct, and claims of inappropriate conduct by school employees and students. Sara will review governance best practices, including topics such as bylaws, conflicts of interest, whistleblower policies, and trustee agreements.

Complete program information and a link to registration can be found on the CAIS website.