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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-12 School Committee Packet School Committee Meeting June 12, 2014 Superintendent's Conference Room Open Session 7:30 A.M. . Town of Reading ;: Meeting Posting with Agenda Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2014-06-12 Time: 7:30 AM Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room Address: 82 Oakland Road Purpose: Open Session Meeting Called By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk's hours of operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: AGENDA 7:30 a.m. I Call to Order II Recommended Procedure A. Continued Business 1. Director of Finance&Operations Appointment(A) III Future Business I Informational A Action Item All times are approximate and may change. This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page I 1 John F.Doherty,Ed.D. Mary C. DeLai Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Administration 82 Oakland Road Reading,MA 01867 Craig Martin Phone:781-944-5800 Assistant Superintendent Fax:781-942-9149 for Learning and Teaching Reading Public Schools Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow TO: Reading School Committee FROM: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools DATE: June 11, 2014 TOPIC: Director of Finance & Operation At our meeting on Thursday morning, the School Committee will continue their discussion and vote on the recommendation for the Director of Finance & Operations. I have attached their resumes for your information. If you have any questions,please contact me. The Reading Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race,color,sex,gender identity,religion,national origin,sexual orientation,age or disability. 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AAMS 16 Robert Pontbriand 17 Martha Sybert 18 Cover Letter 18 Résumé 19 References 23 Mary DeLai 24 Alison Elmer 26 Amy Greca 27 Patricia Lugo Cell May 09, 2014 Assistant Superintendent Reading Public Schools Dear Mr. Martin, In response to the Director of Finance and Operations position that you have advertised on the SchoolSpring website, please accept my letter of interest. I have a strong passion for working as a School Business Administrator with over 18 years of experience in both an extremely large district and two smaller ones. Having worked in the school finance field, I have built the confidence and trust to interact effectively and proactively with school and municipal personnel and members of the community. I have always maintained the integrity and mission of the public school system, while meeting the demands entrusted to public employees. I work well independently, as a team member and a team leader. I am seeking a permanent, long term, more challenging position that would offer me the wide range of responsibilities that it entails. I am loyal, hardworking and will get the job done for you while being able to bring a good spirit to your Administrative and support teams. Throughout my career, I have gained a wealth of knowledge in the school/municipal financial field, including budgets, chapter 70 funding, net school spending requirements, school lunch and transportation management, federal and state grants, chapter 30B procurements/bids, circuit breaker reimbursement, collective bargaining, facilities management, information technology and people skills. More recently, I have been able to work on the new East Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School project, both as a function of my job and as a voting member of the Building Committee. I am looking forward to coming in to discuss with you my qualifications and compare how they may suit the needs of the Reading Public Schools and most importantly, providing the best educational services possible for students. Sincerely, Patricia Lugo Patricia Coppola-Lugo 1 Patricia Coppola-Lugo Education Bridgewater State College Bridgewater, Massachusetts Certificate of Study (Postgraduate) Major: Educational Leadership GPA: 3.714 Attended January 2006 to December 2006 Degree conferred December 2006 University of New Haven West Haven, Connecticut Bachelor of Science Major: Financial Accounting GPA: 3.040 Attended September 1986 to January 1991 Degree conferred January 1991 Experience East Bridgewater Public Schools Jul 2009 - Apr 2014 School Business Administrator East Bridgewater, MA -Responsible for all aspects of the school fiscal operations with a$ 20 million budget including grants, revolving funds and capital projects in a 2,300 prek - 12 student system, assist Administrators with budget issues. Develop the budget in conjunction with the Administrative Team, the School Committee budget Chairpersons, and Town officials. -Supervises and coordinates all financial transactions in accordance with Federal, State, Local and School Committee policies. -Supervise accounting and payroll personnel, facilities staff, Before and After School Care program, transportation (Lucini Bus) and food services (Chartwells). -Active member of the new Jr/Sr High School Building Committee highly involved in all aspects of the building project, starting with the SOI process, Town meetings to introduce the idea to citizens, Town vote, choosing the OPM, heavily involved with the Project Manager, the MSBA staff and reimbursement process, weekly meetings with the OPM and construction team, the new school opened in the fall of 2013. -Sole preparation of the MA DESE End of Year reports, and is audited annually without any findings. -Use Softright Municipal Management System for general ledger functions, purchase orders, warrants and Customized Data Systems for payroll, previously used MUNIS software for over 10 years. -Prepare all bids and documents in accordance with my MCPPO certification. Patricia Coppola-Lugo 2 -Present biweekly to the School Committee in business related matters and monthly revolving fund reconciliations, worked with members on matters of collective bargaining. -Prepare quarterly Medicaid report, ARRA reports, liaison with insurance company for workers comp, student accidents, and property damage issues. -Work closely with and maintain healthy working relationships the other Municipal Dept. Heads and other school districts. -Brought the Student Activity accounts into compliance. -Carefully monitor and control the payroll projections and expense budget spend down functions. Reason for leaving: I would like to get back into a medium or larger size school district that offers a wide range of the responsibilities that I have learned over the past 18 years. I enjoy the variety and spontaneity of a busy office. I appreciate working in a school district and City/Town that share the same vision by offering as many opportunities and appreciating all of its diverse students. I am looking forward to working as a whole team. Supervisor: Dr. Susan Cote (resigned) (508-807-1407) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time Please do not contact this employer Mashpee Public Schools Oct 2007 - Jun 2009 School Business Administrator Mashpee, MA -Responsible for all aspects of school finance, develop and monitor a$ 20 million budget including revolving funds, grants, capital projects in an 1,855 prek - 12 school system. -Supervised the accounting and payroll staff, facilities, information technology, transportation and the self-operating school lunch program. -Prepared the MA DESE End of Year reports. -Monthly presentations to the School Committee Finance meetings and monthly attendance and occasional presentations to the Mashpee Finance Committee and the Board of Selectman meetings. -Used MUNIS 6.4 for all general ledger functions. -Investigated and outsourced the special ed transportation and saved the district$ 200,000 per year. -Led the 403B implementation -Assisted the Superintendent by getting 2 projects onto the MSBA list. Reason for leaving: I needed to work closer to home, driving over the Bourne Bridge to Mashpee and coming home late (after 11 pm) on school committee nights was difficult for my young family. Supervisor: Ann Bradshaw (retired) (508-539-1500) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Brockton Public Schools Dec 1995 - Oct 2007 Accountant Patricia Coppola-Lugo 3 Brockton, MA -Maintained the accuracy and integrity of the MUNIS general ledger fiscal activities for a budget of approximately$ 200 million including grants and revolving funds, using various audit techniques and journal adjustments, rolled over the budget in the software program, maintained the chart of accounts structure, in a 17,000 student prek- 12 school system. -Prepared the MA DESE End of Year reports since 1998, have had no audit findings. -Prepared and analyzed the monthly financial statements for the School Committee, revolving funds for the Superintendents review, the Champion Charter School for the Board of Directors. -Updated and monitored the MUNIS general ledger security access for a staff of 250, for changes, additions/deletions. -Prepared and monitored the payroll projections. -Processed all cash/check receipts. -Cooperatively and effectively worked with the Brockton School and City Administrators on fiscal and MUNIS matters including staff training, Excel training, and Crystal Reports. -Maintained all federal, state and private grant accounting functions within MUNIS, reconciliations to the general ledger, established budgets in MUNIS that corresponded to the DESE function codes. -Assisted our City Auditor in the implementation of the MUNIS accounting software package in August 1998 through February 1999. This included weekly meetings with the Chief Financial Officer, School Dept. Administrators, and MUNIS staff to address implementation issues. Established the Chart of Accounts in correlation with UMAS and monitored the transfer of the general ledger and payroll data from the old software into MUNIS. -Received an award in 2004 from Tyler Technologies (MUNIS) for creating a functional grant accounting system within MUNIS. Reason for leaving: Once I became licensed by the MA DESE as a school business administrator, there was not an opening in the Brockton Public Schools for that position. As much as I was sad to leave the Brockton Public Schools, I had to seek employment as a School Business Administrator in another district. Supervisor: David Kimball (retired) (508-580-7000) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Business Manager •Currently hold a DESE Professional School Business Administrator License, valid until July 2017 • MCPPO certified in the State of Mass. • Notary Public in the State of Mass. •An active member of MASBO and attendance at all meetings and workshops that they offer for continuous professional development • Received an award from Tyler Technologies (MUNIS) for"extraordinary efforts" of the work that I performed during the summer of 2004 in adapting the MUNIS grant accounting at the Brockton Public Schools to meet the requirement of the MA DESE functionality • Earned CPE's for workshops offered by The Abrahams Group, ex: DOE/DOR Patricia Coppola-Lugo 4 Roundtable, UMAS Accounting System, "Boot Camp" UMAS series, Net School Spending workshops Patricia Coppola-Lugo 5 References Name: Superintendent, Dr. Susan Cote Relation: Supervisor Known Jul 2009 Since: Title: (Former) Superintendent Employer: East Bridwater Public Schools Contact: 508-807-1407 Letter attached 33 Leslie Lane susan.cote( me.com Submitted by Bridgewater, Massachusetts applicant 02324 Name: Robert King, Director of IT Relation: Co-worker Known Jul 2009 Since: Title: Director of IT Employer: East Bridgewater Public Contact: 508-378-5930 Letter attached Schools rking(a ebps.net Submitted by 143 Plymouth St. reference on Mar 26, East Bridgewater, 2014 Massachusetts 02333 Name: Aldo Petronio, Director of Relation: Co-worker Known Dec Finance Since: 1995 Title: Director of Finance Employer: Brockton Public Schools Contact: 508-580-7577 Letter attached 43 Crescent St. aldoepetronioabpsma.org Submitted by Brockton, Massachusetts 02301 reference on Mar 26, 2014 Patricia Coppola-Lugo 6 February 6, 2014 To Whom It May Concern, It is an honor to write this letter of recommendation for Patricia Lugo for the position of School Business Administrator in your district. As the Superintendent of Schools in East Bridgewater until July 1, 2013, I had the pleasure of working with Patricia for four years and consider her to be an exceptional school business administrator, colleague and person. As a school business administrator, Patricia understands school finance better than any person that I have worked with. Not only does she understand it, but she has the unique ability to be able to articulate is so that members of the administrative team, the school committee and the community can understand it as well. Her communication and presentation skills are top notch. While I was Superintendent in East Bridgewater, Patricia's responsibilities included transportation, food service and school maintenance as well as overseeing the district budget. Along with these responsibilities, Patricia oversaw all of the financials associated with a$77 million dollar school building project, a new junior/senior high school that opened his past fall. She knew the district's $16 million dollar budget like the back of her hand, and readily provided me, the school committee and the public with any information that was requested. Although I lost sleep over many things as a superintendent, one thing I never lost sleep over was the district budget. I had complete confidence in Patricia. As a colleague, Patricia was a very active and integral member of our administrative team. She has a very solid understanding of the state education laws and regulations. She attended all administrative team meetings and provided input on all district decisions looking at things through a financial lens. She worked closely with the building administrators as they built their budgets each year and was a great source of information for them. The administrative team and her staff not only respect her, but they like her. Her supportive attitude and collegial spirit makes her a pleasure to work with. As a person, Patricia treats people with kindness and respect. She is extremely loyal and her work ethic is second to none. She has a great sense of humor and always sees the glass as half full. In the four years that I worked with Patricia, there was not a day when she did not tackle her work with a smile on her face. It is clear that she loves what she does. I recommend Patricia for the position of school business administrator in your district without reservation and would be happy to speak to you personally should you have any questions. Sincerely, Susan T. Cote, Ed. D. Patricia Coppola-Lugo 7 Letter submitted Mar 26, 2014 by reference To Whom It May Concern: I would like to offer this letter of recommendation for Patricia Lugo in support of her application for a position as a School Business Manager within your school district. I have had the privilege of working with Patricia for the past 5 years and, although we will feel a tremendous loss, I have the utmost respect for Patricia's abilities as a business manager and leader. Patricia has exhibited an excellent grasp on the school financial and auditing process and has applied this knowledge in the new model building construction project at East Bridgewater. She has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the budgeting process and provided comprehensive recommendations for all department heads and school administrators. Patricia has been instrumental in helping team members navigate through the complex procurement laws. She has worked diligently to establish and maintain a collaborative relationship with her peers and strives to an excellent working relationship with local and state officials. Without reservation or hesitation, I recommend Patricia Lugo for a position as a school Business manager within your school district. She is a wonderfully skilled, passionate, and talented individual and will be an asset to any school district. She has a wonderful career in front of her and I have no doubt that she will be tremendously successful in her career. She will certainly be missed by the East Bridgewater Public School community. If I am able to provide any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Rob King Information Technology Director Patricia Coppola-Lugo 8 Letter submitted Mar 26, 2014 by reference February 24, 2014 To Whom It May Concern, I have worked alongside Patricia for over 10 years while in my role as City Auditor for the City of Brockton and more recently as the Chief Budget Officer for The Brockton Public Schools. During this time she had designed and implemented the complete financial accounting system, MUNIS, for the school system. This year long project converted an antiquated homegrown system to a state of the art fully integrated municipal accounting system. Hundreds of staff members currently use this system for payroll, accounting, purchasing, grants and human resource management. Patricia is a very details oriented executive. Her style and her manner make her a very effective manager as well as a results oriented leader. Overall, her work had exceeded my expectations, and the Brockton Public Schools is a better place today because of her efforts. It is without reservations that I recommend her for a management or executive role in any organization. Sincerely, Aldo E. Petronio Chief Budget Officer Brockton Public Schools City of Brockton Brockton, MA. 02301 Patricia Coppola-Lugo 9 Mr. Craig Martin, Principal Reading Public Schools Dear Mr. Craig Martin and Search Committee: My name is Michelle Shepard and I am applying for the position of Director of Finance and Operations. My extensive experience in both the public and private sectors of accounting and finance and my commitment to achieving the highest levels of performance makes me a great candidate the Director's position. I offer a unique combination of financial, accounting and managerial experiences that provides me the ability to adapt to different financial environments. I am confident that my knowledge and background will meet the demands of the position. Tight budget environments require creative thinking, group cooperation, and seamless transitions to meet the desired goals of all those involved. I have utilized these skills in my current position as Assistant Treasurer for the City of Fitchburg, as a board member and leader for several nonprofit organizations and while operating my own CPA practice. I have been Treasurer for Fitchburg Historical Society for over 12 years. In this time, we completed a$3.5 million capital campaign and construction project which allowed our organization to move our operations to Main Street while still maintaining our prior location. I take great pride in projects like this and hope to continue with such accomplishments for you and your school community as well. My commitment to obtain a position in a progressive and student oriented school system like Reading Public Schools lead me to pursue my MA School Business Administrator license. My recent work with Tyler Technologies, MUNIS and Fitchburg Public Schools to help set up a paperless accounting system for the School Business office helped to solidify my commitment and desire to work in the School Business Department. This recent work, along with the schooling I obtained in the MASBO program and my internship in Clinton Public Schools provided me with the insight, experiences and resources needed to excel in a school environment. I am confident that my extensive experiences and schooling have provided me with the skills necessary to excel as your Director of Finance and Operations. I look forward to further discussing how my many skills, accomplishments, and experiences will make me a great candidate for your school system. Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to discussing the position with you and the search committee. Sincerely, Michelle D. Shepard, CPA Michelle Shepard 10 Michelle Shepard Education MASBO Chelmsford, Massachusetts Certificate of Study (Postgraduate) Major: Business Credit Hours: 255 Attended July 2012 to May 2013 Fitchburg State College Fitchburg, Massachusetts Bachelor of Science Major: Business Administration, Minor: Accounting GPA: 3.470 Attended September 1979 to June 1981 Degree conferred June 1981 Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, Massachusetts Associate of Science Major: Business Administration, Minor: Accounting GPA: 3.390 Attended September 1977 to June 1979 Degree conferred June 1979 Experience City of Fitchburg Dec 2007 - Present Assistant Treasurer/Collector Fitchburg MA Assisting the Treasurer in administering the City's $100 million budget and in preparing and implementing my department's $2 million budget Increase revenues by implementing aggressive collection procedures and by conducting tax title property auctions Oversee, manage and supervise the staff of the Treasury, Payroll offices and Parking Control Manage irate customer in person and on the phone with disputes in a professional manner and attain a resolution Implemented standard operating procedures to comply with the internal and external auditors and governmental agencies Oversee and responsible for the confidential correspondence relative to IRS and State tax liens, probate and child support court orders and banking Assist in the management and negotiations of the City's health and life insurance programs in conjunction with the City's advisory committee and workers compensation self insured program. Prepare training manuals and cross training of staff in response to budget cuts. Supervisor: Calvin D. Brooks (978-829-1830) Michelle Shepard 11 Experience Type: Other, Full-time Please do not contact this employer Michelle D. Shepard, CPA Nov 1991 - Dec 2011 Owner Fitchburg MA Establish and manage a tax and accounting practice Plan, coordinate and supervise a staff of four employees Assist clients with achieving their best tax results Assist clients and other professionals with estate planning and tax compliance Educate clients how to better operate a business and maintain efficient recordkeeping Reason for leaving: Practice sold Supervisor: None (508-277-3293) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Fitchburg Historical Society Jun 2001 - Present Treasurer Fitchburg MA Oversee the bookkeeper and assist the Executive Director with daily operations Issue monthly financial statements for the Finance Committee and Board of Directors Manage monies and investments from operations and our$3.5 million capital campaign Assist the Executive Director in grant reporting, strategic planning, annual budgeting and preparing year-end close for the annual audit Computerized the bookkeeping system, budgets and payroll Supervisor: Susan Navarre Executive Director (978-345-1157) Experience Type: Other, Part-time It is OK to contact this employer Certification, Community Service & Memberships CERTIFICATION MASBO Licensure Program ESE-Circuit Breaker Workshop- May 2014 MASSbuys-30B Bidding Basics and Construction Procurement MTRS-School Business Administrator Training-October 2009 MCPPO—Bidding Basics & Contract Administration -June 2008 COMMUNITY SERVICE Fitchburg Historical Society-2001-Present MEMBERSHIPS MASBO July 2012-Present ASBO International May 2013-Present MSCPA-May 1986- Present Michelle Shepard 12 SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Years of business and accounting experience managing my own practice and other organizations Possess a Bachelor's degreee in Business Administration Possess a License as a Certified Public Accountant Able to facilitate communication with diverse groups and in group decision making Michelle Shepard 13 References Name: Brian E. Allen Relation: Professor/Advisor Known Sep Since: 2012 Title: Chief Financial and Operations Officer Employer: Worcester Public Schools Contact: 508-799-3401 20 Irving St allenbeworc.k12.ma.us Letter attached Worcester, Massachusetts Submitted by applicant 01609-2493 Name: Nilsa Weaver, CFP, AAMS Relation: Other Known Jan Since: 1999 Title: Associate VP Employer: Ameriprise Financial Services, Contact: 508-621-5700 Inc nilsa.weaverCTampf.com Letter attached 1400 Computer Drive Suite 110 Submitted by applicant Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 Name: Robert Pontbriand Relation: Other Known May Since: 2001 Title: Town Administrator Employer: Town of Ayer Contact: 978-772-8210 Letter attached 1 Main St taeayer.ma.us Submitted by applicant Ayer, Massachusetts 01432 Michelle Shepard 14 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter of reference for Michelle Shepard for a position as a school business administrator. Michelle has impressed me with her work ethic, ability to research and learn new topics, and she has a solid financial background that will make easy transition into a school district. During the 2012-13 school year, I had the opportunity to Illserve as Michelle's mentor as part of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials'I licensure program. The program is designed to provide in-depth and hands on school finance experience to aspiring school business administrators through intense professional development sessions. As art of the program, Michelle completed two projects, including developing a financial manual to be u ed by parent-teacher organizations in a school district. I have been most impressed with Michelle's determination and commitment to the licensure program. The completion of this program provides her with initial licensure as a School Business Administrator. I believe that her work through this preparation program combined with her background in municipal finance within her current position should make Michelle a strong candidate in a school finance office. I would be happy to discuss Michelle's strengths as a candidate for a position in a school finance office. Please do not hesitate to contact me. III Michelle Shepard 15 LETTER of RECOMMENDATION for MICHELLE SHEPARD TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I have known Michelle Shepard for fifteen years. Although I began my relationship with Michelle on a professional level, it evolved into a friendship as well. I met Michelle when she had her own CPA practice. I began referring my clients to Michelle because they were in need of a CPA to assist with individual tax filings, as well as to help my small business owners who needed advice with respect to office payrolls, budgets, and overall business planning. Based upon the interpersonal relationship that Michelle and I had built on a professional level, I was confident that Michelle was the right person to serve my clients. The feedback I received from my clients was highly complimentary of Michelle's work. My clients understood their role in the tax filing and business planning process and my clients were impressed with the knowledge and understanding they gained as a result of Michelle's patience and counsel. For me, the feedback that I received from my clients cemented my own belief that in fact Michelle was competent, a strong communicator, ethical, and capable. Today, Michelle is my friend. I am most impressed with how Michelle was able to transition from one who made all of the decisions in her own practice, to working in a team-centered environment. Michelle's strength is that she strives for continuous improvement in herself. She holds herself accountable for her own performance and she has grown from the challenges and experiences in a positive manner. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about Michelle. If I can be of further assistance, or clarify any of my points, please feel free to contact me at my office. Sincerely, Nilsa M. Weaver Michelle Shepard 16 Ayer Town Administrator To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter in strong support of Ms. Michelle Shepard who is applying for the position of Administrator for Business and Finance for Malden Public Schools. It gives me great pleasure to recommend an exceptional candidate for this important position. I have known Michelle for 12 years in various professional capacities. She has served as the Treasurer for the Fitchburg Historical Society for over 12 years; Assistant Treasurer for the City of Fitchburg for the last 6 years; and she has owned and operated her own Accounting Firm in Fitchburg for many years as an accomplished and respected Certified Public Accountant. Michelle comes to this position with an impressive record of achievement and experience in municipal finance coupled with non-profit and private sector experience. Her technical skills with all aspects of the budget cycle from budget formulation and projection to accounting and analysis as well as auditing experience make her the ideal candidate for this position. Her extensive technical experience is augmented with a thorough knowledge of all relevant accounting and finance software used in municipal budgeting, including MUNIS, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and the full spectrum of technology necessary to produce accurate and effective financial accounting reports. She is an excellent and effective communicator of complex financial information. Michelle has played a key role in the administration of the Fitchburg Treasurer's Office over the last six years where she has focused on accountability, accuracy, and customer service. She has been a leader as well as team player with respect to the administration of the City's approximately $100 million dollar budget. Additionally, through her financial leadership at the Fitchburg Historical Society she has been responsible for the financial success of the management of the Society's endowment and operations accounts as well as the $3.5 million dollar capital campaign fund. As a CPA, operating her own firm, her reputation as an effective accountant is well established throughout North Central Massachusetts. Michelle is a dedicated professional with a comprehensive understanding of municipal business administration. She is a creative and critical thinker who brings to this position a wealth of administrative, financial, and municipal experience which is very hard to find in a candidate. She is a moral and ethical person of the highest character who can effectively lead an organization to the highest standards of financial and administrative transparency and accountability. It is without hesitation or reservation that I enthusiastically recommend Michelle Shepard for the position of Administrator for Business and Finance for the Malden Public Schools. She will be an invaluable leader and resource for the Malden Public Schools. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (978) 772-8210 or at to @ayer.ma.us. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Robert A. Pontbriand Michelle Shepard 17 May 26, 2014 Mr. Craig Martin Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Rd Reading, MA 01867 Dear Mr. Martin, I am applying for the Director of Finance and Operations position advertised on School Spring. I believe my experience and education will make me a competitive candidate for this position. My resume is attached for your consideration. As you may be aware I joined MASBO in September 2011 to being the process of becoming a licensed school business official. I had experience building the financial and operational plans for my previous employers but no school experience when I joined the central office team in January 2012. As School Business Assistant for Reading Public Schools I have gained valuable knowledge and understanding of school and municipal finance, grants management, and procurement law. I have assisted with the development of the annual operating budget and the DESE End Of Year Financial Report. Some of my daily responsibilities include reviewing deposits, warrants and requisitions, managing the procurement card program and maintaining the district chart of accounts and creating new account lines as needed. I have demonstrated an ability to work collegially with district and town hall staff and to establish strong working relationships with colleagues. I've enjoyed working in Reading these past two and half years and look forward to the opportunity to advance my career while continuing to work in the district. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing this opportunity with you at your convenience. Sincerely, Martha Sybert Martha Sybert 18 Martha Sybert Education University of Massachusetts- Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts Bachelor of Science Major: Accounting Attended September 1984 to June 1988 Degree conferred June 1988 Lesley College Cambridge, Massachusetts Master of Education Major: Elementary Education Attended September 1997 to May 2000 Degree conferred December 1999 Experience Reading Public Schools Jan 2012 - Present School Business Assistant Reading MA • Monitor expenditures against budget, forecast deficiencies and make recommendations for fund transfers. • Maintain all financial records relative to grants and revolving accounts for the School Department, monitor expenditures from grants and revolving funds, prepare monthly requests for grant funds, prepare grant amendment forms, and prepare all related reports for local and state reporting. •Assist with expense and salary projections for development of annual budget as well as assist with preparation of budget document and presentation materials. • Maintain district chart of accounts and create new account lines as required. •Assist with preparation of quarterly financial updates for the School Committee and annual financial audits. • Prepare DESE End of Year Financial Report and other required state and/or federal reports •Oversee Medicaid direct service and administrative reimbursement process. Reason for leaving: Career advancement. Supervisor: Mary DeLai (781-944-5800) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Phoenix Media/Communications Group Jul 2011 - Jan 2012 Controller Boston, MA •Oversee the accounting operations including AP, AR, Billing, month-end close and account reconciliations and provided financial analysis as needed. • Recommended benchmarks against which to measure the performance of company operations. Martha Sybert 19 • Developed annual operating budgets with local department heads for all business units. Reason for leaving: New job. Supervisor: Scotty Cole (Business closed) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company May 2007 - Mar 2011 Controller North Andover, MA • Managed a centralized accounting team of five managers and 15 associates. Team was responsible for all accounting, budgeting, reporting, financial analysis and internal control functions. • Developed annual operating budgets with local Publishers and department heads for all publications. Presented budgets to Division Manager and COO. • Collaborated with IT and Sales on order entry and billing system conversion with focus on internal controls for billing and cash receipts. System implementation resulted in 30% increase in accounting staff productivity. • Provided monthly financial statements and reports on key business metric to local Publishers, senior management and corporate office with focus on variance analysis. • Evaluated and recommended changes to sales commission plans resulting in lower cost per sale expense. Reason for leaving: Position eliminated. Supervisor: Sheila Smith (617-283-9111) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer SX2 Media Labs LLC Mar 2006 - Apr 2007 VP Business Operations New York, NY • Managed the accounting/finance system separation from CNET Networks after sale of publication and URL. Implemented accounting, billing, payroll, CRM, order entry, benefits and 401(K) plan in the 45 day period after transaction date. • Developed the AP/AR process and month end closing process. • Recruited, hired and managed accounting, production and administrative staff. • Created RFP's with clear requirements, evaluated complex results and selected new suppliers. •Assumed Human Resource functions -wrote company handbook outlining policies and procedures, implemented performance evaluation process, recording keeping of all personal data and acted as liaison with labor attorney when necessary. • Provided seamless transition to successor. Reason for leaving: New job. Supervisor: David Sills (business sold) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer CNET Networks Mar 2000 - Feb 2006 Martha Sybert 20 Director Business Operations Cambridge, MA • Prepared, presented and monitored the annual operating budget for all US print operations. The annual operating budget was $85M. • Managed the monthly financial close process and provided certification of quarterly financial statements as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley internal control process. • Wrote the Sarbanes-Oxley Document of Internal Controls for Computer Shopper Magazine's various revenue streams. The document was used as part of CNET's compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley legislation and was updated and audited quarterly. • Managed both the production department staff and the outsourced circulation staff. • Develop business plans for new business initiatives, including pricing and profitability analysis. • Served on a team that was awarded the "2002 CNET Corporate Award for Excellence" for building a custom publishing division that generated $20M of revenue in first year with significant profit. Reason for leaving: Business unit sold. Supervisor: Susan Clancy (local office closed) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Lesley University Sep 1997 - Mar 2000 Senior Financial/Budget Analyst Cambridge, MA • Developed and monitored the annual operating plan for the university, which included five schools and multiple programs within those schools. The annual operating budget was $70M. • Provided quarterly financial reports for EVP, VP of Finance, senior management and Board of Trustees. • Prepared periodic reviews and analyses for each program of study, with focus on profitability, resource allocation and opportunities for growth. • Served as Chairperson for the Graduate Student Financial Aid Task Force. Examined the competitive environment and the role financial aid plays in the enrollment process. Evaluated the impact of increasing financial aid available to graduate students. • Member of Community Service Project, a campus wide initiative to increase volunteerism in the community. Reason for leaving: New job. Supervisor: Charles Gilroy (617-868-9600) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Chicago Tribune Company Apr 1995 - Jun 1997 Financial Analyst Chicago, IL •Actively participated in strategic long-range project planning to evaluate the financial impact of proposed product and operating changes. • Served on task force to review compensation structure for all employees. Presented finding to Publisher and senior management. • Developed and reviewed Capital Appropriations Requests (CAR's). Reported monthly on status and budget variance of major capital investments. Martha Sybert 21 Reason for leaving: Relocated. Supervisor: Denise Palmer (312-222-3232) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer WGNX-TV Feb 1992 - Apr 1995 Financial Analyst Atlanta, GA • Managed investment in broadcast rights including detailed analysis and reporting of historical and projected expenses. • Evaluated all potential cash program acquisitions. Developed models to forecast profitability and determine optimal purchase price. Reviewed, valued and administered all barter commitments. • Analyzed revenue by key daypart and program profitability. Produced monthly, quarterly and yearly reports for station General Manager and Tribune Corporate managers. Reason for leaving: Transfered to newpaper division. Supervisor: Alane Wegener (404 325-4646) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Parent, McLaughlin & Nangle, CPA's INC Jun 1988 - Oct 1991 Senior Auditor Boston, MA • Supervised associated on audit and review engagements involving full disclosure GAAP Financial Statements and corresponding federal and state income tax returns. Client base included; manufacturing, distribution, banking, retail and personal service corporations. Supervisor: Joe Parent (merged) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer Martha Sybert 22 References Name: Mary DeLai Relation: Supervisor Known Jan Since: 2012 Title: Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Administration Employer: Reading Public Schools Contact: 781-944-5800 Letter attached 82 Oakland Road mary.delak reading.k12.ma.us Reading, Massachusetts Submitted by 01867 applicant Name: Alison Elmer Relation: Co-worker Known Jan Since: 2012 Title: Director of Student Services Employer: Reading Public School Contact: 781-944-5800 Letter attached 82 Oakland Rd Alison.elmerC@reading.k12.ma.us Submitted by Reading, Massachusetts 01867 applicant Name: Amy Greco Relation: Co-worker Known Jan Since: 2012 Title: Administrative Secretary Employer: Reading Public Schools Contact: 781-944-2073 Letter attached 19 Oak Street amy.greco( verizon.net Reading, Massachusetts Submitted by 01867 applicant Martha Sybert 23 May 26, 2014 Office of the Superintendent Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Road Reading, MA 01867 Dear Screening Committee Members: It is my sincere pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Martha Sybert for the position of Director of Finance & Operations for Reading Public Schools. I have had the privilege of working with Martha for the last two and a half years in Reading where she has served as School Business Assistant. Given the functions that Martha has been tasked with during this time, she has essentially been performing most of the duties of a School Business Official. Some of Martha's most relevant responsibilities have included: assisting with the development of the annual budget, monitoring and tracking all general fund, revolving fund, and grant expenditures; producing regular financial reports; managing the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions; coordinating with payroll to monitor salary accounts, project payroll expenditures, and reconcile budget to actual for all salary accounts; generating the end of year pupil and financial report; managing the Medicaid reimbursement claiming process; coordinating with special education to monitor and track out of district special education expenses; submitting monthly grant fund requests and annual grant reports; and assisting with the management of student activity funds. In addition, she provided me with outstanding support in the development of our budget document—gathering performance and demographic data on our district and comparable districts, producing comprehensive charts and tables, and assisting in the writing, editing, and proofing of the budget document. Martha has been instrumental in a number of software implementation, enhancement, and upgrade projects. In particular, she has been an outstanding resource for our school and department secretaries and central office administrative assistants providing them with formal and informal training on a number of software tools and strategies. She quickly became very knowledgeable about and adept with our MUNIS accounting system and essentially serves as a MUNIS help desk for all of our district MUNIS users. Principals and secretaries have frequently gone out of their way to let me know how helpful Martha has been. Martha's patience and empathy are keys to her success in this area. Another significant contribution Martha made was implementing our procurement card program. She researched and then developed our procurement card guidelines and procedures, managed the application process for the district, and trained all staff in the use of procurement cards. In addition, she worked directly with the bank and MUNIS personnel to implement the necessary software interface to ensure proper processing and recording of transactions. For a time, she was managing the entire process for all school and town departments. Subsequently, she assisted the Town Accountant in transitioning the town transactions over to town departments. Martha has also been crucial in our continuous efforts to build and maintain strong and collaborative relationships with town hall staff. Both the Town Accountant and the Town Treasurer have frequently commented on how helpful and knowledgeable Martha is in her role. Her strong accounting and auditing background have been a great resource to me, to our district, and to our community. One of Martha's most significant accomplishments has been her development of an operations manual for our school business and finance functions. This has been a significant effort and culminated with a presentation that she gave with one of her MASBO colleagues at our recent MASBO Annual Institute on developing business office procedures manuals. This session was very well attended and received outstanding reviews from MASBO members. Martha Sybert 24 In regards to MASBO, Martha has been an active member in MASBO since enrolling in the MASBO School Business Official licensure program over three years ago. Following her completion and graduation from the program, she has continued to attend bi-monthly meetings, fall institutes, law institutes, and annual institutes. It is clear to me that Martha is a continuous learner always seeking ways to improve and to grow as a professional. She has developed an extensive network of MASBO colleagues that will, no doubt, be an invaluable resource to her as she takes this next step in her career. No doubt, there are a dozen more notable accomplishments that I have missed. But suffice it to say that Martha has been an invaluable resource to me and to our school community. She is loyal, trustworthy, hardworking, patient, compassionate, and knowledgeable. Any task or responsibility that I have delegated to Martha she has handled readily and professionally. Her experience not only in her role in Reading but her accounting and auditing experience from her prior roles make her uniquely qualified for the Director of Finance and Operations position. I recommend her highly and without reservation. Sincerely, Mary C. DeLai Assistant Superintendent, Finance & Administration Martha Sybert 25 May 19, 2014 To Whom It May Concern, I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Martha Sybert who is applying for the Director of Finance and Operations position. I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with Martha Sybert since she began working as the School Business Assistant in January of 2012. During this time, Martha has demonstrated her expertise, her strong work ethic, and willingness to learn. She has been a valuable resource to my department, Student Services, and to me in my role as Director of Student Services. Martha has a strong business background in the private sector; however she also brings the rare combination of also having a degree in education and experience as an educator, completing her student teaching at Killam Elementary School. This unique background makes her an ideal candidate for the Director of Finance position. While the focus may often be on "the bottom line," Martha understands that the goal and role of the Director of Finance is to maximize our ability to provide quality services to all students. To that end, she and I have worked closely to ensure that the special education budget is closely monitored and utilized to ensure that we are able to meet our regulatory and legal obligations, as well as expand and improve our programming. Martha's desire to expand her knowledge makes her a very collaborative team member. As she has developed her understanding of the various grant requirements and cost centers she has helped to interpret and explain these to others. She has trained staff, assisted in hiring, and has helped to streamline processes for administrators and assistants alike. Her command of Excel and budgeting software has been invaluable and her expertise in this area extends beyond "inserting and sorting numbers." Finally, it is Martha's experience here in the Reading Public Schools that makes her such a strong candidate. She has had the privilege of working with and being trained by our current Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration, Mary Delai, who has made sure that she understands and has experience in all facets of the role. Martha also knows the various team members throughout the district, as well as our structures and systems. Given that there will be several new team members in both central office and among the building administrators, it will be important to have someone in this role that has both experience and institutional knowledge. It is without reservation that I strongly recommend Martha Sybert for the position of Director of Finance and Operations in the Reading Public Schools. If you wish to speak with me further regarding this recommendation, please don't hesitate to contact me through email at alison.elmer @reading.k12.ma.us or by phone at (781) 942—9129. Sincerely, Alison Elmer Director of Student Services Martha Sybert 26 Amy P. Greco 19 Oak Street, Reading, MA 01867 781-944-2073 - amy.greco @verizon.net May 22, 2014 To Whom It May Concern, It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of recommendation for Martha Sybert. I took an immediate liking to Martha the first time we spoke. Being so organized and diligent, Martha made a seamless transition into her role in Business Services and I am confident she would do the same as Director of Finance and Operations. During the more than two years we have been working together she has been a constant source of support for me in my administrative assistant position at the Joshua Eaton elementary school. Martha is a reliable, dedicated and an eternally upbeat person. Her wealth of knowledge in our accounting software continues to impress me each time we meet. She is always willing to help in any way possible and has the infinite patience to explain solutions to my problems. She has streamlined the processes that we all use to make our jobs easier. She has a wonderful rapport with all of my colleagues and is respected by all. I am without doubt that Martha will continue to be an extremely valuable asset to our district and highly recommend her for this position. If I can provide any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you, Amy P. Greco Martha Sybert 27 2013-2014 School Committee Meeting Date School Presenting @ Meeting Office Hours June 12th School Committee 7:30 a.m. June 14th Friends and Family Day June 23rd School Committee 6.11.14 All meetings are in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Dates and locations subject to change. (Bold indicates new or changed date or location. 2014-2015 School Committee Meeting Date July 21st School Committee Office Hours August 25th School Committee- New Teacher Introductions Sept.8th School Committee Office Hours Joint Meeting with BOS Sept. 16th State Primary Sept.22nd School Committee Oct. 1st RCASA Annual Meeting Oct.6th School Committee Office Hours Oct.8th FinForum 7:30 p.m. Sr.Center Oct. 20th School Committee Nov. 3rd School Committee Office Hours Nov.4th State Election Nov. 10th Town Meeting Nov. 13th Town Meeting Nov.l7th Town Meeting Nov. 20th Town Meeting Nov. 24th School Committee Dec. 1st School Committee Office Hours Dec. 15th School Committee Jan.8th School Committee Office Hours FY2016 Budget Jan. 12th School Committee FY2016 Budget Jan.l5th School Committee FY2016 Budget Jan. 22nd School Committee FY2016 Budget-Public Hearing Jan. 26th School Committee FY2016 Budget-Vote Feb.9th School Committee Office Hours Feb. 23rd School Committee March 9th School Committee Office Hours March 23rd School Committee April 6th School Committee Office Hours April 7th Local Election April 27th Town Meeting April 28th School Committee April 30th Town Meeting May 4th Town Meeting May 7th Town Meeting May 11th School Committee Office Hours School Choice May 18th School Committee June 1st School Committee Office Hours June 15th School Committee All meetings are in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Dates and locations subject to change. (Bold indicates new or changed date or location.