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Board of Education

Fiscal Management Committee

Members

  • Karla Silvestre(Chair)
  • Natalie Zimmerman
  • Laura Stewart
  • Praneel Suvarna

Meeting Information

  • Upcoming Meeting Dates (Agendas and Details on the Board Calendar)
    • September 24, 2024
    • November 18, 2024
    • January 28, 2025
    • March 20, 2025

November 18, 2024

The Fiscal Mangamement Committee's November 18 meeting included:

  • Reports by the external auditor, including the year-end report and FY2025 outlook
  • Reports on the MCPS Pension and OPEB Funds
  • Updates on the Capital Improvements Program and Inflation Reducation Act
  • Workflow analysis and transportation study

Next Meeting

  • January 28, 2025

Committee Description

On July 16, 2013, the Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 397-13, which revised the charge for the Fiscal Management Committee to the following:

a. The committee shall approve the annual work plan of the internal audit team and may recommend items for inclusion in the plan.

b. The superintendent will keep the committee informed of the results of all state and federal audits of MCPS operations and recommendations of the County's Office of Legislative Oversight and Inspector General.

c. The committee will review, as needed, financial statements provided to the county executive and County Council.

d. The committee shall undertake periodic reviews of issues pertaining to the management and audit of Montgomery County Public Schools' fiscal, capital, and human resources, including the Board's operating budget, the Capital Improvement Program, staffing plans, allocations, and pension and benefit determinations.

e. The committee will review the contracting practices of MCPS and will review the procurement manual.  

Resolution No. 305-08

WHEREAS, On September 13, 1980, the Board of Education passed a resolution creating an Audit Committee, which was given responsibilities for reviewing internal audit reports, meeting with the external auditors to discuss the scope of their work and their audit findings, and reviewing reports generated by the Department of Financial Services; and

WHEREAS, On November 13, 1980, the Board adopted a set of procedures and responsibilities regarding the appointment, terms of office, and meetings of the committee, and the committee's relationship to internal audit, external audit, and the Montgomery County Public Schools’ business functions; and

WHEREAS, The Board desires a process within the committee for reviewing issues pertaining to the management and audit of Montgomery County Public Schools’ fiscal, capital, and human resources, including the Board’s operating budget, the Capital Improvement Program, staffing plans, and allocations; now therefore be it

Resolved, That the Audit Committee be renamed the Fiscal Management Committee; and be it further Resolved, That the Committee’s Procedures and Responsibilities be revised as follows:

FISCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A.           Procedures

The Fiscal Management Committee shall consist of three members, elected by the full Board, serving staggered terms of three years each. The term of office shall begin on December 1 of the year of appointment and end three years later on November 30. If a member resigns from the committee or is unable to serve his/her full term, the Board shall appoint another member to serve the balance of the term. Eligibility for appointment to the Fiscal Management Committee shall be limited to members of the Board of Education whose remaining terms of office with the Board are equal to or greater than the terms for which they are appointed on the Fiscal Management Committee. The chairperson of the Fiscal Management Committee shall be elected by the full Board at its annual organizational meeting in December.

Regular meetings of the Fiscal Management Committee shall be held quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or at the request of either of the other members to the chairperson. As required by law, the superintendent of schools or his designee shall attend all meetings of the committee.

The Board office in collaboration with the superintendent’s office shall provide staff assistance to keep minutes of each regular and special meeting of the committee and to prepare correspondence and other documents necessary to the transaction of the committee's business. Copies of the minutes of each regular and special meeting of the committee shall be furnished to the Board of Education, together with the committee’s recommendations, if any, concerning the subject matter of the meeting. The minutes and the agenda shall be posted on the Board’s website as soon as they are available.

B.           Relationship to Internal Audit

  1. The superintendent of schools shall report periodically to the committee on the internal audit activities of the school system.
  2. The superintendent of schools shall furnish the committee with copies of all audit reports which contain significant findings and/or recommendations, and, upon request, any other audit or study reports.
  3. The committee shall meet with appropriate Montgomery County Public Schools staff from time to time to discuss its internal audit reports and

C.           Relationship to External Audit

  1. The superintendent shall keep the committee informed of any plans to change the external auditors or to make major changes in the scope of the audit The committee shall make recommendations to the Board of Education regarding the approval of the audit contract.
  2. The committee shall meet with the external auditors and appropriate MCPS staff to discuss the auditors' management letter and shall make recommendations to the Board of Education, as appropriate, regarding specific items in the management letter.

D.           Relationship to the Operating and Capital Budgets

  1. The committee shall receive copies of the annual financial statements and shall meet with the superintendent’s designee to review the statements.
  2. The superintendent shall provide the committee with such interim financial statements and data as the committee may request.
  3. The committee shall undertake periodic reviews of issues pertaining to the management and audit of Montgomery County Public Schools’ fiscal, capital, and human resources, including the Board’s operating budget, the Capital Improvement Program, staffing plans, and allocations.

Full Resolution (pdf)

2024-25 Annual Work Plan

September 24, 2024
  • Annual Fiscal Committee Work Plan
  • Category 12 Expenses
  • Independent Activity Fund Data Report
  • Internal Audit Work Plan Fiscal Year 2025
  • Operational Excellence Updates - Workflow Analysis
  • Systemwide Sustainability - Energy Savings Performance Contracting, Sustainability Grants
  • Board Expenditure Report (Full Year - FY24)
  • Board Policies - DAA, Fiscal Responsibility and Control; DIG, Operating Fund Investments; GIG, Funding Retirement/Pension System
November 18, 2024
  • Year-end Financial Report
  • Report of the External Auditor
  • Year-end Pension Report
  • Actuarial Valuations for MCPS Pension and OPEB Funds
  • Capital Improvement Program
  • Operating Budget Program
  • Systemwide Sustainability
  • Operational Excellence - Workflow Analysis, Transportation Study
January 28, 2025
  • Capital Improvement Program - Update, Sustainability
  • Operational Excellence - Workflow Analysis
  • Systemwide Sustainability
  • Board Expenditure Report (First half of FY25)
March 20, 2025
  • Category 12 Expenses
  • Operating Budget Update
  • Spending Affordability Guidelines
  • Systemwide Sustainability
  • Capital Improvements Program
  • Operational Excellence - Workflow Analysis

View the complete annual plan (pdf)