December 2011 Trustee Report
Dear Trustees,
First and foremost I wish you all a merry, happy, healthy and joyous holiday season. I look forward to our retreat on January the 5th. The agenda looks like we will have many exciting initiatives and other topics to talk about. As I look forward to the new year and the next several years in terms of the fiscal health of the school I am reminded of how important your support of the school will be.
My report this month will be specific to several key areas as information has been requested by the executive committee and education committee. I have been working as closely as possible with several of the other trustee committees. I remain committed to meet with my administrative staff once a week, although it is sometimes difficult to do this with all members of the team.
I have been asked by the Education Committee and the Executive Committee to supply information in regards to the Preschool Program, the Upper School Initiative for larger classes, Technology,the use of the Science Gift and to report on the study and assessment of our Math Program. I appreciate your interest and need to be in the know of this programming, I hope after the trustee retreat we can switch the focus to development, enrollment, buildings and grounds and of course our strategic planning.
Remember if you have any questions or concerns about this report or other matters please be in touch with me.
Preschool Program
Deb is still working on the exact statistics on a year by year basis for the program that started 18 years ago under the guidance of Nancy Callichio, Head of School and Pat Thomas, the kindergarten teacher of 18 years. Nancy Callichio stated that the program was started as a loss leader to attract students to the Grammar School and to keep them here. In Deb’s research the data shows this:
*There has been an average of 40% retention rate since 1993 of students not only going on to kindergarten but also graduating. These are students we may have never gotten if we did not have the preschool. In addition the students that begin in preschool and kindergarten embody the essence of The Grammar School culture. With the preschool moving into the lower school building, I believe the retention rate will rise. The low numbers in preschool students this year in my opinion have been an aberration due to a number of factors.
With Phil marketing the preschool program in earnest, I believe we will see a shift upward. As is the case at all grade levels, if we can get a family and students to visit we usually get them to apply and then enroll.
In terms of income, again Deb will provide a spreadsheet to the Finance Committee soon. The initial indications are that there have been very few years if any, that the preschool has lost money. Has it been a huge revenue source? Not necessarily, but has it kept students at TGS for 9 or more years. Yes ! In fact, each year we have several students who graduate as 11 year students!
Upper School Initiative
As you know this year we increased the 7th grade to 19 students in order to accept two exceptional students from Dover, VT. This resulted in several opportunities and improvements to the middle school program. These positives include but are not limited to: smaller class sizes for the seventh grade classes in several subjects ( 10 students in a class), larger blocks of instructional time (45 minute blocks increased to 55 minute blocks), fewer transitions, better use of planner time and more
I personally surveyed the middle school teachers in a group meeting, having only missed one of them, and the consensus is that the move has been positive. The theater department anticipates that there may be some struggles with a large 7th and 8th grade class during rehearsals and the intensive week and we will meet to discuss how we can work this out.
I believe that the upper school can be a signature program for us, just as our visual arts and performing arts programs and our Nordic skiing programs have become. The Upper School program continues to be our most subscribed. I will make some preliminary estimates for staffing and other expenses for the budget preparations for 2012-13. The potential for another large incoming 7th grade class exists based on current levels of interest we are seeing in the admissions office. I will keep the education committee and the full board apprised.
Technology
Alli and I have reviewed the survey tool that has been traditionally administered on a yearly basis to faculty and staff in order to determine technology needs. We will meet right after the holiday to streamline the survey, administer it and have the results ready in the near term for the education committee
Study of the Math Program
Discussions in regards to the review of our math program and faculty professional development needs in mathematics continues. The faculty has been analyzing our current math program, Everyday Math, and have been piloting and experimenting with elements of the Math in Focus program. It is important to work through this in a deliberate and thoughtful manner. A decision and a report will be forthcoming in the next two months.
Science Gift and Curriculum Maps
The $20,000 science gift has given us the opportunity to make key purchases for the K-8 science program, with most of the purchases being made for the 5-8th grades. The donor of the gift has allowed us to use a portion of the money for science professional development and training. To that end Eve, Linda and Steve have been investigating the summer institute at Dana Hall and with Wendy Brennan met with Meredith Wade of Synergy Learning and Casey Murrow of the Synergy and The Southern Vermont Learning Collaborative. The meeting was productive and Eve and Linda and the faculty will be meeting with Casey and Meredith, after the new year, to discuss revision of our curriculum and professional development opportunities focusing on the physical sciences. We will keep the education committee informed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steve Lorenz
