Board of Trustees

Letter from Board Chair, Nancy Werthan

Greetings from the Board of Trustees. As the school year ended last summer, I had a chance to review the Board’s work over the 2009-10 year:

• Implementing our new strategic plan
• Introducing a new tuition assistance program
• Reviewing alternative revenue streams
• Approving the annual budget
• Renegotiating the terms of our bond financing
• Beginning a thorough risk assessment of the school

Many of these efforts will continue this year as we shore up the school’s resources to make us as financially and strategically sustainable now, and in the future.

Our strategic plan, which reflects the school’s mission, will guide the Board's decision-making over the next four years. One measure of our community’s success is how well we support the school together, whether through volunteering time, donating money, or sharing talents and expertise. I am thrilled to report that we had our best fundraising effort ever last year. Thanks to all of you who contribute your resources to our community.

This summer, we said goodbye and thank you to Board members Donna Moriguchi-Schneider, who served as board chair from 2006-09; Susan Berger, who served 3 years, led our development committee and lent her legal expertise and advice; Bob Fricker, who chaired our tuition assistance task force and graciously offered his vast experience with independent schools to Prospect Sierra; and Gerald Huff, our resident strategic thinker who served on the Board for 7 years, chaired the strategic planning committee, and served on just about every other committee of the Board.

Welcome to our newest members this year. Our first ever alumna to join the board, Rachel Coffin Amare '91, will bring her love of Prospect Sierra and enthusiasm for education with her. Dacher Keltner and Dana Tillson will each bring their unique perspectives, and Terry Edeli, former head of the San Francisco School and currently a consultant to independent schools, will bring his vast experience in K-8 education and administration to Prospect Sierra.

We look forward to sharing the 2010-11 school year with this amazing community.

Nancy Werthan , Chair, Board of Trustees

(Not pictured: Gerald Huff)