There’s lots to report from the ISD Board this week!

First, a vote of thanks to all of you who have completed the parent survey. This has now closed and we will be analysing your comments and reporting to you on them at the AGM on Thursday 20 April.

A thank you also to those parents who have nominated for the upcoming Trustee elections. The nominations have also closed. Soon you will receive information about each of the candidates and we will be asking you to vote electronically to elect Trustees to the vacant positions for 2017 – 2018. I urge you to vote when you receive the link – our constitutional documents require 25% of the ISD Association (parents and faculty) to vote electronically in the election or be present at the AGM.

The Board also held its monthly meeting on Tuesday March 14, 2017.

A highlight was the presentation by Marc Guillaume, Denrol Grayol and Hazel Ward, who are part of the teacher committee looking at the appropriateness of the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Middle Years Program (“MYP”) for ISD. They presented on their analysis of the program so far and recommended that ISD does not apply for candidacy this year, but rather, makes some further enquiries and take some further preparatory steps that are likely to lead to a recommendation to pursue candidacy in the following year.

In terms of decisions, the Board:

·       approved ISD’s candidacy for the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Primary Years Program (“PYP”). This followed presentations and discussions at the two previous Board meetings and reflects the Board’s support for the Administration’s recommendation to proceed with this candidacy;

·      approved an increase to the budget for the conversion of the gym to elementary school classrooms. This includes some additional costs for roofing materials, IT set up and sundry items that the Board were satisfied were good investments for the building; and

·      amended the school’s fiscal year from 1 July to 30 June to 1 August to 31 July to align with the school academic year and international staff’s contracts.

Looking forward, the Board is preparing for the AGM. We settled the agenda, which includes a really interesting mix of information on the Board’s and Directors’ progress against this year’s goals, celebration of staff milestones and the class of 2016’s college placements and a report back on what parents and students think of the school, taken from the recent surveys. The successful candidates in the Trustee elections will also be announced. All this with a drink and a nibble and a chance to catch up with other ISD families!

Please remember that you can contact the board at boardbox@isd.sn and that parents of current students and faculty are welcome to attend all Board meetings as observers. Our next meeting will be held at 6.00 pm on Tuesday April 11, 2017 in the conference room, with refreshments served from 5.30 pm.

Kind regards,

Louisa Gibbs



Chair, ISD Board of Trustees