On behalf of the ISD Board I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all new families, faculty and staff. I’d also like to welcome back our returning community members and hope they had a restful holiday. Over this summer, I met with two former ISD families who left mid-year to attend international schools in Europe. Both families waxed poetic about ISD. They described our teachers as enthusiastic and engaged and miss our diverse, friendly school community.
With so many new parents, I’d like to briefly present the ISD Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected parents or legal guardians of enrolled ISD students. The ISD Board includes faculty and PTA representatives as well as the school’s two principals and director, Wayne Rutherford. The ISD Board’s purpose is (1) to advance ISD’s mission as effectively as possible (2) to ensure the school’s well-being – both now and for future students and families. We strive to make decisions based on the best educational interests of all children at ISD. The Board focuses on “big-picture” strategic issues and works closely with administrators who are responsible for day-to-day school business. We are responsible for oversight of the schools’ finances and the campus master plan, development and review of school policies, and evaluation of the school director. Current elected Trustees include Daniel LaTouche, Kristin Stewart, Thiaba Camara Sy, Phyllis Stinson and myself, Valerie Stetson.
At our May retreat, the board set goals for this school year. Most revolve around managing and anticipating change. Change includes the completion of our new MS/HS and special subject building (if you haven’t seen it, go look!), other physical transitions on campus, moving closer to establishing an IB Diploma Program and managing the upcoming transition in school leadership. After an outstanding 5-year tenure, Wayne Rutherford will sadly leave ISD in the summer of 2012, and a search committee has been actively recruiting since March.
To do board work efficiently, we need YOU! Due to unexpected summer departures and other changes, we have vacant trustee seats. The Board will appoint additional Trustees to fill these seats at its September 6 meeting. Appointed trustees serve until the next Trustee election – scheduled for April 2012’s Annual General Meeting. Many of our current Trustees were appointed to fill a vacancy and then ran for election for a two-year term. Trustees attend an orientation, one monthly meeting, one monthly committee meeting and the annual Retreat. We’re a collegial group and our meetings are efficient and well-facilitated.
If you think you don’t have time to join the school board, think again! Trustees successfully juggle child-raising and jobs requiring extensive travel. We’re especially interested in candidates with management and financial expertise, but a wide variety of experience and skills are welcome. We seek Trustee candidates that represent the diversity of nationalities at ISD. Your service to the school as Trustee will provide your child an invaluable role model.
If you would like to submit your candidature for Board of Trustees appointee, please send a brief statement of interest (why you would like to serve as an ISD Trustee) and a short bio or CV to ISD Board Secretary, Kristin Stewart (ISDBoardsecretary@isd.sn) and she will explain the appointment process.
Again to new parents, faculty and staff - welcome to ISD, Dakar and Senegal.
Valerie Stetson, Chair, ISD Board of Trustees |
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