We write in response to Joshua Krugman’s “Open Letter to the Deerfield Community,” recently published in the Deerfield Scroll.
Mr. Krugman’s complaints are focused on the purported role of Trustee David Koch, with whom Mr. Krugman has political disagreement. David Koch has been a valuable Board member; he has served the role of Trustee with total loyalty to the Academy’s mission and in a true spirit of teamwork.
Mr. Krugman inaccurately states that David Koch enjoys “outsized power… legislatively and culturally,” “decisive influence… over Deerfield’s admissions policy, hiring and firing, curriculum, long-range planning…” and “direct influence over [faculty and staff] careers at the Academy.” Institutional governance rules and our ethical standards and responsibilities prevent the sort of influence Mr. Krugman claims. No individual at Deerfield—not even the Board President or Head of School—wields the sort of influence that Mr. Krugman suggests.
We reiterate an assurance that should be unnecessary: no donor, alumnus, or trustee influences Deerfield’s program based on political ideology or personal agenda. Don’t take our word for it: ask any member of the campus community.
Sincerely,
Philip Greer
President of the Board of Trustees
Rodgin Cohen
President-elect of the Board of Trustees
Margarita Curtis
Head of School