From Thursday, October 26 to Sunday, October 29, Deerfield Academy hosted the first Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year, which addressed past and upcoming facility projects.
According to Head of School John Austin, the Board has previously supported the recently completed construction of the new Athletic Complex, Simmons dormitory, and Chen Health Center. Now, the main focus of the Trustees is the temporary dining facility under current construction.
Dr. Austin said in an interview with the Scroll that “a lot of time and planning” has been involved in the construction process. The buildings and grounds committee works closely with the architects and board members to “finalize the plan and make sure that it is going to serve the school,” according to Dr. Austin.
In addition, the Board of Trustees acknowledged the school’s financial future during their meeting, discussing a 10-year plan to guarantee a robust endowment and maintain financial sustainability.
The 28 members of the Board of Trustees, hailing from various backgrounds, gathered to discuss the Academy’s pursuit of its mission. The Board of Trustees comprises multiple committees, each overseeing an aspect of the school, such as academic affairs, admission, financial aid, college advising, communications, finances, student life, and the executive committee.
Board of Trustees meetings are held in person at least twice a year. While the Academy hosts in-person meetings during the fall and spring, the Board also convenes in New York during the winter.
Before each Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Austin’s leadership team publishes a detailed agenda for each committee. This team includes Associate Head of School for Student Life Amie Creagh, Dean of Faculty Ivory Hills, Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy, Dean of Academic Affairs Anne Bruder, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Chip Davis, and Chief Advancement Officer Chuck Ramsey. The agendas are developed based on the consultations the leadership team holds with each committee’s Chair and Vice Chair. These agendas create an understanding of the focus of each committee.
As board members come from all across the country and internationally, Dr. Austin mentioned that these meetings foster significant opportunities to increase trust and engagement among members. Dr. Austin stressed the importance of frequent in-person meetings, saying they “create a strong work culture” and “build high levels of trust among members of the Board.”