Board Update: Growth, Facilities, and Community Initiatives
Dear Marylhurst Community,
I hope the school year is going well for all of you. It is hard to believe that we are already heading towards winter break.
As the President of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to share an update on the exciting developments and ongoing work of the Board. Our students, faculty, and staff continue to inspire us all with their passion, commitment, and resilience, and I want to ensure that you are informed of the progress we are making together.
We are thrilled to report that The Marylhurst School continues to thrive in a number of important areas over the past few months. Our academic programs remain strong, with our students learning deeply and meaningfully across all grade levels and our teachers embracing professional development opportunities. This year we have seen an emphasis on progressive education tenets and principles that ground and guide our practice and policies. It was wonderful to see the Specials teachers at the Back-to-School night as well.
The Board’s primary work is long range and strategic, but there are times when we get to point to a specific project and show the results of many months (or years) of planning, deliberation, and oversight. One such project is the completion of the preschool building remodel. The renovation of building 3 was much more than a desire for a “new “building. As the Board analyzed the curriculum needs, the financial stability, the well-being of the staff, and the overall long-term success of the school, the decision was made to move the preschool program to the main campus. The Board worked with a dedicated, talented, and driven group of contractors, engineers, and consultants to create the wonderful building that our youngest students now enjoy.
Our site committee has made progress on the facilities master plan. We continue to identify the projects that need to be addressed while setting priorities based on safety and curriculum needs. We are developing a plan in which our physical environment supports the academic mission, contributes to student well-being, and is adaptive to the evolving needs of our community.
The Board remains committed to the financial health of the school. We work closely with the administration to ensure that The Marylhurst School continues to be both accessible and sustainable for generations to come. The Board knows the importance of our fundraising efforts, recently showing their 100% support for the ongoing participation drive.
The School’s vision and values emphasize inclusion. The Board ensures we are following these expectations through our Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) committee. We are working together with the administration and Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) to ensure we are achieving the goals and standards set by the School and NWAIS.
I hope you have found this update helpful and informative. In the coming months, we will be recruiting new members to join the board. If you or someone you know is interested in participating at this level, please contact me at fred.boardmember@themarylhurstschool.org. We will hold a State of the School on January 30th at 6 pm, and more information on that event will be shared soon.
Gratefully,
Fred Wienberg
