Structure of the Board

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

• How does the Board do its work?

  The Board performs much of its work through a committee structure of five standing committees: Audit, Development, Facilities, Finance, Governance, and Mission. From time to time, the Board also utilizes ad hoc committees for specific projects.

  
  

  Committees are advisory and make recommendations to the Board. Recommendations are then debated and typically voted on, though sometimes Committee chairs are asked to go back to their committees with direction from the Board relating to their recommendations. Each committee has a charter (see Board Committees page) and is comprised of at least two trustees plus several non-trustees (the exception to this is the Governance Committee, which is comprised solely of trustees). The Head of School and other select members of the administration typically attend committee meetings.

  
  

  Each committee generally meets monthly during the school year and provides meeting minutes as part of an information package to trustees prior to each Board meeting. This committee structure is similar to the model used in the corporate world, and provides a good level of discipline with respect to the Board’s role of oversight and stewardship to the School.
  
  The Board holds regular meetings most months during the school year and once during the summer, and sometimes holds additional special meetings. The Board receives presentations at its meeting, and dedicates its efforts to matters that fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities, focuses on the school’s strategic priorities, and engages in generative thinking. The Head of School provides trustees with a detailed report in advance of each Board meeting and, at meetings, highlights important matters from the report, which typically leads to trustee questions and discussion. Each committee chair reviews the highlights of their committee meetings, makes recommendations to the Board and opens the floor for trustee questions and discussion before recommendations are voted upon.

• What is the leadership structure of the Board?

  The Board leadership consists of two officers, the chair and vice chair, who are elected by the Board. The Head of School serves as an advisor to the Board.
  
  Each standing committee has a chair who is appointed by the Board chair. The chair, vice chair, and the other committee chairs comprise the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets monthly with the Head of School to act as a sounding board and to discuss focus areas for the Board. During meetings of the Board, all Trustees have the same opportunity to raise issues, to ask questions, and to be heard.

• How does someone become a Trustee?

  The pathway to becoming a trustee begins with involvement at the committee level or with the Parent Teacher Organization. Each member of a Board committee has knowledge in and/or has demonstrated a commitment to the committee’s area of focus as described in each committee’s charter. As a Board, we look for parents of current students or alumni that have knowledge that will serve well the interests of the school in the long-term or expertise required for a particular committee. Overall, this person will also work well in a collaborative setting, be excited about helping the school in giving their time and effort, and has both the willingness and availability to participate over several years. Selection to the Board is commonly preceded by participation at the committee level. While historically all trustees on the Board have donated to the School’s annual fund and capital campaigns, the financial ability to donate is not a requirement for Board participation.

• How does the Board communicate with the community?

  The Board makes its work and role known to the community through written communications via email “pushpages,” the Pegasus Post, annual tuition letters, letters in the school’s annual report and formal and informal parent gatherings which trustees attend. The Board roster is published on the Board of Trustees web page and Board members frequently engage with members of the parent community both at school-related functions and out in the broader community.  Additionally, committees of the Board (other than the Executive Committee and Governance Committee) are staffed with both Board members and non-Board members, providing another avenue for communication between the Board and the parent community.