Summary of the Spring 2007 Board and Corporation Meetings
 May 4-5

This spring meeting was the first to be held since the new Academy governance structure commenced, with Dudley Davis in the new position of Executive Vice President (formerly Special Assistant to the Chancellor) and Eric Carswell as the new Academy President, effective July 1, 2007.

Chancellor Tom Kline expressed tremendous appreciation for the solid leadership and calming influence provided by Interim President Brian Keith. Brian will be returning to his full-time duties as Assistant Bishop on July 1. The Board also recognized outgoing Girls School Principal Margaret Gladish for her many years of outstanding service to the Academy. As previously reported, the contracts for Boys School Principal Scott Daum and Bryn Athyn College Dean Charles Lindsay were extended for one additional year. Scott Daum has announced that he will be stepping down as Principal of the Boys School after next year and a search process will commence this summer. Dean Lindsay’s one-year contract will allow continued evaluation of College governance, leading to the future appointment of a College president. Chancellor Kline also announced the Rev. Dr. Andrew Dibb as the new Theological School Dean.

The spring meetings began as usual with Board visitation of College classes. This was followed by an Education Committee meeting, including guests from the Board. It featured a presentation by the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Kristin King, and other faculty members about the College core program. The core program develops foundational skills in writing, information literacy, public presentation, quantitative reasoning, second languages and service learning — skills that are critical for society and the workplace of the 21st century. It helps students develop spiritual purpose and expands their ability to reason from a number of perspectives. It is designed to demonstrate measurable progress from the student’s freshman year until graduation.

Some of the other key developments during the two days:

• Heads of Schools reported on recruiting activities and progress. Open houses are beginning with good results in the Secondary Schools. The College is putting effort into awareness-building activities with College guidance counselors. The new College sign, unveiled during the weekend, is another example of this. The College faculty recently held an inspiring brainstorming session about how to grow. Obviously, improved facilities will be critical for future College success, and the Board heard of the administration’s goals to occupy the new College Science Building and the College Admissions Building by September 2009.
  
• Treasurer Dan Allen reported on the progress against budget for the current fiscal year, noting that income from tuition, room and board is exceeding goals, the annual giving to the Fund for the Academy is lagging against its goal and additional costs will be incurred in excess of budget due to the recent Academy administrative reorganization. He expects a balanced operating result by year end.
  
• Facilities Committee chair, Carl Asplundh, showed pictures of renovation plans for the Pendleton Hall chapel, supported by a recent donation. The Dining Hall and College student housing projects are commencing this summer with expected completion by next spring. We have recently reached agreement with the Bryn Athyn Church School to use its kitchen next year while the Dining Hall reconstruction is underway. The main floor of the Fine Arts Building will be converted into a temporary serving and dining area for our students. Several other buildings on campus will experience some renovation activity during the course of the summer.
  
  The new Accessibility Committee chair, Jill Brickman, also felt it was important to announce that all Academy schools will be able to accept students with almost any type of physical handicap when these projects are complete.
  
• The Board received a presentation from Dudley Davis and Andy Sullivan about the physical appearance of the campus and recommendations for improvement. The Board empowered the administration to address these issues. It is important that we present a welcoming environment for prospective students and parents, exemplifying our spiritual values.
  
• Investment Committee chair, Dirk Jungé, commented on the favorable results for the Academy’s endowments in the New Church Investment Fund. Endowment payout to Academy operations is budgeted to increase by 4% for the next fiscal year (2007-2008), remaining within spending parameters.
  
• The Tenure Committee recommended, and the Board accepted, tenure for College faculty member, Dr. Wendy Closterman.
  
• Glencairn Museum director, Stephen Morley, gave his annual update of Glencairn activities. Glencairn is conducting a museum assessment and expects recommendations from this process in the fall. In this regard, it is working on clearly defined collection policies and better means to track its patrons’ interest in school and church activities. Glencairn is collaborating with the other historic buildings to tell the story of our Church and community to a wider public.
  
• Human Resource Committee chair, Wayne Parker, and the Joint Benefits Committee chair, James Uber, discussed the activity of PeopleVision, the title given to the Church and Academy’s recent efforts in developing a stronger “people strategy.” (See www.ncpeoplevision.org.) The major focus of this project in recent months has been to define changes to the retiree medical arrangement for the upcoming year and to hold employee meetings concerning these changes. Some developments for next year include:
  - Salary scales are being adjusted by 4.3% resulting in average compensation increases of Academy faculty and other employees of approximately 5.8%.
  - Marketing Director Andrew Sullivan described a new initiative to provide better recognition for employee service and retirement.
  - The retiree medical plan will be changing to a defined funding arrangement next year for a segment of employees with less than 10 years of service. This places the retiree medical plan in a much healthier position for all employees and rectifies an impending funding crisis.
  - Next year’s health care renewals for southeastern Pennsylvania are going up by only a modest 1.5% with almost no changes to the program.
  
• Finance Committee chair, Alan Elder, Treasurer Dan Allen and Finance Director Duane Hyatt presented the proposed Academy operating budget for next fiscal year (2007-2008). The budget includes nearly $1 million for the items from the Academy’s new strategic plan. These include investments in the marketing department, admissions and recruiting, various compensation initiatives, new financial aid arrangements, distance learning projects, the new summer institutes, additional security on the Academy campus, and several College academic programs. The budget includes a planned $200,000 deficit. The administration will be striving to reduce that deficit through increased enrollments or expense reductions over the course of the next year. To the extent enrollment increases or expense reductions do not materialize, the Academy administration believes additional payout could be introduced without exceeding spending goals. The Board approved the operating budget.
  
• Real Estate Committee chair, Dan Allen, updated the Board on the Fieldcrest project which is now under contract and the purchase of the B99/Sleepy Hollow lands behind Glencairn and Cairnwood. Both of these real estate projects are critical for the Academy’s strategic plans.
  
• Resource Committee chair, John Kern, reminded all Corporation members to complete their Conflict of Interest policy if they haven’t done so already. He also announced that a committee assessment will be commencing between now and year end. All Corporation members who serve on committees will be asked to give feedback on committee performance.
  
• Development Committee chair, Clark Pitcairn, announced that the Fund for the Academy is running approximately $100,000 behind last year. The Development Office will increase its efforts over the last two months of the year to appeal to donors who have not yet given or not given at prior year levels in order to close the gap. The Board enthusiastically affirmed the appointment of Wayne Parker as the new Development Director for the Academy and the General Church. It looks forward to Wayne commencing his employment in August. Wayne spoke about his vision for development and his enthusiasm for working with the existing team at the Church and the Academy.
  
• Legal Advisory Committee chair, Phillip Zuber, reported on the activities of various safety committees that liaise with the Academy’s Safety and Security department. Phil also reminded the Board that Bylaw amendments may be required in the near future concerning the Academy administrative changes referred to earlier.

At the Corporation meeting on Saturday afternoon, former Board member and New Church Investment Fund chair, Terry Glenn, was honored by a memorial resolution for his visionary service to the General Church and Academy by Corporation member, Bill Buick. The Corporation was updated on the Academy administrative changes, budget-to-actual performance, budget plans for next year, PeopleVision and a number of the facilities projects. The Corporation also elected new Board member, Andrew Damm, and re-elected incumbent members, James Adams, John Kern, Bill McCardell, Dirk Jungé, Clark Pitcairn and Stewart Smith.

Respectfully submitted,

Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith, Interim President
brian.keith@anc-gc.org
267-502-2579

Daniel T. Allen, Vice President/Treasurer
daniel.allen@anc-gc.org
267-502-2636