Page 3 - Priorities #21 2003-January

From the Headmaster
An annual reflection indicates most things are going well
It is a pleasure every year to assess the state of our school—the topic of this Headmaster’s Letter. As I hear and read (with sympathy) of the difficulties faced by many schools around us, I feel blessed to see our Benedictine school doing well on many fronts.
On pages four and five, I’ve provided
a range of topical examples that may be of interest, especially for readers who haven’t been on the campus lately. Fast Facts, especially, will give you some point of comparison with the school as you knewit.Onthosepagesandthroughoutthisissue, I hope you will see some of the evidence that brings me to my conclusions.
I arrive at my sense of the school from reports and quantitative data, and also from talking daily with parents, students, faculty and staff, neighbors and colleagues. I am in my fourteenth year with the Priory and have observed many changes.
I look at several aspects of the Priory. In summary • The quality of student education remains high; • Student experience is guided by the Benedictine values that are our foundation;
• We are financially stable, but are challenged to keep salaries up and provide facilities for our larger student body;
• Our Golden Jubilee campaign to provide for the future is on target;
• Our alumni association is growing in size and vigor; our parent association’s work continues to be a mainstay of the campus;
• Our relations with our township of Portola Valley have become rewarding and strong.
Our students are graduating with excellent academic preparation for college. We have a strong college prep curriculum and a faculty trained to prepare the most able scholars. We have breadth in the curriculum that makes it possible for students to focusappropriately. Idon’tseeanyindicationsthat this would change.
Our students learn through a process of experience and reflection that will serve them throughout their lives. It emphasizes individual self-discovery, breadth
in education, values that work in guiding their decision-making, and balance in life. Some people might see this emphasis as competing with our focus on academic excellence, but I see evidence all around me that it is a reinforcement. It is our kids’ safety net—a community they trust gives them confidence.
In November, we suffered a wrenching loss. Eugene Koenig, a sophomore, died of a rare health
condition. Although the Priory hasn’t lost a student since the 1970s, our response was automatic. Peter Zaffaroni, a junior, explained it well in a front page article in the high school newspaper. “At the Priory, we need not face the unthinkable alone. Eugene will now rest for eternity, and with the strength of the Priory community, the rest of us will support each other as we come to terms with our loss.”
A frequent question to me these days is whether the Priory has been hit by the economic downturn. Thus far, we appear to have the student applicant pool that we need for next year, and the candidates exhibit the same high academic standards. The total number of applications is down somewhat, but I can say with caution that this aspect of our planning for next year looks good.
However, expenses are higher. Liability insurance and health care premiums are much higher. We are committed to raising salaries to keep the Priory’s compensation in the top quartile of comparable schools. Requests for financial aid have increased in number—we are not yet sure of the total amount. We planned for these potential expense increases by taking a five percent budget cut in all departments for this fiscal year. But the savings are not sufficient. Our board of trustees has decided that a tuition increase will be needed. Families will be receiving information soon.
Priory life is hardly without challenges. Times change, our students change, and by definition that means challenges. I am continually impressed at the ability of our school community to work at them, fairly and effectively, one day at a time. The refreshing thing about moving back a big step from the daily issues is seeing how good, in fact, is the big picture.
I hope you will enjoy this issue. Tim Molak
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It is refreshing to step back from the daily issues and take a broader view. The big picture at the Priory is good.