Page 3 - Priorities #30 2005-April

Sincerely,
Tim Molak Headmaster
3
From the Headmaster
We are looking forward to a glorious spring! The auction is ahead, a very successful admissions season has just concluded, the campus is filled with lively activity (as you will see throughout this issue), and our seniors are smiling as their college admissions roll in.
In February, we passed a major
milestone with the Portola Valley
Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of our proposed revised Conditional Use Permit and Master Plan. We are now in a waiting period (until March
25) when citizens can file an appeal or challenge the report. After that date, the Town Council must ratify an easement and joint use agreement, and then the CUP/ Master Plan will be fully in effect.
Whatever happens from this point forward,
I appreciate the planning commission’s participation
and final action. In effect, they support our need to modernize our educational program and improve
the facilities so that they reflect our high academic expectations. The revised permit provides for 350 students (11 more than are currently enrolled), which we consider a critical mass for a broad range of courses and activities.
I also appreciate the many parents and friends of the Priory who attended meetings or wrote commissioners on our behalf. The monks and I feel very fortunate to have such a supportive community.
The commissioners studied the master plan carefully. They required several engineering reports and some modifications to our original proposal. In adopting the final version, they included language to guide us in preparing for the building permits. It was a good and appropriate process on their part and ours, and the end product provides for a strong school in coming decades.
I hope our joint work might set
a model for other schools and small townships faced with our dilemma— replacing a 40-year-old document
of some six sheets of paper with a contemporary document that spells
out rights and obligations of all parties. About three years ago, when we realized this would not be a simple process, we made a conscious choice with the town
planner to try to lead the way in creating new language and new concepts. The final document on file at the town center will be well over two pounds (almost one inch) of carefully crafted language reflecting much thought and problem-solving on all sides.
Most people aren’t aware that when Benedictines take vows, they take them for the monastery where they live and the community surrounding it. St. Benedict challenges us to extend hospitality and stewardship to thatcommunity. Iplantostayinclosetouchwithour neighbors to make our building process as unobtrusive as is feasible.
Many of you now graduated will remember Nancy Newman, science teacher and currently also Dean of the Faculty. Nancy will be retiring at the end of the year to enjoy time with her husband and volunteer activities that will not fit into a busy Priory schedule. The Priory looses a remarkable educator and administrator whose positive impact on many Priory alumni is beyond measure. We wish her godspeed.
As always, we are this spring working to accommodate other personnel changes. We are fortunate to have a strong staff, and our wonderful on-campus housing helps us to attract and retain equally qualified candidates.
I wish you God’s blessing as we move closer to the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection at Easter. I hope that this Lenten season has allowed time for some extra prayer, time for reflection, and time (in the words of St. Benedict) to “Listen...with the ear of your heart.”
We passed a major milestone with the Portola Valley Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of our proposed revised Conditional Use Permit and Master Plan.