January 24, 2012
It’s one of those mysteries that captures the imagination of a second grader. “Do you own the school, Mr. Downs?” The first time I got that question, I was stumped. The easy answer, of course, is “no.” But then, who does own the school? I was able to provide a kind of answer this week at lower school lunch. In fact, the “owners” ate lunch with the second grade this week. And with the third, fourth, and first grades, and the kindergarteners.
Actually, non-profits like ours have no real owner. Non-profits exist for the benefit of the public good. And while there is no ownership, there is control. The closest thing to an owner of MPA is your Board of Trustees. They have one employee, who is the head of school. The head of school, in turn, is responsible for all the other employees, and, by the way, for all aspects of the operation of the school. It’s a good thing I have so many amazing people to do all the work of the school – teachers, administrators, staff…and parent volunteers!
That brings me back to the Board of Trustees. They are all volunteers. Most of them are either parents of current students, parents of former students, or former students of MPA. They have the ultimate responsibility for the long term health of the school. The best way to understand what they do is to consider their title – “trustees”. Their most important job is to hold the mission of the school “in trust.” Or, as our board webpage describes it, “setting, safeguarding, and advancing the school’s mission.”
So these safeguarders of the mission broke bread with the lower school this week and heard from some of them what they love about MPA: “My teacher!” was the response from one table of 3rd graders; “Everything!” said several students. One trustee reported that the response was “everything from drama to art to music to gym to math and science. What struck me was the range of subjects and classes that were their favorites, which is a testament to how special an MPA education is.”
For one trustee and former parent, the lunch brought back memories of volunteering for duty free lunch, “Within no time, they considered me their friend and invited me to go sledding with them at recess!” Another trustee was seated with first graders. “I was so pleased to see how inclusive they were at letting everyone join the table, no matter who was sitting there ‘first’.”
The lunch visit of our “owners” was the icing on the cake of a half-day meeting for the Board, gathered for the annual meeting to review the budget for next year. At the annual budget meeting, we try to create an experience for them to be immersed in the day-to-day feel of MPA – to connect with the “why” of what they do. This year, it was lunch with lower school students. And these dedicated volunteers not only immersed themselves in the school, they also gave lower school teachers a break from the routine of lunch duty. Watch this video of the “owners” at lunch. And thank a trustee the next time you see one!
