December 7, 2023
Who We Are And What We Do
The Mounds Park Academy Board of Trustees is a self-generative body of approximately 20 to 22 trustees (plus the Head of School in an ex officio capacity) who guide the school’s strategic direction and protect its mission. Critical functions of the Board include hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Head of School, establishing the school’s mission and strategic plan, supporting the school’s development efforts, and safeguarding the school’s financial stability.
The Board’s purview is strategic, not operational (which is the responsibility of the head of school and his or her administrative team). Specifically, the Board does not hire or terminate employees or establish policies for doing so. It does not make line-item budget determinations, including those on faculty salary; it does not establish the academic scope and sequence of classes. Rather, the Board collaborates with the Head of School to ensure that the school’s larger strategic goals are met, including accreditation, legal compliance, and other requirements.
MPA’s current Board Chair is Tiffany Scott-Knox, an experienced MPA trustee, completing her second year of a three-year term. Trustees serve up to two three-year terms. MPA’s Board meets 5-6 times a year and follows a ‘decentralized” model where the bulk of its work is accomplished through its five standing committees:
Executive Committee: This is comprised of the Board chair(s), other officers, and additional ‘thought-partners” to the Board chairs; establishes the board’s meeting agenda; sets key Board goals for the year; works with the Head of School to determine Head of School goals and evaluate the head’s performance; and serves as an initial board crisis committee when required.
Governance Committee: This identifies new trustees, evaluates trustee performance, considers Board committee structure, directs the board’s professional development, reviews the school’s articles and bylaws, establishes Board policies, and supports committee succession planning.
Finance Committee: This offers strategic advice and direction to the School Business Office in setting its budget; oversees the investment choices of the School’s endowment; works with the MPA Business Office to establish annual tuition recommendations for the full board’s consideration, reviews audit results and establishes financial strategies to ensure the school’s financial stability.
Development Committee: This supports the school’s Director of Development in evaluating strategic direction, determining annual fund and other leadership opportunities, and evaluating any capital campaign plans.
Audit Committee: This identifies, prioritizes, and evaluates risks to the school’s mission, reputation, or existence, and calibrates the Board’s appetite for risk with the school’s plans and allocation of resources.
Equity and Belonging Committee: This ensures that the board has in place policies and procedures that promote the principles of equity and justice in general, and those that support and encourage increased diversity in student enrollment, faculty, administration, and school boards and committees in particular.
How To Nominate Someone To Become A Trustee
The Board’s Governance Committee is responsible for identifying new trustee candidates. The Governance Committee solicits and maintains an on-going list of qualified and interested trustee candidates for consideration. In addition to strong leadership skills and a board that collectively reflects a broad diversity of experience and backgrounds, areas of desired professional experience including development, facilities, the arts, HR and personnel management, finance, education, and strategic planning Candidates may be current or past parents, grandparents, alumni, or community members.
If you know of someone (including yourself) who would be interested in serving on the MPA Board of Trustees, please complete the nomination FORM.
Nominations for potential candidates whose terms would commence in the 2024-2025 school year must be submitted by no later than January 31, 2024.
