The Gavel: Thoughts from the Board Chair

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Source/Author: Tom Andrews, MD

May 29, 2015

As we weary parents turn off Charger Blvd and head for home on Friday, I can imagine the sense of relief that the frantic last week of final exams and this busy year can bring.

I have a profound sense of gratitude for Shorecrest, having just witnessed this amazing senior class graduate with such academic, athletic and artistic talent on display. I’ve got to tell you that if you didn’t attend Baccalaureate, you need to watch Erich Schneider’s address. It’s one of the best EVER. (and I’ve heard plenty!)

The Board has attended its last meeting of the year as well. We had a very successful year. We started the year in a Retreat during which we settled on the framework of our recalibrated Strategic Plan and ended the year finalizing architects and builders to help us plan the completion of the campus Master Plan.

In between we asked generative questions like: “What does a successful independent school look like and how do we measure it?” and “How would Shorecrest look to a new family if we had ideal diversification?”

We listened to presentations from the Lower School Reading/Writing Workshop, Marketing, Feasibility (Capital Campaign) Study, Architecture and Diversity.

Our committees produced tremendous success including:

Finance: restructured Long-term debt at historically low interests rates fixed for 15 years
Audit: another spotless audit of the school
Bylaws: created non-discrimination and diversity policy
Community Partnership: created new in-roads with community non-profits and tackled the diversity issue head-on
Strategic Planning: created a newly recalibrated plan through 2018
Advancement: led a highly successful Annual Fund Campaign with the leadership of the Sarabia Family
Trustee: nominated four new Board members!
Buildings and Grounds: selected an architectural firm and finalized a builder for the next phase of Shorecrest’s exciting future.

I would like to take a moment to individually mention Craig Sher, the Chairman of our Buildings and Grounds Committee for taking on such an important position in a time of great need of his very special expertise. Thank you Craig!

I really can’t brag enough about this group of leaders. When we challenged them to raise $100,000 for the Annual Fund, they donated over $113,000! In addition to the countless hours of work they have put forth, they once again were major sponsors of Relay For Life. These men and women put Shorecrest’s future first!

I want to make a special welcome to our new Board members:

Patty Ann Hamblen, an investment manager will be joining us. She has one child (Elise) in fourth grade next year. Patty Ann and her husband Eric have been supporting the school since they arrived.

Greg Hahn, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, is a widely respected leader in the medical community and he brings that experience (and three children Zack (7^th), Gabriella (5^th) and Sofia (3^rd)) to us – with wife Lisa’s help of course!

Toni Fort, a dentist, joins the Board bringing her keen sense of the community having been a long-term member of Shorecrest with her husband, Kenyon and their children Kofi (11^th) and Natalie (9^th).

Patrick Marston, a construction and development professional, brings his experience in these fields to the Board just when we need them the most. He has three children: Sofia (7^th), Isabella (5^th) and Dorsey (3^rd) with his wife Hilary.

Please take a moment to thank these individuals for giving us such a gift of their time and talent to make Shorecrest a better school!