Duties and Responsibilities
Board of Trustees of The San Francisco School
Board Mission Statement The Board of Trustees envisions the future of The San Francisco School while maintaining The School’s values and traditions. The Board develops overall policy and long-range goals and monitors their implementation. It leads the participation of teachers, parents, and staff in School activities, ensures financial stability, and provides an environment where growth will flourish.
General The Board of Trustees is the governing body of The San Francisco School. It is composed of approximately 22 members: Twelve parents elected by the parents to three year terms; six members with no required affiliation appointed by the Board to three year terms; three teachers selected by the faculty for two years; and the Head of School. The legal responsibility for the operation of The School rests with the Board; and the Board retains the authority to hire, evaluate and terminate the Head of School. In practice, the Board has delegated the responsibility for the educational program and the daily operation of The School to the Head and the staff. The Board concerns itself primarily with policy considerations, the development of long-range goals, fiscal management, and fundraising. Parents, staff and friends of The School who serve on the Board make a commitment to become familiar with The School's history, its current operations, and its goals. The commitment is one of time, energy, expertise, judgment, and resources.
Board of Trustees
2006-2007
Marion Baldauf
Jorge Bustamante
Brian Carr
Fay Coad
Orpheus Crutchfield
Heather Cunningham ‘91
Deborah de Lambert (Secretary)
Solveig Dimon
Terry Edeli (Head of School)
Peter Grey (Treasurer)
Julie Haas
John Hedges
Tamara Hicks (President)
Dawn Hocevar
Ilana Kaufman
Susie Korn
Clara Kwun
Goldie Nam
Matt Plut (Vice President)
Dottie Mattison
Steve Rubin
Michael Watts
Geoff Williams ‘79
Mitchell Yee
Chris Yin
Board Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board are currently held on eight Mondays during the school year. Special meetings may be called as necessary. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and last about two hours. The Board also holds an annual all-day retreat in the fall, and all trustees are expected to attend the two annual Members meetings to which all parents and staff members are invited.
Understanding the School Program
Trustees are expected to spend a half-day touring the school and visiting a sampling of classrooms annually. Several times during the year administrators or teachers present aspects of the program at Board meetings. Trustees are also encouraged to participate broadly in parent educational programs during the school year, such as Back-to-School Nights and special curriculum presentations. Trustees and staff meet jointly some years to consider big long-range school questions.
Committee Work
The Board operates on a committee system. Each trustee is expected to either serve on two committees or chair one committee. Work outside of the committee meetings is generally necessary. Some committees meet as often as once a week during critical periods, such as the Finance Committee in November and December, or as infrequently as four times per year.
Development and Fundraising
Trustees, individually and collectively, are expected to provide leadership of The School's development program, including one hundred percent participation in both the annual fund and periodic capital and endowment campaigns. (As with all school families, Board members are expected to contribute at a level consistent with their financial capability.) The leadership role also includes significant volunteer commitments, especially in helping identify and learning to ask others for financial support. Trustees also play a critical role in recruiting and training new volunteers and Board members.
Public Relations and Communications
Board members are expected to be leaders in promoting The School's goals--both with parents and outside The School community--and in enhancing The School's public image to these constituencies. Equally important to promoting a positive image of The School is each trustee’s responsibility to bring concerns, feedback and criticisms about The School to the attention of the Board President or Head of School, as appropriate. Finally, discretion is called for in communicating the work of the Board out into The School community, both to assure effective functioning of the Board and active participation of individual trustees.
School Activities
During the school year, trustees are expected to participate in school activities. Attendance at events such as school celebrations, parent curriculum meetings, workdays, etc., are suggested as worthwhile and pleasant opportunities for staying in touch with the pulse of The School and for providing leadership presence. It is particularly important for trustees to attend fundraising events.
Note: all members of the community are welcome to attend Board meetings. Please see the school calendar or the weekly Tuesday Note Home for information regarding meeting times and location.
Bylaws for the San Francisco School The San Francisco School Bylaws prescribe the rules and procedures for the functioning of the non-profit corporation that is The San Francisco School. They include the processes by which the Directors are elected and Members may vote, the three types of directorships and their terms, and even the methods by which the Bylaws themselves can be amended.
