By: Eric Ma, Board of Trustees Chair
eric.ma@morganstanley.com
Dear ISB Community,
As we all head out for the holidays, I wanted to give you a summary of what the Board of Trustees has been focused on this semester.
The Board finalized ISB’s financial budget for the 2016/2017 school year. With enrollment continuing to be under pressure from shifts in certain demographic and sectoral trends, we expect a deficit as we close out the school year. Nonetheless, with a keen eye on expenses, right-sizing of some areas, and continued strong support from donations, our balance sheet and cash positions continue to be very healthy and we look forward to an income break-even or surplus position next year. ISB continues to be on solid financial ground, allowing us to invest in the future of the school, preserve our international diversity, and provide the best learning experience for our students.
The Board also reviewed the concept and development plans for the new Environmental and Wilderness Campus (EWC) in Petchburi province. Consistent with its mission to inspire students to be reflective learners and caring global citizens who lead healthy, active lives, ISB has begun construction of its new campus, which will become fully operational by October/November 2017. The EWC will provide ISB with an exciting and unique opportunity to integrate science, outdoor educational skills, character building, and much more – enabling our students to make connections across their learning.
The Board also participated in ISB’s development of a new and revitalized marketing strategy. Spearheaded by our Director of Marketing and Communications, the marketing plan will focus on developing a clear ISB identity and value proposition, as well as identifying our key differentiating factors. Key initiatives will include new advertisements and advertorials, a revamp of the alumni database, targeted digital marketing, exploration and cultivation of economic target audiences, presentations of our new or improved facilities and program offerings, development of corporate and media relationships, and enhanced community involvement. These initiatives will be developed and implemented throughout the rest of the school year. In addition to supporting the administration on developing these marketing efforts, the Board also engaged in its own generative thinking on the topic of “What do we need to do to ensure the financial stability of the school?” Ultimately, this question morphed into one of “How shall ISB stand out as a truly exceptional school, rising above the rest of the schools in the region, thereby attracting more students to come to ISB?” The Board will discuss this question and its potential answers in the coming months.
On a more specific note, the Board also heard from the High School administration about its initiative to propose a new grading and reporting system. With the rationale of aligning the curriculum, pedagogy, assessment protocols, and learning culture, the proposed changes would see a switch from the 13-point (A+ – F) letter scale to the International Baccalaureate (IB) 1-7 scale. With any meaningful changes like this, the High School administration has and will be conducting presentations and collecting feedback from different ISB constituent groups such as the faculty, PTA, Student Council, and parents. The High School administration will be sharing their findings at a Board of Trustees meeting this coming semester for consultation on further action.
Finally, the Board has also filled its two vacant positions. We welcome Grainne MacRae to the Board and welcome back Nimit Damrongrat and look forward to their valuable contributions to the Board.
On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I wish you a fun-filled and relaxing holiday season!