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President sets tone for academic year
Sep 27, 2002 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
1 Corinthians 12:12 (NKJV) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Darlington School resembles the metaphor used in the above scripture more closely than any other school with which he has been associated, according to David Hicks, Darlington’s president. “We do well because we care about each other and our community,” Hicks said during opening remarks to the faculty during its orientation week. He urged faculty to follow the example set by St. Benedict in showing good zeal by trying to be the first to show respect for each other and supporting each other with greatest patience.
After welcoming 41-year veteran George Awsumb back to the faculty this year following heart problems and an eventual heart transplant last year, Hicks acknowledged the current state of affairs in setting the stage for meeting the challenges ahead:
· The ailing economy has perpetuated a sense of uncertainty about the future.
· The School has experienced a slight decline in income from endowment, which traditionally contributes 10 percent of the annual operating income.
· The Annual Fund declined significantly last year, also usually 10 percent of the annual operating income.
· Day enrollment is still very strong, but boarding enrollment declined. The School opens with 170 boarders, but with space for 195.
· Trippeer Hall was found by a variety of building experts to be beyond cost-effective repair, so the School will be constructing two new girls houses during this school year. Trippeer Hall will be razed and the new houses will open in time for the 2003-2004 school year.
Next, he set the game plan for 2002-2003:
· The School will operate within a balanced budget this year that will require close attention to trimming departmental budgets and delaying large capital purchases.
· An ambitious goal of $1.35 million has been set for this year’s Annual Fund. To reach this goal given the current economy, School and Board leaders are making the Annual Fund the exclusive focus of all fund-raising efforts. Trustees will take an active role in soliciting gifts, and Hicks urged the faculty to set 100 percent participation as its goal.
· The heads of house have developed an aggressive retention plan approved by senior administration. The plan is designed to accommodate boarders’ needs as much as possible and to make their living experience at Darlington even more family-like.
· Summers at Darlington are being completely revamped to aid admissions in finding qualified boarding students. A plan is currently being refined to offer sports and enrichment camps for children, ages 10-14, who will want to board at Darlington for one- and two-week camps and who may decide to go to school here as a result of their camp experience.
Hicks concluded by paraphrasing the writings of John Henry Newman in noting that faith has made its way around the world, not in rational arguments, but through the personal influence of dedicated, holy individuals. “Holiness embodied in personal form cannot be broken down, argued with, defeated, or denied,” he said. Hicks urged the faculty to remember the importance of personal influence by being examples of courtesy, respect, fairness, graciousness, balance, hope, and optimism. “Alumni may forget the lessons they learned in class, but they will not forget the people who taught them.”
Darlington School resembles the metaphor used in the above scripture more closely than any other school with which he has been associated, according to David Hicks, Darlington’s president. “We do well because we care about each other and our community,” Hicks said during opening remarks to the faculty during its orientation week. He urged faculty to follow the example set by St. Benedict in showing good zeal by trying to be the first to show respect for each other and supporting each other with greatest patience.
After welcoming 41-year veteran George Awsumb back to the faculty this year following heart problems and an eventual heart transplant last year, Hicks acknowledged the current state of affairs in setting the stage for meeting the challenges ahead:
· The ailing economy has perpetuated a sense of uncertainty about the future.
· The School has experienced a slight decline in income from endowment, which traditionally contributes 10 percent of the annual operating income.
· The Annual Fund declined significantly last year, also usually 10 percent of the annual operating income.
· Day enrollment is still very strong, but boarding enrollment declined. The School opens with 170 boarders, but with space for 195.
· Trippeer Hall was found by a variety of building experts to be beyond cost-effective repair, so the School will be constructing two new girls houses during this school year. Trippeer Hall will be razed and the new houses will open in time for the 2003-2004 school year.
Next, he set the game plan for 2002-2003:
· The School will operate within a balanced budget this year that will require close attention to trimming departmental budgets and delaying large capital purchases.
· An ambitious goal of $1.35 million has been set for this year’s Annual Fund. To reach this goal given the current economy, School and Board leaders are making the Annual Fund the exclusive focus of all fund-raising efforts. Trustees will take an active role in soliciting gifts, and Hicks urged the faculty to set 100 percent participation as its goal.
· The heads of house have developed an aggressive retention plan approved by senior administration. The plan is designed to accommodate boarders’ needs as much as possible and to make their living experience at Darlington even more family-like.
· Summers at Darlington are being completely revamped to aid admissions in finding qualified boarding students. A plan is currently being refined to offer sports and enrichment camps for children, ages 10-14, who will want to board at Darlington for one- and two-week camps and who may decide to go to school here as a result of their camp experience.
Hicks concluded by paraphrasing the writings of John Henry Newman in noting that faith has made its way around the world, not in rational arguments, but through the personal influence of dedicated, holy individuals. “Holiness embodied in personal form cannot be broken down, argued with, defeated, or denied,” he said. Hicks urged the faculty to remember the importance of personal influence by being examples of courtesy, respect, fairness, graciousness, balance, hope, and optimism. “Alumni may forget the lessons they learned in class, but they will not forget the people who taught them.”
