Committee Reports as of September

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

The program committee, headed by Sixth Grade Teacher and Camp Director Martha Platt, has been formulating an academic program for the 2010-2011 school year that will retain all the programmatic richness that we have come to expect from Oak Lane, with an increased emphasis on the Arts and inquiry-based learning. The faculty members and parents on the Committee have met throughout the summer to make sure that the new Oak Lane will have a top-notch academic program.


LOCATION COMMITTEE

The Location Committee, headed by Trustee and parent Tony Romano, is making progress securing a location for the 2010-11 school year. The Location Committee has met frequently, hosted a number of property tours and group discussions about a possible new location in the schoolhouse at St. Thomas' in Flourtown/Ft. Washington. While the location has many positive attributes including large expanses of open space, the capacity of the building and the necessary renovations are limiting.


DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Development Committee, headed by Director of Admission and parent Carina Urbach, has analyzed Oak Lane's donor base and is completing plans for a fundraising campaign that will involve donors in every aspect of the transition process. The committee is also identifying ways families can contribute "elbow grease" to help with packing and moving, painting the new facility, or sharing expertise in marketing, for example.


FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee, headed by Trustee and parent Dave Urbach, has been finalizing the budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The Finance Committee is also compiling data to create preliminary budget projections for the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. Inherent in their discussions are questions of renovation and moving costs, tuition price point, projected enrollment, staffing needs, and costs for professional development and curriculum updates. Offering a rich educational program necessitates certain costs and to date we have not been able to identify a sustainable business model. Adequate finances continues to be our greatest challenge.