THE PRINCIPIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NOVEMBER 2009 BOARD MEETING UPDATE

As members of the Board gathered for our November meeting last week, we were struck, as always, by the beauty and natural bounty of our campuses and the ever-unfolding progress of Mary Kimball Morgan’s vision of the Christ-idea in education.
 
As a Board, we cherish the opportunity to support and better demonstrate through our actions this high vision for Principia. Principia stands alone in the world in the scope of its purpose as a school and college for Christian Scientists, and as we consider the future unfoldment of this idea it has been helpful for us to consider the spiritual foundation of our role and the countless demonstrations of God’s loving hand in the growth and prosperity of Principia.
 
Supporting the underpinning of our work during this meeting was a familiar Bible verse from Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3: 5-6) In her paper delivered to the Board of Trustees on October 24, 1936, Mrs. Morgan wrote that “as long as we rely upon divine Principle wholly and look to God consecratedly and devoutly, there can be no question about His help, His protection and guidance. … We see that as we depend on God and that as our faith is active, He does open the way for us to do whatever is right for His work.” (Education at The Principia, p. 131)

With these spiritual guidelines ever in thought, the Board embarked upon the special privilege of reviewing, considering, and approving a comprehensive strategic plan for Principia’s next decade. Jonathan Palmer and his team will soon be announcing and publishing the details of the plan and their exciting vision for Principia’s future.
 
The plan holds true to the core values of Principia and seeks to not only protect its purpose of serving the Cause of Christian Science but also to expand its reach to Christian Scientists all over the world. The Board wishes to thank all those who tirelessly worked to support the completion of the strategic plan, with a special thanks to interim Chief Executive David Anable for launching the work and to Dr. Palmer for bringing it to completion.
 
Just as spiritual intuition and inspiration have guided Principia’s progress to date, we consider the strategic document a living plan whose implementation is subject to God’s law and the continual unfoldment of good. Each step will, and indeed must, be led by divine wisdom. We look forward to working together as a community and witnessing the future progress of Principia.
 
Additionally, the Board meeting included the following:

• Committee meetings were held on Wednesday and Thursday, including the Education Committee’s meeting with College faculty, administration, and student leaders to continue the discussion begun in April at the School regarding the impact of Principia’s Policies on students' academic, athletic, and student-life experiences.
  
  
• We received reports from Chief Executive and College President Jonathan Palmer and Head of School Marilyn Wallace.
  
  
• We reviewed the preliminary Operating and Capital Budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year and approved proposed tuition, room, and board rates.
  
  
• We heard the report of the Strategic Planning Committee and accepted the Strategic Plan.
  
  
• We approved continuing dialogue with Town & Country regarding its request to extend and improve a pedestrian pathway along Clayton Road at the School.
  
  
• We approved a proposal for the sale of certain cultural properties held by Principia, the proceeds of which will establish an endowment to support art-related activities at Principia.
  
  
• We continued the ongoing study led by Executive Officer Peter Stevens of Principia’s Policies and the historical context within which they were written.
  
  
• We had lunch with students in the College dining room, lunch with the Teaching Excellence Committee in the faculty/staff dining room, dinner with the Solar Car Team, and, of course, shakes in the Pub with students taking a break from the activities of Week 9. Our weekend culminated with a glorious performance in Cox Auditorium of Handel’s Messiah by the College choir and orchestra.
  

As we look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday, we cannot help but give thanks for all the good that is taking place on our campuses. The devotion of Principia’s administration, faculty, and staff to the education of our students – spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, and physically – is abundantly evident. We are grateful for a thriving student body, an active alumni base, supportive and selfless parents, and a growing pool of generous donors who contribute their time, financial resources, and prayers. And as we look up to the fields already white for the harvest, we are also grateful for the future progress of Principia.