July 16, 2007
Dear Principia Family,
Over the past several months, the Board of Trustees has remained largely silent while working to support the healing of turmoil and unrest in our community. This has not been an easy time for any of us. It would serve us well, however, to recognize that the many sides, opinions, votes, and decisions of each segment of our community cannot interfere with the love and respect that we have for each other as a family or the genuine and unselfed love we all have for the idea that is Principia. Rather than accept the carnal-mind argument that the events of the past several months could in any way tear our community apart, let us strive to recognize that sincere and dedicated prayers for Principia can only serve to strengthen our institution.
The time has come for the Board to more fully respond and comment on the current state of affairs at the school and share with the community some of the steps we are taking to support the healing that is needed. It is time for us all to come together so that everyone can understand the facts, recognize the importance of supporting and setting examples for today’s students, and unite our efforts to move Principia forward.
Throughout the past several months, the Board has found resonance in Mary Kimball Morgan’s words: “… I believe that there is in this community that we call Principia an almost amazing measure of unselfish, worthwhile living and thinking” (Education at The Principia, p. 138). This has clearly been evident in the faculty and staff who have continued to provide an educational experience that enriches the lives of our students and prepares them to be better stewards of our world and servants of the Cause. This has been evident in the many administrators who have risen to great heights to support each other and the work of the school despite a sense of unrest and turmoil. This has been evident in the countless hours of service given by the members of the Resolution Committee. And, especially, this has been evident in the lives of the students who have lived and loved the Principia experience – ranging from the youngest Acorn students learning to share with a friend to the College students who dedicated their vacations to helping New Orleans residents recover from Hurricane Katrina.
By now, many of you have read the report from Jim Reeves, the facilitator selected by the Resolution Committee to assist in determining the facts surrounding the many allegations facing our community. Additionally, the Resolution Committee has presented the Board with several recommendations as well as comments on Mr. Reeves’ report. You can find links to both the report and the comments/recommendations from the Resolution Committee at www.prin.edu/trustees.
We are grateful to the Committee for their service and commitment to this five-month project and for their dedication to helping Principia move forward. In February, when we asked the various constituencies from both campuses to elect two representatives each to form the Resolution Committee, we provided no guidelines or parameters for the Committee. Instead, we asked for an open-ended accumulation of the community’s concerns so that they could be catalogued and examined without any preconceived notions as to the main issues that needed to be addressed to restore harmony to our campuses. The concerns fell broadly into three main areas – the performance of and salary adjustment awarded to the CEO, the circumstances of the departure of the College President, and general concerns about the governance of Principia. The fact-finding process focused on the first two issues. We will comment on the governance concerns later in this communication.
REPORT TO THE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE BY JAMES REEVES
We commend Mr. Reeves for a thorough report. Through his interviews and review of hundreds of documents, he arrived at an insightful assessment of our culture and many of the issues we must continue to confront together. Our specific comments on his findings are as follows:
- DEPARTURE OF THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
The Board remains indebted to George Moffett for his 11 years of service to this institution. As Mr. Reeves stated in his report, the Board accepted George’s offer to resign after he had declined to pursue alternative management options for the College which he found unacceptable. George notified us in writing that he wanted to meet with the Trustees without the Chairman/CEO being present. We asked four of our members to meet with him instead.
We regret the manner in which we accepted his resignation and take responsibility for the breakdown in communication between the Board and the College President. We have taken corrective action to avoid a repeat of this occurrence. The offices of Chairman and CEO have been separated so that there is a clearer avenue to the Board in extreme circumstances such as a disagreement between the CEO and College President. In the future, the Board plans to invite the College President and Head of School to attend all regular Board meetings in their entirety, except when it goes into executive session or holds Trustee elections. This will allow the Board unrestricted access to the heads of the campuses and vice versa.
- CEO SALARY INCREASE
Mr. Reeves found no evidence that Stuart Jenkins requested – either directly or indirectly – the salary adjustment he was awarded by the Board. We recognize the need for greater transparency in the setting of salary levels at both campuses – particularly with regard to the most senior posts – and are committed to determining how best to accomplish this.
The new cohort for the College faculty benchmark system is now in place, and salary adjustments became effective July 1, 2007. This new benchmark will result in a substantial increase for the post of College President (the new data indicate a median salary level of approximately $220,000 plus benefits). The staff and St. Louis faculty benchmarks are still under review. For the office of the CEO, we have engaged an independent compensation consultant to recommend a new benchmark and will make this information public as soon as possible.
- HUMAN RESOURCE PROCESSES
The Board is aware that many of the existing HR processes are not well understood and some may need further development. While we are confident that there are better procedures in place than many perceive, we have again asked the management team to make sure needed systems and procedures are fully developed, widely understood, and regularly practiced by all.
We agree that uniform evaluation systems for all employees – and their consistent application – must be a high priority for all sectors of both campuses. The desire for continuous improvement and individual growth should be nurtured for every employee.
This desire for self-improvement extends to the Board of Trustees as well. The Board has recently completed its second annual self-assessment based on the guidelines of the Association of Governing Boards. This has helped us identify areas for our individual and collective growth as Trustees, and we are committed to this process of self-improvement.
- STRATEGIC PLANNING
A clearer long-term strategic plan and goals for its implementation are a priority for the Board. Several efforts have been made over the years to address this, with varying degrees of success. The Principia Agenda 2010 and the Intended Outcome of a Principia Education documents of 2002 and the Trustee Goals of 2006 are examples of these efforts. These documents are posted on the Trustees’ website. In some cases, they have lacked implementation plans and measurable milestones to make them effective. This past school year, however, the CEO launched a publicly accessible data-tracking system (the Dashboard) to promote transparency and accountability on such important issues as enrollment, fundraising, overall finances, and Human Resources data. (You may access the Dashboard at www.prin.edu/dashboard.)
In an effort to advance strategic planning, we are appointing a Commission on the Future of Principia consisting of the two campus heads and the CEO. This group will receive input from the entire Principia community and make recommendations on how best to proceed with the preparation of a strategic plan for the next ten years.
- COMMUNICATION
We recognize the paramount importance of communicating as frequently and as openly as possible at all levels of the Principia organization. For our part, we are committed to becoming more accessible to the community through our website and regular campus visits. During our fall and spring Board meetings, the Trustees devote an entire day to meeting with the campus heads and their administrative teams, as well as faculty members and students.
For the past four years, we have been meeting with groups of parents during our scheduled trips to the St. Louis campus for Board meetings. These informal gatherings have helped us learn more about the issues and priorities facing our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to have had a Trustee in residence on the Elsah campus for this past spring quarter, which provided an unprecedented opportunity for listening and learning on both campuses. As we move forward, we will be looking for other ways to foster two-way communication and increase contact with faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni.
However, we would like to remind the community of the important distinction between governance and management roles. As Trustees, our mandate is to set policy, provide oversight, and focus on governance. We will not get involved in management and personnel issues. These matters should be taken directly to the management team, not the Trustees.
- LEADERSHIP
Attracting appropriate leadership to Principia is a continuing challenge. We have been urged by many to place credentialed and experienced educators in the leadership posts of both the College and the St. Louis campus. The recent appointment of Marilyn Wallace to the post of Head of School and the current search for a new College President are consistent with this goal. We believe that with these appointments – and the oversight of a separate Chairman position – the direct involvement of the CEO (referred to as “micromanagement” in the report) will not be needed.
REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
We were not specific in our original mandate to the Resolution Committee concerning the form and content of their report and now have the benefit of their insight regarding the major issues and possible actions that could be taken to move Principia forward. We appreciate the spirit in which their recommendations have been made and find we are able to accept many – but not all – of them. We appreciate the Committee’s recognition that the ultimate responsibility for governing Principia and interpreting its Bylaws remains with the Trustees.
At this point, we feel it is important for the larger Principia community to understand the context in which Mrs. Morgan emphasized in Policy 9 “the democratic way of life” and stipulated in Policy 16 that “The government of The Principia shall be as democratic as possible within the organization established by the Board of Trustees….” The Policies were written during the Second World War when there was great concern that totalitarian systems might triumph over democratic systems. Mrs. Morgan’s letter written to the Board on August 20, 1940 (Education at The Principia, p. 150) elucidates this point. She knew that Christian Science could only flourish in countries with democratic systems and felt it was important for students to learn this. She expected that Principia would be run with the widest possible input to its decision-making. But she also clearly expected those in positions of responsibility to exercise those responsibilities and not abdicate them to popular opinion. While the democratically elected Resolution Committee has fulfilled its charge from the Trustees to catalog and examine the issues under question with the widest possible input, it remains the Trustees’ responsibility to take steps that they deem to be in the best interest of Principia.
Before we address the Committee’s specific recommendations, we again request that each member of our community rejoice in the opportunity for healing that lies before us. To mortal sense we have many challenges to surmount. Yet from the standpoint of scientific practice, the fields are “white already to harvest” (John 4:35). We are each being called on to more fully identify Principia as the divine idea that it is, always has been, and will remain.
Even while we work to continue resolving our differences, we are unified in our support and love of Principia. Let us be alert to allow healing and progress to pervade the atmosphere of our campuses despite any lingering differences of opinion.
We will address the Committee’s recommendations in reverse order:
- HEALING
We agree wholeheartedly with the Committee’s conclusion that “our most important work is metaphysical, and our goal is healing.” We accept their recommendation that in the coming year the community adopt as its metaphysical theme “The Way” from Miscellaneous Writings (pp. 355-359) by Mary Baker Eddy. We are confident that through self-examination, humility, and love, and by holding each other accountable to the divine standard of loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves, we will meet Mrs. Morgan’s expectation that Principia’s purpose of serving the Cause of Christian Science will be fulfilled “… as the members of its Board of Trustees, the administrative officers, and the members of the faculty and staff are united in single-hearted, scientific and Christian fellowship” (Education at The Principia, p. 130).
- STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
We welcome the recommendation that a strategic-planning effort be made a top priority and are commissioning this through the College President, Head of School, and CEO, as explained in the above response to Mr. Reeves’ report. We expect that trust-building and an enlarged appreciation of the rich diversity of our community will be the result of this activity. Strategic planning at Principia is challenging; however, we are committed to this process and view this work as essential to identifying critical areas that need to be improved.
As Mr. Reeves mentioned in his report, the manner in which we communicate with each other is one such area of importance. Clearly, the community needs to address the issues he mentioned, such as “lack of communication” and unofficial “off line” communication. Additionally, we need to maintain a Christly standard of communication that is constructive and free of personal attacks. This is an educational opportunity for all of us. The Trustees are required under Policy 22 to see that: “All activities taking place on the campus … are consistent with the purpose and policies of The Principia.”
An Internet radio broadcast system is in development that will be accessible worldwide. The student newspapers are now read widely beyond our campus boundaries. The appropriate oversight of these activities has grown from an internal management issue to a policy matter of increasing importance. We will consult with the College and St. Louis campus leadership and the CEO to set up a Commission on Communication Standards charged with upholding the standards articulated in the Purpose and Policies of Principia. We would appreciate hearing from our community, alumni, and friends as to any candidates they feel are qualified to join this commission.
- POSSIBLE ST. LOUIS LAND DEVELOPMENT
The Trustees remain committed to ensuring the educational excellence of our institution and will not compromise the integrity of the school or its mission. We recognize that the current land discussion is one of significance and importance, and as such, we are unable to accept the request that we suspend the current investigation into the potential for development of this asset. From time to time during the past three decades, the Trustees have explored the possible monetization of this asset. We have a fiduciary responsibility to once more examine the possibility of rezoning a portion of our St. Louis land in an open discussion with our community and our neighbors.
- HUMAN RESOURCES
We agree that Principia should have a reliable and well-understood grievance procedure for its employees. A procedure similar to the one already in place to deal with cases of alleged sexual harassment has been piloted and will be formalized shortly. A review of all Human Resources procedures is underway to determine if there are any deficiencies in light of current best practices. We look forward to confirming that all Principia employees are receiving job performance evaluations on a consistent, annual basis.
- GOVERNANCE ISSUES
As we have thought through the issues of governance more deeply, we have concluded that it is the Board’s responsibility to have an outside audit of our practices and to seek professional guidance on current best practices that should be adopted, with due consideration for Principia’s Purpose and Policies. This is a subject that we cannot delegate to others.
We ask that the Resolution Committee catalog and prioritize the governance issues that were submitted to them so that the Trustees can see to it that they are all addressed. We would appreciate receiving this list by August 15, 2007. We plan to summarize these governance issues on our website. If any members of the community feel there are governance concerns that have not been identified through this process, please bring them to our attention.
We thank the Committee for its work and willingness to serve the school and respectfully decline their offer to lead the governance study. The Committee’s work is complete in terms of bringing the issues forward, moving the community toward understanding the facts, and presenting its recommendations. At this point, substantive matters of governance need to be addressed in a more open forum with broader input from all constituencies of our community. When appropriate, we expect to engage in direct dialogue with the part of our community most directly affected by a proposed change and to post regular updates on the Trustees’ website as each item is addressed. Though the Resolution Committee’s immediate task is finished, each member of the Principia community remains indebted to the members of the committee for their service and dedication.
As a first step in the governance review process, the Trustees are planning to bring in a consultant this fall to conduct a seminar for the entire Board on current best practices in the governance of educational institutions. This will enable the Trustees to understand the scope of the governance issues to be addressed, including, but not limited to, the issues raised by the Resolution Committee. Some changes are expected to be quickly implemented while others may require a more evolutionary process. In all cases, the long-term interests of Principia – without regard to persons or personalities – will be the guiding principle.
- RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE CEO
We appreciate the candor with which the Resolution Committee conveyed its difficulty in reaching a consensus recommendation regarding the CEO. While recognizing the positive accomplishments of his tenure, the committee acknowledged the difficulties that have been encountered and expressed concern for the well-being of our institution.
Often, institutions that have been through the sort of turmoil that Principia has experienced during the past six months demand a change in leadership before they are able to move forward. Principia is not a conventional institution. The Trustees have prayed and wrestled with this issue throughout this challenging period. That same conventional wisdom would say we must choose between short-term harmony and long-term viability. Accepting either alternative, independent of the other, is not acceptable and would be at the expense of our current and future students – and a failure of responsibility by this Board of Trustees.
In our view, and consistent with the findings of the independent fact-finder, Stuart Jenkins has fulfilled the duties of his office with great courage and directness and has contributed to necessary changes at Principia. The changes made during the past four years have been implemented with the full knowledge, encouragement, and support of the Board of Trustees.
The report from Mr. Reeves confirms that Stuart has acted with integrity. His purpose has always been to focus our attention on the experience of the students and to hold us accountable for delivering the whole man character education and academic excellence we say we deliver. The manner in which he has held up a mirror for us all to see ourselves as others see us has sometimes made us very uncomfortable. Occasionally, we would have wished that his directness had been softened with more tact. We would have liked to see him better communicate his goals and ideals to the entire community. Yet, in the past, we have to confess that too much emphasis on avoiding any hurt feelings has delayed needed correction in many instances. Stuart deserves credit for addressing hard issues, putting the students first, opening a broader dialogue with students and parents, and being willing to make tough decisions from a basis of Principle.
The Board sees deeper issues facing Principia’s future than those presented by the recent focus on personality and style. We believe these issues are best expressed by Mrs. Morgan in her article on “The Unfoldment of Character” (Education at The Principia, p. 107) in which she describes the subject matter of the classroom as the vehicle for the larger purpose of the unfoldment of character in the students. She goes on to say: “The vital thing is not merely intellectual progress, but it is spiritual progress. And this is the point at which Principia differs from every other school.” The Board is committed to fully developing this point of differentiation between Principia and every other school.
The Trustees are giving much thought and prayer to the long-term future of Principia. The external environment in which our school operates has changed and is changing yearly. For Principia to sustain its mission, we must continually improve. Managing change at Principia, as noted by Mr. Reeves in his report to the Resolution Committee, is very challenging as Principia is a tightly knit community that often values the status quo. We acknowledge and respect the important historical and cultural values that make Principia unique; however, we also recognize that for Principia to thrive we must be prepared to make adjustments.
As a Board, we have called for increased accountability and standards of excellence across the organization. We have challenged the status quo and made or supported many difficult decisions to help increase enrollment, improve individual accountability, and increase fundraising. Our work is not finished, and clearly, we need to better elucidate our vision and goals for the organization as a whole, and specifically, as they apply to each campus. As we move forward, the Board of Trustees is very mindful of the challenges we face; however, we are resolute in believing that we cannot be satisfied with the status quo.
As we each honestly assess our respective roles in the activities of Principia, we suggest that there is ample room for improvement in all of us before Principia is able to realize its full potential in serving the Cause of Christian Science. The Board is committed to improving its performance and becoming more professional in its governance procedures. For his part, Stuart will engage a management-training consultant to address the style issues highlighted in Mr. Reeves’ report. Some members of our community may not agree with the choices represented by the Trustees’ decisions and will turn to growth opportunities elsewhere. Others may welcome the challenges of continuous improvement at Principia and move themselves and our school forward.
It is in this spirit that we have asked Stuart Jenkins to remain in his post as CEO. We are counting on Stuart’s continued leadership in fulfilling his normal duties, in the transition to a new Head of School in St. Louis, the hiring of a new President for the College, and the exploration of the land rezoning for the St. Louis campus. We have accepted his resignation as a Trustee, effective on the date that we are able to elect a successor Trustee. Pending the outcome of the governance study, we believe there is merit in not only separating the offices of Chairman and CEO but also in having the CEO not serve on the Board. The CEO will be invited to attend all regular Board meetings in their entirety, except when the Board goes into executive session or holds Trustee elections.
CONCLUSION
This has been a difficult period in Principia’s history, but it will not leave us where it found us. We are all growing from the challenges that have confronted us, and we will not rest until we have fully addressed the issues that have been raised. We note that the main object of our collective attention and affection – the students – are not mentioned in the Resolution Committee reports. We are grateful that the students at every level of the school have continued to benefit from all that Principia offers despite the recent upheaval. Enrollment figures for this time of year are strong. College enrollment is steady, while St. Louis campus enrollment is robust and showing substantial growth.
We are grateful for all of Principia’s alumni and friends who have prayed for this beloved institution and further demonstrated their support with a level of giving that not only exceeds the previous year but surpassed the 2006-2007 goal of $2.3 million for the Annual Fund. As a result, this year is the most successful fundraising year in the history of the Annual Fund. Overall giving to Principia during this past year, including bequests, exceeds $20 million, slightly above last year’s total donations. In addition, the endowment is at an all-time high, with a value of more than $750 million. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for this outpouring of love.
The school year 2007-2008 is the 110th year of the Principia story. It will be a year of transition in many respects, but we are united in our commitment to the Cause of Christian Science and our love for the Christ-idea in education. As we each commit ourselves to seeking the self-knowledge called for in Mrs. Eddy’s article “The Way,” we can demonstrate that “the pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible detonation to free them.” We will find the humility that is “the genius of Christian Science” and will live the love “that is irrespective of self, rank, or following.”
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we turn the page on this chapter of Principia’s history and begin to write a new chapter full of hope and promise for the future.
With our love and best wishes for a fruitful summer and rewarding fall,
The Board of Trustees