Norwood-Fontbonne Academy Advisory Board
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The 19-member advisory board of this pre-K–8 school (located on two campuses) operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph has been in existence 8 years. It’s top five characteristics are:
- Committed: All administration, board, and committee work is informed by, and the results evaluated in accord with, the mission and the strategic plan.
- Organized: Important work is delegated to the committees.
- Collaborative: Each committee (i.e., finance, development, facilities, and membership) has well-defined responsibilities and reporting constraints.
- Effective: Work done by the committees is valued and appreciated by the advisory board and the administration.
- Spiritual focus: All efforts are God-centered and student-inspired.
The school has a unique program of imparting social justice values that includes twice a year visits by students and staff to mentor sites to give service.
Development of a single Master Plan that encompasses both campuses was one of the major accomplishments of the past year. An important component of it is updating both facilities, traffic patterns, and unifying elements. The Finance, Facilities, and Development Committees and administration worked together in providing input for the plan, utilizing surveys and focus groups of various constituencies.
