Governance of the School

Independent schools follow a distinct and unique tradition in American education. Unlike public schools, independent schools do not attempt to serve all students or all families. Unlike purely parochial schools, independent schools are not governed by the sponsoring church, nor are they dependent on church funds to exist. Unlike private corporation schools, there is no stockholder ownership of an independent school, and the governing board is not elected by or appointed to serve a constituency of owners.

Independent schools are established to further the founding vision, typically embodied in the school's mission statement, philosophy and goals. They are governed by an independent Board of Trustees whose primary responsibility is to perpetuate and preserve the founding vision of the school in today's world, but which delegates the day-to-day management of the school to a Headmaster appointed by the Board of Trustees.

The Corporation

When St. Andrew's Episcopal School was founded, it was envisioned that it would be affiliated with the Episcopal Church, yet follow the traditions of an independent school. The corporate structure upon which the School is based assures both. The Vestry of St. Andrew's Cathedral elects twenty-four people who, along with the twenty-three current members of the School's Board of Trustees, serve as the forty-seven-member St. Andrew's Corporation. Each May, members of the Corporation elect new members to the School's Board of Trustees when the terms of retiring members expire. The Corporation meets annually or at such other times as may be determined.

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the affairs of the School. However, consistent with the tradition of independent schools, the functions of the Board of Trustees are somewhat more circumscribed than those of boards of public, parochial, or stockholder-owned private schools. The role of the St. Andrew's Board of Trustees is (1) to set policy in keeping with the School's mission and goals, (2) to develop long-range strategic plans for the School, (3) to monitor the School's performance in meeting the goals, (4) to maintain responsibility for the School's financial affairs, and (5) to select, evaluate and dismiss the Head of School.

The essence of the governing principles of St. Andrew's Episcopal School, as with all independent schools, is that, except through the setting and monitoring of policy, the Board of Trustees does not become involved in the selection, evaluation or dismissal of faculty, staff or students. Neither does the Board intervene in daily operation of the School and thus does not serve as an appellate review body of the administrative decisions of the Head of School or other administrators of the School.

The Board of Trustees of St. Andrew's Episcopal School consists of twenty people elected to serve four-year staggered terms, plus three ex-officio members: the chairman and chairman-elect of the St. Andrew's Parents' Association and the Dean of St. Andrew's Cathedral. Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees are held during the academic year.

The Headmaster

The Headmaster has overall responsibility for the administrative affairs of the School, including the supervision of faculty and staff, the admission and retention of students, the establishment of academic standards and curriculum, and discipline. The Headmaster reports to the Board of Trustees.