Gateway Governance
Gateway School is led by its Board of Trustees and its Head of School, who have distinct responsibilities, and who work collaboratively to achieve the school’s mission and goals. The all-volunteer Board of Trustees ranges in size from 12-25 members. The trustees are primarily current and alumni parents. Trustees are elected to three-year terms and are encouraged to remain on the Board for additional terms. The Head of School, a faculty representative, and the President of the Gateway Parents Association serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Board.
The role of the Board is to hire and support the Head of School, to formulate policy, and to ensure the long-term viability of the school. While the day-to-day operations, including curriculum, personnel, and discipline, are the responsibility of the Head of School, the Board focuses on the big-picture strategic issues that must be addressed to keep the school healthy, vibrant, and financially sound, now and into the future. At the beginning of each school year, the Board conducts its annual Strategic Planning Retreat, during which it evaluates its progress on the strategic goals it set for the preceding year, and determines the areas on which it will focus its attention for the upcoming year. The Board’s Strategic Plan is available for review on Gateway’s website.
In addition to its strategic role, the Board is responsible for driving the fundraising efforts of the school, in concert with the Development Director. The Board’s Development Committee, and all trustees, lead the Annual Giving Campaign each fall and help develop and support the winter fundraising event.
The work of the Board is done primarily through its seven standing committees, as well as task forces that are convened from time to time to address shorter-term issues.
The standing committees of the Board are:
- Executive Committee
- Finance Committee
- Development Committee
- Nominations and Governance Committee
- Educational Policy Committee
- Personnel Policy Committee
- Facilities Committee
Membership on most committees and task forces is not limited to trustees; other volunteers are encouraged to apply for committee membership.
The Board meets monthly, except in the months of June, July, or December. The Board welcomes attendance at its monthly meetings and encourages all members of the parent community to ask questions and become educated about the role of the Board at Gateway School.
