Director’s message 46

Board Mission Statement:

Academic Excellence, Economic Security, and Long-Term School Viability

The International School of Ouagadougou Board of Trustees, in active partnership with the community, shall provide an academically excellent, economically secure, safe and nurturing environment. The Board of Trustees’ goal is long-term school viability for all students, while challenging each student to build on natural abilities and develop skills to be a life-long learner.

Please be aware that tomorrow, September17th, and the weekend of October 15th, the Board of Trustees will have both a virtual retreat (Friday) and, three weeks later, a two-day physical retreat right here in Ouagadougou. The core goal of this facilitated training is not just to focus on the “here” and “now”, but also to assist the Board in focusing on their individual trustee role – with the unique responsibility to hold the school’s future viability “in trust” – and the overall Board duties.

Last year’s Board of Trustees discovered that the challenges and demands of trusteeship are considerable, and so are the rewards:

  • Being part of an honorable enterprise
  • Realizing the power of collaboration
  • Enjoying the satisfaction of service; it is truly an honorable pro-bono work that the Board is undertaking.

It also gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s 9-member Board of Trustees. On behalf of our entire school community, I thank you for your service.

ISO Board Members

** Roles to be identified at the Board Training
VOTING MEMBERS Georges Restom, Dr. Rose Drabo, Steve Moguale, Dharmendra Phatak, Andre Sonnichsen, Estelle Tonde, Michael Keller, Cristina Wagner, Aaron Codispoti
NON-VOTING MEMBERS Jeff Trudeau – Director
Kate Soubeiga – Teacher
Gladys Some – Student

 

The Board of Trustees will work during these three days to ensure that the International School of Ouagadougou is able to deliver its core mission of Academic Excellence, Economic Security, and Long-Term School Viability.

Our retreat facilitator, Dr. Chris Muller, who has read last year’s MSA reports and seen our recent MAP scores, is aware, like most parents, that our academic program and overall school operation is strong.

As such, the Board’s focus this year will be on ensuring both:

  • The long-term viability of the school, and
  • Improving our institution’s overall financial health, which in part is still recovering, like most International Organizations, from the ongoing health pandemic.

The retreat will be for one afternoon and one weekend, spanning 13 hours in total. Board members, once again, we thank you for your service.

The Board looks forward to meeting with all community stakeholders at our Association meeting in November.

Jeff Trudeau, on behalf of the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees.

Note: The agenda for the Board retreat is below and the draft agenda for Tuesday (September 21st) open meeting sent by email.

International School of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Virtual Board workshop
17 September, 2021

AGENDA

  1. Welcome, Introductions
  2. Educating in 2021
  3. Review of existing Board conduct documentation
  4. Roles and responsibilities of Board members
  5. CIS / NAIS recommendations
  6. Decision-making matrix
  7. Case studies
  8. Board committees – functions, election of chairs, issues for the year
  9. Essential questions to consider in advance of possible on-site workshop in October.