The Andover Board of Trustees decided on the relocation of Isham Health Center and discussed Andover’s finances as well as the Divest Andover movement during last weekend’s Trustees meetings. After touring Isham, the trustees tabled a complete renovation of the health center. They decided to proceed with both a renovation and a relocation to Salem Street behind Commons, in between Bullfinch and Benner House. The new location would allow easier access to the health center from sports practices and academic buildings, according to an Andover press release. Dr. Amy Patel, Director of Isham Health Center, and Dr. Carol Israel, Associate Director of Counselling, presented a more streamlined model for the new Health Center with all health-related services in the same building. Medical services, physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychological counseling, health education and wellness programming would be housed together, according to the press release. The funding for the construction and renovation will come from the building renewal budget. The primary purpose of the winter board meetings, however, was to discuss Andover’s finances before the budget for the following year is finalized in the spring, according to Tracy Sweet, Director of Academy Communications. The trustees plan to incrementally decrease the amount of money taken from the endowment for the annual budget. The proposed budget for 2014 features an endowment draw reduction from 5.75 percent to 5.65 percent, according to the press release. The trustees reallocated tuition funds to sustain need-blind admissions and voted to include all mandatory fees, including healthcare, technology and Commencement fees, in tuition rates. The new tuition rates will be released later this month, according to the press release. The trustees also discussed the Campaign for Andover, which passed its 300 million dollar donation goal in November of last year and officially came to a close at the end of 2012. According to the press release, the trustees were especially proud of the campaign’s success despite the global economic downturn that began in 2008. Most of the funds from the Campaign for Andover will go to the Andover Fund, which helps support need-blind admissions, pay faculty salaries and modernize the school through technology and media. The Campaign’s other priorities are recruiting teachers and preserving the campus’ history and beauty, according to the campaign’s website. The trustees participated in three different lunches with the faculty, each meeting focusing individually on the endowment, the new health center and the Campaign for Andover, to allow for a deeper understanding of faculty and student concerns. The trustees hoped this would aid their broader goal of increasing faculty input in administration, according to the press release. The board also met with leaders of the Divest Andover movement over the weekend. “The board was very appreciative of the students’ perspectives and very keen to hear their concerns,” said Sweet. The Divest Andover movement urges the school to divest its endowment from fossil fuel companies that damage the environment. “Investing in the [fossil fuels] does not align with Academy principles stated in the founding Constitution and the Ethical Investment Policy because of the grave social injury those companies cause,” said Justin Wang ’13, one of the leaders of the Divest Andover movement. Divest Andover hopes to meet with the trustees again in the spring to continue the discussion of divestment. “As a whole, the trustees took our requests very seriously and did not try or want to simply brush us aside. They expressed some reservations they had on divestment, but said they were willing to work with us to resolve the issue,” said Wang. Head of School John Palfrey and Trustee Dan Cunningham ’67, Chair of the Admission and External-Program Committee, spoke with directors of (MS)2, Andover Bread Loaf, Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, Summer Session and PALS, according to the press release. The group discussed ways to broaden their influence, discover potential partnerships and establish opportunities to include more Andover students in their programs, according to the press release. The trustees also gave out three Instructorships for teaching excellence to Paul Cernota, Instructor in Chemistry, Tracy Ainsworth, Instructor in History and Yasmine Allen, Instructor in Spanish. Instructorships for teaching excellence are endowed funds made available by the generosity of donors. The money allows teachers to pursue independent projects related to their courses or teaching. “It was such an honor to be recognized and appreciated by my students and colleagues. Teaching is my passion, so I am rewarded every single day I walk into the classroom, but to be honored this way was such an amazing feeling,” said Allen in an e-mail to The Phillipian. The Board of Trustees consists of 22 members, including Head of School John Palfrey and Peter Currie ’74, President of the Board of Trustees
