Board Committees

Explorer West's Board Committees are comprised of a broad group of committed community members who support the governance work of the school’s Board of Trustees by:

• Making progress towards specific strategic priorities as outlined in the school’s Strategic Plan
• Responding to NWAIS accreditation requirements

A brief description of Explorer West’s Board Committees:

Development

• Manages all responsibilities relating to fundraising, including annual fund, auction, capital fund development, and creation of endowments.
• Has done significant work in developing and implementing development policies and endowment agreements.
• Sets targets and implements activities to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Has significantly expanded the cultivation of donors and potential donors.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Charged with ensuring the success of the school's strategic priority relating to diversity.
• Works to examine and clarify understanding of what all aspects of diversity - including cultural, ethnic, geographic, economic, and physical - means for Explorer West school.
• Recognizing the complexity of this issue, identify appropriate goals relating to diversity.
• Create processes to pursue these foals across all areas of the school, including curriculum, admissions, financial aid, and policies.

Finance

• Has point responsibility for the financial management of Explorer West.
• Oversees financial planning, develops budgetary and fiscal policies, oversees and reviews financial reporting, authorizes and reviews audits, and ensures board awareness of all financial issues and concerns.
• Plays a key role in fulfilling board fiduciary responsibilities, safeguarding institutional assets, and assuring the financial health of the school.

Facilities

• Manages all issues relating to the physical facility of the school. This includes management of policies and contracts relating to leases and sub-leases, development and implementation of facilities plans, and oversight of all contracts relating to work on the facility or grounds.
• Work jointly with the finance committee to manage building and plant reserves.

Strategic Planning

•  Charged with developing and proposing to the board a set of strategic priorities and associated action plans, involving appropriate stakeholders in the development of these documents, and ensuring the effective implementation and consistent reporting on progress.
• Charged with reviewing and maintaining the effectiveness of key institutional documents, including the mission and core values statements.
• Assigns point responsibilities in strategic planning to key stakeholders, including the head of school and board committees, to ensuret planning is integrated with the ongoing governance and management of the school.

Trustee Affairs

• Holds responsibility for ensuring the effective and ethical work of the board in governing the school.
• Manages trustee recruitment, orientation, and training.
• Manages the board policy manual and officer elections.
• Plays a key role in the annual board retreat, as board development and evaluation are key parts of this event.