ISM has long insisted schools must be clear about their primary marketplace stance (price, product, process). We also have recommended schools develop supporting Purpose and Outcome Statements that align with their market position and articulate their mission, values, student outcomes, and facu...

Tuition, fees, endowment, and fundraising are independent schools’ revenue and financial sustainability mainstays. Becoming less reliant on tuition revenue may be a vague budgeting goal in some places, but at the majority of schools, tuition and fees will remain the cornerstone of financial sus...

Boards of Trustees sometimes confuse strategic work and tactical/operational work, which can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. The distinction must be clear—strategic work involves the school governance and tactical work concerns managing school operations. Trustees must understand th...

When developing your school’s central message framework, it is essential that you clearly identify and promote the qualities and programs that differentiate your school in your marketplace. ISM has long advocated schools use three Purpose and Outcome statements to define themselves: the mission stat...

In a 2006 issue of Ideas & Perspectives, ISM introduced the Purpose and Outcome Statements, a set of three complementary documents that include: ul { text-align: left; } ul { margin: 0px; } ul.dashed { list-style-type: none; } ul.dashed > li...

Nearly four decades ago, ISM began receiving feedback from client schools that their parents were becoming increasingly demanding and challenging. Fast forward to today and the calls and concerns from School Heads, academic administrators, and teachers are almost deafening. If parents had high ex...

As Chair of the Committee on Trustees, you coordinate the nomination of potential Trustees for open positions on your Board. When filling your annual slate of nominees, use the Board Profile derived from your strategic plan and strategic financial plan, and screen your nominees based on their e...

Prioritizing the development of Division Heads’ leadership skills must be an essential area of focus for all School Heads. Although there are situational differences, typically, Division Heads are charged with interfacing with families, managing parent and student concerns, supervising teachers,&nbs...

After a contentious Board meeting, the following may be a discussion between two Trustees in the school parking lot. “Why does the School Head keep bringing Leadership Team members to our meetings? It sure throws a wrench into our sessions. It just says to me the Head doesn’t know what’s going on...

Parents seek convenient services that maximize their time and minimize their stress. For many, getting their children to and from school is the most inconvenient aspect of life in a private school. If your school provides transportation options, you, as Marketing Communications Director, have a mark...