Dear Putney Alumni, Parents, Faculty, Students and Friends,

The creation of this Strategic Plan has been carried out in a true Putney style of collaboration and consensus. Under the leadership of then board chair Elizabeth Blaylock, we began work in early 2005 with an affordability task force and community meetings to assess different aspects of Putney’s program. Over the next year faculty and staff task forces examined all areas of the school and reported back to the board. We also looked at demographic data, financial and economic projections, campus needs and our mission as a progressive school. Right from the start the central themes that appear in this plan were apparent. We slowed the process in 2007 to allow detailed strategic discussion with our new director. Together the board and Emily refined the earlier work and created a document that will guide us well through our next five years.

Throughout the process, it has become clear that Putney’s mission and Carmelita Hinton’s beliefs in founding the school are as relevant and sound as they have always been. We have reaffirmed the belief that the school’s future lies in remaining unique as it moves forward. We hope that you will read this plan carefully, and that you will be as committed to helping Putney reach these goals as are those of us currently on the board. It is an exciting time for Putney, and we welcome your thoughts about the great work and opportunities that lie ahead of us.

Sincerely,

Matthew B. Lorentzen

Chairman of the Board of Trustees