By Isaac Guttman, ’10, News Editor
Last spring when the administration drew up this year’s budget, it planned on a slightly higher enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year (see “Nineteen new students join Upper School; small schoolwide drop in enrollment”). Since tuition revenue accounts for about 85% of the budget, even a slight shortfall in enrollment means the loss of thousands of dollars that the school had planned on spending without their replacement by additional sources of revenue or the examination of spending policies. As a result of decreased enrollment, the revenue from this year’s tuition will not sufficiently cover all necessary expenses such as salaries and heating and air conditioning costs. Therein lies the gap that CCDS is trying to close.
Regarding working on this year’s budget, Chief Financial Officer Todd Witt said, “We put a lot of effort into examining our expenses and focused on cost reductions that would in no way take away from the academic program.” Administrators have worked with each department to set spending benchmarks, to ensure that every employee is cost-conscious. However, the committee made more concrete cuts to the budget, such as bringing in an outside custodial service to save over $50,000 annually.
On top of cost-saving measures, the administration has put special emphasis on this year’s Annual Fund campaign and other revenue-raising strategies such as the new Partner Program.
Hopes for the Annual Fund are high as new Director of Giving Nick Wilkinson plans to boost alumni participation by using web platforms and new events like a phone-a-thon this January. Using sites like Facebook and Twitter, Mr. Wilkinson hopes to engage CCDS alumni who have not given in the past. “We are not necessarily looking for bigger donations from the 11% of alumni who gave last year, but rather participation from more alumni,” said Mr. Wilkinson.
Need for revenue prompted the development office to start the CCDS Partner Program, an institutional program which offers businesses the opportunity to advertise at levels ranging from $350 to $25,000. Mrs. Jane Fritz, ’78, director of strategic planning and development, is very excited to support our partners. “It is important for us as a community to support those who support Country Day’s mission. Since the program launched in August, it has been enormously successful, enrolling eight partners at levels ranging from $1,000 to $13,000.”
New initiatives like the CCDS Partner Program are taking pressure off the budget committee, which is currently working on a contingency plan to be implemented if the funds raised this year do not close the gap entirely. Mr. Witt said, “After already thoroughly checking department expenses, we continue to scrutinize our spending.”