The Working Groups of the ERA Board of Directors are advisory groups created to support the mission of the school by focusing on certain areas of the school’s operations.  The main purpose of these groups is to research and develop the best practices in each area and present them to the Board for consideration.   Any courses of action approved by the Board will be assigned to the school administration for implementation.

To be as efficient as possible, the groups are kept small and develop their own meeting schedule, based on current needs.  In order to create the strongest group possible, the selection of who serves on a Group is based on the individual’s qualifications rather than interest.

If you think you have the necessary skills and/or experience to contribute strongly to one of these groups, please click on the liaison’s name to send them an email.

Facility Working Group

The purpose of the Facility Working Group is to support the mission of Eagle Ridge Academy by:

-Develop a long-term facility plan that facilitates the achievement of that mission.
-Ensuring that the school building meets or exceeds all health and safety requirements for students, staff and visitors.
-Being fiscally responsible in all real estate dealings (facility maintenance and lease renewal agreements).
-Acting as a liaison (with Executive Director) with landlord for facility needs.

Goals for FY2011

Create an affiliated building company that will purchase and renovate our existing facility for the long-terms needs of the school.

Desired skill set for group members

-Financial experience and/or education,
-Commercial real estate experience and/or education,
-Legal experience and/or education,
-Building ownership and/or leasing experience,
-Time and energy.

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 4 board members and at least 1 parent or staff.
Board of Directors liaison: Pete Larson
Other members:  Mary Wolff, Mari Bergerson, Rick Nelson

Governance Working Group

The purpose of the Governance Working Group is to work to ensure:

-Compliance with all Federal, State, and Local Law,
-Adherence to all contractual obligations,
-Formulate management and oversight structures within the organization to promote efficiency and professional performance.

Goals for FY2011

-Revision of By-Laws,
-Generation of Governance Flow Chart,
-Generation of Internal Assessment Checklist,
-Review of contractual requirements.

Desired skill set for group members

-Organizational management experience,
-Legal documentation and writing,
-Auditing / assessing experience,
-Contract review,
-Project management,
-Detail oriented,
-Time and energy

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 3 board members and at least 2 parents or staff.
Board of Directors liaison: Paul Long
Other members:  Pete Larson, Mike Hess, David Dikken

Finance Working Group

The purpose of the Finance Working Group is to support the mission of Eagle Ridge Academy by overseeing, providing guidance for, and ensuring the financial integrity/viability of the school.

Goals for FY2011

-Provide sound financial planning and budgeting for current operations and the planned growth of Eagle Ridge Academy,
-Identify and secure sources of alternative school funding,

Desired skill set for group members

-Strategic Planning,
-Forecasting/Budgeting,
-Banking/Treasury,
-Fundraising,
-Accounting,
-Insurance,
-Grant writing,
-Time and energy

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 3 board members and at least 2 parents or staff.
Board of Directors liaison: Mike Hess
Other members:  Mari Bergerson, Ann Viviano, John Herbert

Policy Working Group

The purpose of the Policy Working Group is to support the mission of Eagle Ridge Academy by:

-reviewing current policy,
-drafting policy as tasked by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Director,create, ensure, assess, and report policy to the Board of Directors.

Goals for FY2011

-Standardize the format of policies (Educational, Administrative, and Quality Control)
-Conduct an Annual Policy Review (Review existing policies, legality, and missing policies)
-Communicate Policy to the Stake Holders (Maintain and publish handbooks, upon Board action inform relevant parties of new policies)
-Draft policy as tasked by the Board of Directors (Use input from teachers, students, parents, and the authorizor)

Desired skill set for group members

-Administrative writing and document control,
-Understanding of organizational structure,
-Educational experience,
-Administrative experience,
-Quality control experience,
-Knowledge of safety policies, employee and employer policies, and student policies,
-Time and energy

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 3 board members and at least 2 parents or staff.
Board of Directors liaison:  Andrew Carlson
Other members:  Wynn Curtiss, Kim Robb, Dan Tripps, Dan Clapero

Human Resources Working Group

The purpose of the Human Resources Working Group is to work to ensure:

-operational excellence in the employer/employee work relationship,
-fair and lawful treatment of all employees,
-staff development and training opportunities.

Goals for FY2011

-Executive Performance Review
-Create an annual Human Resources review calendar,
-Work in conjunction with the Policy Work Group in Review of Employee Policies,
-Staff Development and Performance Matrix,
-Staff Training,
-Review the current policies and procedures, and present a gap analysis to the Board of Director’s for further direction.

Skills beneficial to participation include:

-Human Resource experience,
-Professional staff development experience,
-Management experience,
-Teaching experience,
-Time and energy

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 3 board members and at least 2 parents or staff.
Board of Directors liaison: Mary Wolff
Other members:  Jim Pearson, Susan Roeber, Mary Bradley, Jessica Bergeron

Curriculum Working Group

-Classical Education-based materials and instruction
-College-preparatory classes and education
-The mastery of designated learning goals through study, practice and demonstration
-A systematic, sequential, interdisciplinary approach to learning based on historical time frames and topical themes.
-A strong focus on literacy.
-The rigorous study of core academic subjects: History, Geography, Literature, Grammar, Math, Science, Latin, Music and Art.

Goals for FY2011
-Review of grade specific curriculum to determine alignment with school mission and goals
-Review class structure to determine alignment with school mission and goals

Skills beneficial to participation include:
-Knowledge and/or experience in providing curricula for the classical education pattern known as the Trivium
-Experience in understanding and evaluating standardized test scores
-Experience in implementing and/or teaching a classical education curriculum

Recommended composition: 5 - no more than 3 board members and at least 2 parents or staff.
Board of Directors liaison:  Jessica Bergeron
Other members:  Carolyn Sommers-Tillotson, Sara Sloneker, Erin Johnson, Sonja Menard