Behind the scenes of Marlborough’s ever-graceful halls is the Board of Trustees, a dedicated group that includes parents, alumni and community leaders who help ensure that Marlborough remains inspiring for future generations. The Board is composed of many individuals from various backgrounds, with Head of School Jennifer Ciccarelli serving as the only faculty member. While Marlborough’s head of school manages decisions that affect daily student life, the Board of Trustees focuses on the bigger picture, like budgeting, long-term goals and policy updates. They are committed to advancing Marlborough’s mission and core values and meet regularly to make decisions that affect the School as a whole.
Many board members have personal connections to Marlborough, whether as alumni or parents, ensuring they bring a genuine desire to support and enhance the School for future generations. As their decisions impact the School as a whole, board members seek input from multiple standpoints. To make sure diverse perspectives are considered in shaping their decisions, they engage in discussions with senior leadership, the two heads of the parents association and the head of the Alumni council. The Board’s goal of ensuring that Marlborough remains competitive in attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff has led them to collaborate closely with key faculty and staff to address issues related to compensation, benefits and evaluation.
Trustees are part of different committees, such as Finance, Buildings and Grounds, each of which meets before a full board meeting to prepare and refine their agendas. The committees not only work on immediate goals but also focus on long-term strategies to guide Marlborough’s direction for the future.
“Every decision we make is rooted in our mission and vision, keeping us focused on what’s best for the future of the School,” said Missy Kolsky, the chair and executive committee chair of the Board of Trustees.
The committees present and vote on key issues in the Boardroom, which can span several meetings for thorough consideration. Some of their recent decisions have included hiring the head of school and setting the annual tuition. They were also responsible for collaborating with the head of school and senior leadership to implement and fundraise for the Violets for Building Equity in Education (ViBEE) and CEI programs, which include the Frank and Eileen Accelerator Program.
Contrary to popular belief, the Yondr pouches were not the Board of Trustees’ idea. They don’t handle student affairs; instead, the head of school addresses issues like phone usage and may suggest potential solutions. The Board is kept informed about solutions, including pilot programs like the no-phone policy week in the 2023-24 school year, but the head of school oversees student-related matters directly.
As the Board continues to make significant decisions, they bring in different faculty members to hear their opinions on topics before deciding. However, being a trustee is more than just meeting agendas and making policy judgments. It’s also about celebrating Marlborough’s achievements. Trustees are regularly updated on student accomplishments, sports victories and program successes, reinforcing their commitment to the School community.
“The word ‘trustee’ — you’re trusted with the strategy for the school and how the School is going to run in the years ahead,” Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Dorothy Kim said. “It’s nice to feel like a member of the community in that way, but honestly, every day is rewarding because, obviously, I believe in the School.”
