Episcopal School of Acadiana

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF ACADIANA

REPORT OF THE VISITING COMMITTEE

February 25-28, 2018

Commendations

At the Episcopal School of Acadiana, the Visiting Committee found unified understanding and support of the School culture. ESA students, parents and teachers joyfully articulate and value an educational environment that nurtures connection, independence, discovery, and creativity. Meaningful relationships across the School community are a powerful resource for student development and could provide an opportunity for institutional growth. In this atmosphere of trust and acceptance students flourish.
The Visiting Committee commends the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and parents for the addition of the Lafayette campus, especially the unique, attractive, and functional Enrichment Center. The library, specialty rooms, and large gathering area for school programs, activities, and services showcase the School's commitment to the vision and promise of an exemplary learning community.
The Visiting Committee commends the faculty for their service and dedication to the School and its mission. Teachers care for their students and one another. Informal mentor relationships are evident across both campuses, offering encouragement, guidance and a simple recognition that each student is valued in this community. The members of the faculty love their work and appreciate each other's contributions. Instruction is student-centered and supported by a classroom atmosphere that provides opportunity for students to take risks and embrace new challenges.
The Visiting Committee commends the School for building a successful academic program that prepares students well for further education. ESA classes exhibit rigor and relevance through a variety of activities that expose students to new ideas and opportunities. Group sizes are appropriately managed to ensure participation and engagement. Discovery and collaboration reinforce course objectives and content. Teachers are attuned to the importance of connecting classroom studies with real life events and issues. These characteristics are the foundation of a strong ESA education.
The Visiting Committee commends the students on their journey toward independence, maturity, and leadership. ESA students are motivated to explore personal interests and assume responsibility for their own learning. Respect for the welfare of the community is a hallmark of the relationships between students. In the ESA classroom, engaged and productive learners pursue a deeper understanding in confidence that they will be supported by their fellow travelers.
The Visiting Committee commends the School for its commitment to wellness. Students are happy, confident, and content to learn and grow in this environment. ESA embraces academic rigor while managing student stress levels. Parents trust the School and its highly-respected leadership with the emotional well-being of their children.
The Visiting Committee commends the students and staff for their faithful adherence to and pride in the School's Honor Code. The mutual trust embodied by the allegiance of every member of the community to this code is rare and conducive to the prevailing sense of well-being and peace on campus. Living together in this manner models the possibilities of ideal community in a truly inspiring way. As a Middle School student put it, "I wish every place could be like ESA; there would be a lot less trouble in the world."

Recommendations

The Cade property has many wonderful attributes with its unique connection to the land, culture and history, making this campus a beautiful and inspiring setting for an independent school education. With the growth of the student body, increased programming, inadequate classroom space, and building deterioration compounded by deferred maintenance, the Visiting Committee recommends that ESA move expeditiously to complete a detailed and financially viable Master Plan. It is further recommended that the educational needs of students and teachers drive the phased implementation and that the report reflects the urgency felt by some members of the School community.
With the Master Plan for the Cade campus requiring multiple phases over an extended period of time, the Visiting Committee recommends a facility audit by an independent expert to determine the cost to maintain each building over the course of the next ten years. An accurate assessment of the lifespan and cost to maintain existing buildings will enable the administration to properly forecast financial demands until such facilities can be replaced.
The Visiting Committee recommends that the School create a multi-year Strategic Financial Plan that includes all the goals and strategies that the School wishes to accomplish over the life of the plan, including facilities upgrades, staff expansion, PPRRSM, cash flow deficit, endowment growth, debt reduction, and other objectives as identified by the administration and trustees. Given the ambitious nature of the Master Plan, the Strategic Financial Plan should also include plans and goals for the next capital campaign. Success in this portion of the plan will entail engaging trustees and School administrators in the cultivation of donors and the building of a giving culture among the parent community, as well as expanding the staff in the Development Office and better unifying the School's multiple, currently fragmented fundraising vehicles and events.
ESA provides an excellent education, setting its students on a course for continued success. The faculty enjoy significant autonomy which must be balanced with a coherent and unified vision. To this end, both teachers and students would gain additional benefit from ongoing curriculum review and development. It is the recommendation of the Visiting Committee that the faculty continue to work on vertical alignment and articulation in the curriculum across all grade levels, eliminating gaps in content, using a common language and conducting periodic review of national standards.
The ESA community acknowledges and supports the benefit of greater diversity of background and perspective in the faculty and administration. The Visiting Committee recommends renewed efforts to attract greater diversity among applicants. Given the challenges of hiring from outside the area, the Visiting Committee also recommends pursuit of diversity of thought and approach through professional development conferences, invitations to outside experts and visits to schools in other areas.
ESA enjoys the benefits of two beautiful campuses but is not immune to the challenges associated with health and safety. On the Cade campus with its open borders, periodic flooding, old science labs, and concerns regarding ADA compliance, more can and should be done to ensure the welfare of the School community. Both campuses have need for custodial attention and renewed cleaning procedures to protect and support a healthy environment for students. The Visiting Committee recommends these issues be thoroughly addressed.

2018 ISAS Accreditation Report

Episcopal School of Acadiana (Lafayette Campus)

Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade Campus)