Invest in Operational Resilience and Sustainability
Chiaravalle will build on its existing financial strategies, which are dynamic and responsive to shifting needs and the unpredictability of today’s world. Chiaravalle’s financial planning takes into account known risks, such as the ongoing impacts of changes to the environment and evolving safety and security needs.
Most importantly, Chiaravalle will continue to be a place where students flourish and thrive. Families will feel confident that the school is honoring its commitments, offering a resilient program, and supporting students throughout their journey.
Chiaravalle is proud of its dynamic and robust responses over the past six decades to financial and operational challenges through the global pandemic, a national teacher shortage, increased threats to physical security, and growing risks from climate impacts.
As more families face economic uncertainty, Chiaravalle will continue to strive to become more financially accessible. Maintaining focus on retention and sustainable increases in enrollment will reinforce financial and program stability. Chiaravalle will continue building philanthropy within its community, providing everyone with the opportunity to contribute their time, talent, and treasure in meaningful ways.
To attract, retain, and nurture the best talent, Chiaravalle will continue to prioritize investment in its employees. Additional resource allocations for infrastructure and capital improvements will ensure that the school environment remains a safe and secure place that promotes learning and community. Stewardship of these long term strategic priorities will be overseen by an active and engaged Board of Trustees that continues to represent the diversity of Chiaravalle and its community.
Priorities
Global Citizenship, Social Justice, and Service Learning
Create stewardship opportunities through Chiaravalle’s curriculum and programs in service of developing future leaders who will effect change for a better world.
Environmental Stewardship
Accelerate environmental stewardship programming that prepares Chiaravalle students to understand and address the impacts of environmental and climate change now and in the future.
Employee Retention and Well-being
- Hire and retain the best teachers and staff by fostering a culture of respect, life-long learning, shared responsibility, and collaboration to fulfill our modern Montessori mission of educating students to reach their full potential.
- Invest in competitive employee compensation and professional development.
- Recruit and retain talent that is representative of the diversity of Chiaravalle’s student body and the broader Evanston community.
Enrollment Management
- Increase retention by highlighting the power of the Chiaravalle journey to prospective and current families, students, and alumni at all program levels.
- Increase enrollment at a sustainable rate that aligns with the school’s strategic financial model and program capacity.
Facilities
- Continue to create an ideal green and active school environment that nurtures learning and promotes community and health.
- Invest in upgrades that will enhance our facility’s climate resilience and be beneficial to students, faculty, and staff.
- Use materials that support environmental sustainability and follow practices that reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
Financial Sustainability
- Formulate a long-term financial plan, ensuring resources for future capital projects, program expansions, and the overall health of the school.
- Explore sustainable opportunities to raise funds for tuition assistance to accept and retain families who want to join the Chiaravalle community.
- Establish robust risk management plans to address potential challenges in areas like technology, privacy, emergency responses, and facilities.
Board Engagement
- Identify and engage with trustees to drive initiatives in fundraising, enrollment, and community relations.
- Actively cultivate potential Board leaders who will foster connection and belonging, modeling Chiaravalle’s sense of community.
Philanthropy
- Leverage the expertise and networks of families, trustees, and alumni to build a culture of philanthropy that includes service learning and fundraising initiatives.
Safety and Security
- Continue assessing and investing in areas to improve the school’s physical safety and security in ways that are consistent with the needs of Chiaravalle’s students and its values as an institution.
- Consider and plan for the financial implications of future safety and security needs.