campus maintenance and budgeted improvements.
Educating the Mind and the Heart for Christ
The Dunham School seeks to provide students with the opportunity for a college preparatory education set in the framework of Christian education and example.
Members of the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees include (front row, from left) Gerrit Dawson, Melissa Mann, Courtney Murphy, Scott Quirk, (second row) Carli Neshiewat, Sophia Riley, (third row) John Miller, Brian Dantin ’96, David Fleshman ’04, Brad Dutruch, (fourth row) Tory Johnson, Blair Gremillion, Head of School Steve Eagleton (ex-officio), and Scott Bardwell ’91. Not pictured: Taylor Bennett and Chris Hicks.
Letter from Head of School
What an exciting time for The Dunham School! After celebrating more than 40 years spent in the pursuit of excellence in Christian education, it is fitting that we now focus on the plans that God has for His school for the next 40 years.
The work outlined in this strategic plan represents fiscal discipline and stewardship, school improvements in facilities, support for our faculty’s continued spiritual and professional growth, and a focus on improving the student experience. I am thankful for the stakeholder feedback from our constituent groups and for the leadership of our Board of Trustees.
I truly believe that God has greater plans than we understand—plans to use the school to be a beacon on a hill and a light for Christ to both the city of Baton Rouge, and to every place that our students work and serve around the world. As with all the plans of men, our fervent prayer is that our plans are truly God’s plans and that we will walk in His will as we seek to improve and execute our mission.
Please join me in praying for the success of our plans and for God to continue to reveal His good purpose for our school through His people. We hope you will join on our journey to chart the path for The Dunham School for the next 40 years and beyond.
In Him,
Steven A. Eagleton Head of School
Blair Gremillion, Chair
Brian Dantin ’96
Jon Eenigenburg
Tory Johnson
Corbin Ladner
Melissa Mann
Kori Murray
Carli Nesheiwat
Trey Prats
Scott Quirk
Merten Rice
Sophia Riley
Preston Thompson
Tracy Hatcher Uhl ’99
2021-2026
THE DUNHAM SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN
As we celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary, we look back on the past and God’s faithfulness in establishing and sustaining our school, and we look forward to God’s promise for our future. We are excited by the opportunities presented at this moment in time, and we recognize the importance of establishing the school’s permanence in the landscape of Baton Rouge’s private schools. Dunham is poised to claim a strong and vibrant future. Our desire is that we would stand as a beacon on a hill and a light for Christ to be seen by the world as we strive for excellence in Christian education. To that end, we have outlined strategic areas of focus and planned growth as we look to live out the promise.
The Dunham Board of Trustees has identified the following areas of focus as part of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan:
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY
FACULTY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM EXPANSION
FACILITY UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS
NEW BUILDING/CAPITAL PROJECTS
In each of these key areas, the school will seek to grow the capacity and opportunity to flourish through the next five years and establish best practices that will become foundational in sustaining the school in the years ahead.
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY
As we mature as a school, it is imperative that we look to reduce our bank debt, build cash reserves, and establish an endowment.
To establish the school as a secure and well-funded fiscal entity that can weather financial challenges and become self-sustaining, we will:
SHIFT
Shift the focus of Annual Giving to provide operational support to cover unexpected circumstances or aspirational program enhancements as well as faculty development, need-based financial assistance, and scholarship dollars for future fiscal years.
ESTABLISH
Establish a cash reserve of $2,000,000 by 2025.
REDUCE
Reduce debt service to 2.5% of operating expenses and eliminate all school debt within 10 years.
ADD
Add a legacy society for planned and estate giving.
FACULTY SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
As we continue to hire new teachers and add program enhancements, it is critical that we provide ongoing professional development and analyze the curriculum to ensure it reflects a biblical worldview, demonstrates cohesiveness across grade levels and disciplines, adheres to national standards, and provides relevance for students as they acquire future-ready skills.
To ensure our faculty’s continued ability to deliver an exceptional education through a curriculum that reflects a Christian worldview and prepares our students to lead in an ever-changing world, we will:
DEVELOP
Further develop the Christian education of our faculty through a deeper understanding of the school’s founding principles and mission.
ENSURE
Ensure that our curriculum is relevant, cohesive, incorporates futureready skills, and has real-world, practical applications.
INCREASE
Increase our ability to hire and retain the most qualified, skilled, and dynamic faculty through competitive salaries and benefits and access to professional development funded through philanthropic gifts.
TRAIN
Train the faculty on the benefits, relevance, and execution of the Harkness method and promote that unique pedagogy to the broader community.
PROGRAM EXPANSION
The Dunham School is recognized in the community as an excellent Christian school, advanced in technology application and specialized in the ability to individualize the educational experience for each child. To further our success in delivering a curriculum that focuses on futureready skills, we must continue to support a technology-rich learning environment that allows for the cutting-edge engagement of our students and the presentation and delivery of information that reflects future work environments.
To ensure the future advancement of the school’s mission by adding programs that further meet the needs of students and parents and grow both the school’s sphere of influence and market share, we will:
INCREASE
Increase faculty access to cutting-edge technology and expand the technical expertise of our staff, teachers, and students.
ESTABLISH
Establish an Early Learning Center to serve the two and three-year- old age group.
EXPAND
Expand the Dunham Virtual Academy to admit non-traditional students who prefer online learning and a flexible approach to school.
FACILITY UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS
With an aging campus in need of aggressive maintenance and repair and the ongoing need to modernize current facilities, we must dedicate resources to necessary improvements. While some projects are smaller and provide an added aesthetic, others require updated design or refurbishment.
To update and maintain a pristine, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional campus, we will:
UPDATE & REFURBISH ADD
✓ Update the Campus Master Plan.
✓ Refurbish the Quest Center.
• Update landscaping and drainage.
COMPLETE
Complete additional campus security measures, including:
✓ Auditory alert system improvements
✓ Security cameras
✓ A school security app
✓ Communication upgrades
+ Add alumni bricks and student seating areas to the front circle.
✓ Add estate fencing around the campus for privacy and security.
✓ Add covered walkways and a new Lower School carpool. REMOVE
– Remove the last temporary building from the center of campus.
– Remove all small storage buildings.
NEW BUILDING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS
In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of our school and in thankfulness for God’s faithful provision, the school must establish a new fundraising structure that will allow us to secure the financial support necessary to achieve strategic plan goals, build new facilities, and serve as better stewards of our resources.
To develop and execute a comprehensive plan to fund the future growth and development of the school’s campus facilities, we will:
ESTABLISH
Establish a development office capable of effectively devising and executing strategy in multiple giving areas across different constituent groups.
ADD
Add facilities in a sequential manner to ensure the school’s ability to provide excellence in the areas of academics, arts, athletics, and student support fully funded through giving.
CONSIDER
Consider a new $16,000,000 comprehensive campaign to secure, fund, and build for the future.
PRELIMINARY MASTER PLAN
NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
Please note that the illustration above is a preliminary drawing of our 15-year campus master plan and may be subject to change based on a number of factors, including the successful completion of current projects and fundraising campaigns.
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN PHASE I PROJECTS
In addition to enhancing learning and athletic spaces for faculty and students, the successful completion of our Phase I capital projects will greatly improve the aesthetics and functionality of the campus and facilitate the continued expansion of our program offerings.
NEW LOWER SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
✓ New playground, climbing, and sensory equipment
✓ Artificial turf
✓ Padded areas around playground equipment
✓ Refurbished sports courts and new sportsplex area
✓ Updated fencing
CARPENTER-RANDALL SCIENCE CENTER PHASE II RENOVATIONS
PRACTICE FIELD AND STADIUM UPGRADES
GOAL: $1,000,000
• Installation of all-weather turf
• New lighting and drainage
• New landscaping and fencing
• New side practice area
• Permanent restrooms, concession stand, and ticket booth at the Dunham Stadium
✓ FUNDING SECURED ($530,000) FUNDRAISING GOAL: $2,500,000 COMPLETED
• Upgrades to the five remaining science classrooms
• New tables better suited for lecture and lab experiments
• New lighting, paint, and flooring
CHAPEL HALL EXPANSION & RENOVATIONS
• Expansion of the Rollins Family Dining Hall for increased capacity
• Upgraded kitchen, paint, flooring, and HVAC
• The addition of new brick facade to Chapel Hall, which houses the Rollins Family Dining Hall and the Carpenter-Randall Science Center
2021–2026 Strategic Plan Implementation
The Dunham Board of Trustees and administration are excited to share the progress made in achieving the goals outlined in the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.
FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY
Establish the school as a secure and well-funded fiscal entity that can weather financial challenges and remain self-sustaining.
✔ Ten-year debt elimination plan outlined in 2021.
✔ $150,000 of annual giving allocated for need-based financial assistance and additional scholarship funds ($250,000 goal).
✔ Initial cash reserve of $1,500,000 established in August of 2022 ($2,000,000 goal).
✔ $1,650,000 held in cash reserves ($2,000,000 goal).
✔ Debt reduced to 3.5% of operating expenses (2.5% goal).
✔ $3,400,000 raised for principal debt paydowns ($5,500,000 goal).
✔ The Dunham Legacy Society created, resulting in $3,470,000 in planned giving commitments.
✔ Strict management protocols established for accessing cash reserves and structuring the funding for future capital projects.
✔ 40 & Forever Capital Campaign publicly launched.
FACULTY SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ensure the faculty’s continued ability to deliver an exceptional education through a curriculum that reflects a Christian worldview and prepares our students to lead in an ever-changing world.
✔ Dedicated in-service sessions continue to provide faculty with opportunities explore the intersection between faith and learning.
✔ Lance Hahn named Director of Spiritual Formation.
✔ New bible teacher hired to allow Lance Hahn to develop cohesive bible curriculum.
✔ Rob Sullivan promoted to Director of Academics.
✔ Comprehensive marketing plan developed to promote the benefits of the Harkness Method.
✔ 75,000 of annual giving allocated to provide an additional one percent teacher pay increase and $50,000 of merit-based pay increases to deserving faculty ($250,000 goal).
PROGRAM EXPANSION
Ensure the future advancement of the School’s mission by adding programs that further meet the needs of parents and students and grow both the School’s sphere of influence and market share.
✔ Apple TVs and/or interactive boards installed in 100 percent of the classrooms.
✔ $150,000 in grants used to purchase additional technology items.
✔ Director hired to oversee the structure growth, and development of the Dunham Early Childhood Center.
✔ Two-year-old program added in 2021 with the opening of the Dunham Early Childhood Center.
✔ A third PreK-3 section added in the fall of 2022.
✔ $50,000 of professional development funds allocated for staff tech training.
2021–2026 Strategic Plan Implementation
FACILITIES UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS
Update and maintain a pristine, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional campus that reflects the excellence that occurs within the classrooms.
✔ Campus master plan updated and approved by the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2022.
✔ McVay Quest Center refurbishment completed.
✔ Universal security app for faculty and staff phones implemented.
✔ Upgrades to the campus auditory alert system completed.
✔ Thirty new security cameras featuring AI technology installed.
✔ Second security resource officer hired.
✔ Key card access added to exterior doors of the Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center, Rollins Family Dining Hall, and Carpenter-Randall Science Center.
✔ Campus maintenance budget increased to $175,000 ($200,000 goal).
✔ Director of Maintenance hired to complete a campus-wide assessment, establish a yearly maintenance schedule, and to address overdue maintenance issues.
✔ Lower School covered carpool area and walkways completed.
CAPITAL PROJECTS/NEW BUILDING
Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategic plan to fund the future growth and development of the school’s campus facilities.
✔ 40 & Forever Capital Campaign publicly launched in 2023, following a successful quiet phase that raised more than $9,100,000 of the $16,000,000 campaign goal.
✔ Lower School playground construction completed.
✔ Funding secured for Phase II of the Carpenter-Randall Science Center renovations.
✔ Fundraising underway for the remaining capital projects, including the Middle School and Upper School PE and athletic improvements, the expansion of the Rollins Family Dining Hall, and exterior upgrades to Chapel Hall.
✔ More than $10,400,000 raised as of October 2024 for the 40 & Forever Campaign; on track to complete the campaign within the next two years.
To learn more about the goals and objectives outlined in the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, please visit dunhamschool.org/ strategicplan or contact Head of School Steve Eagleton at steve.eagleton@dunahmschool.org or 225-767-7097 ext. 387.
A COMMITMENT FROM THE BOARD
To ensure that the school remains focused on fulfilling the goals outlined in the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan in priority order, the Dunham Board of Trustees is committed to the following actions:
The Board will work to support the school in striving for excellence in Christian education.
The Board is committed to a balanced budget each year.
The Board will commit to debt reduction as a long-term sustainability priority.
The Board will work to eliminate all school debt.
The Board will work to improve our campus facilities by a planned approach to campus maintenance and budgeted improvements.
Thank you to the members of the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees for their work on and approval of this strategic plan. Pictured are (front row, from left) Gerrit Dawson, Melissa Mann, Courtney Murphy, Scott Quirk, (second row) Carli Nesheiwat, Sophia Riley, (third row) John Miller, Brian Dantin ’96, David Fleshman ’04, Brad Dutruch, (fourth row) Tory Johnson, Blair Gremillion, Head of School Steve Eagleton (exofficio), and Scott Bardwell ’91. Not pictured: Taylor Bennett and Chris Hicks.
