50th Timeline: 2009 – Into the Woods

As the first decade of the 21^st century concluded, the great balancing act of trying to maintain the quality of the School during a time of enrollment decline continued, made even more challenging by the economic downturn that began in 2007.  The attrition rate for returning students spiked in 2008 and 2009, and the Board again faced difficult challenges.  Tuition increases, an issue since the 1970s, continued—making things even more challenging for many parents.  While dealing with immediate issues related to the budget, the Board never lost sight of long-term goals and continued to prepare for the future, raising funds for the updating of buildings and acquiring adjacent property.  During this period, the School was entrusted with the Heritage property across the street from the School buildings, a 14-acre tract of woods that the School would soon use for outdoor education.