Cal-ISBOA News

July 24, 2025

A couple weeks ago, the Cal-ISBOA board and staff was graciously hosted at the Silicon Valley International School (INTL) in Palo Alto, which generously lent its quadra-lingual Media Hub to our Board Orientation. Erik Paxman (CFO at INTL and a VP of the Cal-ISBOA Board) treated Board members and staff to a fantastic tour of the K-5 campus, where we were all impressed by the modern classrooms full of natural light and the interactive signage and art to engage students. Offering immersive bilingual programs in French, German, and Chinese (PK-12), INTL is an International Baccalaureate World School authorized to provide the full continuum of IB education.

Thanks again to Erik and to INTL for hosting us at your amazing campus!

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July 17, 2025

Last week, the Cal-ISBOA staff was graciously hosted by Susan Sun (Business Officer) and Amy Chang (Payroll & HR Supervisor) for a fascinating tour of Chinese American International School (CAIS) at their still-new location in San Francisco. We learned about the extensive renovations (including significant seismic reinforcements!) done on several school buildings, and how happy the staff, faculty, and students are to be housed on a single campus. Serving a culturally diverse community, CAIS offers a continuum of educational experiences, from full Chinese immersion for its youngest students to Chinese as a second language for middle schoolers, and its rigorous academic program consistently produces students with a very high level of language proficiency and cultural understanding.

Thank you again to Susan, Amy, and CAIS for sharing your wonderful school with us! 

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July 14, 2025

Each year, Cal-ISBOA hosts a Board Orientation to welcome new Board members and provide a governance refresher for continuing Board members. This year's orientation was led by President Nicole Pennington and Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi in collaboration with other Board leaders on July 9 as a hybrid meeting at Silicon Valley International School (VP Erik Paxman's school in Palo Alto) and online.

The gathering provided an excellent opportunity for new and continuing Board members to deepen their understanding of Cal-ISBOA's objectives and operations and get to know one another better. Participants left with a clear understanding of the association's history and strategic direction, policies and procedures, and roles and responsibilities, which laid a solid foundation for the important and collaborative work the Board will undertake over the next year.

We look forward to working with this talented Board of Directors to achieve our collective goals and vision for Cal-ISBOA!

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July 7, 2025

In mid-June, the Cal-ISBOA Southern California Facilities Workshop was hosted at the scenic Marlborough School campus in Los Angeles, and Matt Riddle, Director of Facilities and Capital Planning, kindly toured our group around their facilities to cap off our day of professional learning and networking. Throughout the day and our tour, we were impressed by Marlborough’s incredible staff, their state-of-the-art facilities, and the breathtaking view of the Hollywood Hills from its 110,000-square-foot campus.

Thanks again to Matt and to Marlborough School for hosting us at your beautiful campus!

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July 3, 2025

Cal-ISBOA member schools are the heart of our organization, and visiting them in person is a true privilege. While in Los Angeles for the Southern California Facilities Workshop, Membership Engagement Manager Peggy Marshall was treated to a tour of The Oaks School from Aaron Fielding, Business Manager. Located on the campus of a renovated historic church, The Oaks School is a lush, green oasis in the urban heart of Los Angeles, where things are remarkably peaceful despite bustling surroundings. And remember this tidbit for your next Trivia Night: the unforgettable school dance scene in Back to the Future was filmed in The Oaks School’s gym!

Thanks again to Aaron and The Oaks School for the tour!

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July 1, 2025

Cal-ISBOA staff are grateful any time we can see our incredible member schools in action! Last month, we were graciously hosted by Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney, Director of Finance and Operations at Children's Day School in San Francisco, where Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi learned about their signature on-campus farm in the middle of the city and met the newest CDS “students.” Children’s Day is located just across the street from the historic Misión San Francisco de Asís, or “Mission Dolores,” and the school’s beautiful campus features unique repurposed structures like the iconic San Francisco three-story rowhouses (full of staff offices now!) and Catholic school buildings.

Thanks again to Jeanne and to Children's Day School for sharing their special school with us!

June 23, 2025

Thank You for helping to make our Southern California Facilities Workshop a success! We shared an invigorating day of professional learning and networking, topped off with a tour of the incomparable Marlborough School in Los Angeles from Matt Riddle. Your active participation, insightful discussions, and unwavering support truly made this event memorable.

Our small but mighty group had a blast together! Please enjoy some photos from the event below.

We are so grateful to our Facilities Subcommittee, chaired by Matt Riddle (Marlborough School) and Vice-Chaired by Pamela Connor (Campbell Hall). Your committed leadership throughout planning and hosting the workshop was essential, enabling Cal-ISBOA to deliver a high-quality experience in support of Facilities Directors, CFOs, and others who handle the unique work of Facilities at their independent schools.

Special thanks go out to our generous Sponsor Building Solutions for supporting the Southern California Facilities Workshop!

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June 20, 2025

Collegial support is a defining characteristic of the Cal-ISBOA culture and is one of the many benefits of membership in the Association. The Cal-ISBOA Mentor Program for Business, HR, Facilities, and Operations Professionals, started in 2023 by the Membership Committee, connects professionals at different stages of their career to support each other, be a sounding board for California independent school issues, and offer guidance and advice when it is needed. Mentor Program participants and others interested in joining the program gathered for an informal meetup during the 2025 Annual Meeting in Berkeley, led by the Membership Committee Chair Ken Parr (Carlthorp School).

As our education community knows only too well, learning is a lifelong process. Although the value of hard-won wisdom and experience in the industry cannot be overstated, we believe that the best learning is reciprocal, and professionals early in their journeys have much to contribute as well. The Mentor Program offers California independent schools business officers at every stage an opportunity to continue their learning and growth, while connecting with colleagues in our field.

Cal-ISBOA's Mentor Program is currently seeking members interested in participating in the program. Pairings will be made based on job title, years of experience in your role, and location and size of school where possible. Let us know if you are interested in joining the program by filling out the form below.

Join the Mentor Program

June 16, 2025

The Cal-ISBOA Bylaws identify an Executive Committee that can act in the place of the Board between Board meetings on urgent matters. The committee is composed of five officers and up to two Board members selected by the President and ratified by the Board.

During the June 9, 2025 Board meeting, Incoming President Nicole Pennington (Los Encinos School) asked for the Board’s ratification of two Board members for appointment to the 2025-2026 Executive Committee. In addition to Incoming President Nicole Pennington, Incoming Vice President Ken Parr (Carlthorp School), Incoming Vice President Erik Paxman (Silicon Valley International School), Treasurer Steve Bajc (Chinese American International School), Incoming Secretary Jane Davis (The Archer School for Girls), the committee will include two Board appointees, Rebecca Rowland (Campbell Hall) and Deepika Nabar (Archbishop Mitty High School).

The Board is pleased to confirm the appointment of these esteemed colleagues to the committee!

June 16, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Cal-ISBOA’s Board of Directors has adopted a new Strategic Plan that will guide our organization’s direction over the next three years. This moment is the result of a mammoth collaborative effort over many months, and we thank our entire community from school members to corporate business partners for providing input that informed our work throughout this process. Special thanks to our Board and Committees for their strong commitment to our community and to our work, and to Jim DeLizia of DeLizia Consulting Services for expertly guiding our planning process.

The Cal-ISBOA 2026-2028 Strategic Plan sets an ambitious yet carefully considered direction for our organization to expand and deepen its impact while remaining true to our core principles and goals. Learn more and read the full plan!