Board
Our Board is comprised of both parent and non-parent volunteers, all of whom
work to ensure the success of Summers-Knoll
School. While the board is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the
school, it oversees the work of the Head of School and provides broad support
for the school's mission in the areas of policy, oversight, strategic planning,
development, and budget mangement.
Parents
Parents are always welcome at Summers-Knoll, and they often become involved in the daily activities of the school by providing lunch supervision, assisting in the classrooms, contributing their time and energy to our many school-sponsored functions, and by serving on board committees.
Parents are also an integral part of our recruitment and retention process, working as ambassadors to incoming parents and as a constant source of support and information.
Greater Community
While we enjoy a very strong internal school community, we also extend our reach
into Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. In this way, we strengthen our relationships
with the University of Michigan and other educational institutions and also
with nonprofit organizations such as Food Gatherers, the Humane Society, and
Washtenaw Literacy, to which our students have donated both time and funds.
Field trips are an important part of our curriculum. The University of Michigan Musical Society is a source of vast opportunities for musical enrichment and education. Our students are frequent visitors to various local museums and similar destinations, as well as to those in the Detroit and Toledo areas. We also invite a variety of visitors into the school to share their talents and expertise. In the recent past, these guests have included authors, storytellers, animal experts, musicians, and artists.
Facility
Our campus is located on the east side of Ann Arbor near the Washtenaw Avenue/East
Stadium split. There is convenient access from US-23, I-94, and
major surface streets. The building, with its distinctive fieldstone
exterior, was renovated in 1995. The interior is open and airy with vaulted
ceilings and skylights, and the wooded playground has plenty of space for imaginative,
active play. Our campus is adjacent to the beautiful County Farm Park, which
acts as a remarkable outdoor education center for student exploration and play.
Funding
As a small, independent school, we rely on more than tuition to ensure that we can continue to provide our educational programs. In order to keep tuition rates manageable and to support our ability to offer financial aid, each year we pursue opportunities to provide additional funding for our school. One such tool is an annual effort during which we ask our parents and other school community members to donate, if possible, to the Summers-Knoll Annual Fund. Each year, fund dollars are allocated to specific target areas, ranging from science supplies to playground equipment, and help to offset expenses that are not covered by tuition dollars. The board and administration also actively pursue grant opportunities throughout the year in order to obtain additional funding.
