1st Annual Maranatha Cross Country event

I grew up in a small town in Kansas that did not offer cross country due to the fact that we needed all of the boys out for football and all of the girls on the volleyball team. So I didn't get my first taste of cross country until a couple of years ago when I went out to cheer our team on at a Lansing event.

It is an interesting event for spectators. If you choose to you, you can get some exercise by running to different points on the course to cheer on the competitors. And you can get within an arm's reach of the competitors as they go single file through forest, field and hill.

It would be great to see a host of Maranatha people show up at the Zarda's farm this afternoon to kick off the first ever Maranatha hosted cross country event. I am planning on being there ready to run. Hope to see you there!

Finance Committee

The Lord is good all the time, but we often don't take time to realize it, so He smacks us right in the face with His goodness.

The Finance Committee met last night to review the proposed budget for this coming year. No, things are not rosy, but as I listen to the news of Shawnee Mission schools closing and major universities shutting down major sports like baseball, I am reminded that we are all upheld by His mighty hand, and He will accomplish His purposes no matter what the economy around us is doing.

We have a proposed budget that is balanced and starts to put in place measures for addressing significant needs like a reserve fund and deferred maintenance. Dr. Daugherty and his staff work diligently to plan in a wise manner yet know that in all things God is in control.

There are several keys to a balanced budget: enrollment (net loss of 6 students K-12, still over 500 total), giving (the auction netted over $25,000) and managing expenses (they have done a remarkable job to date). Our need to replenish text books hit us this year, so that expense almost doubled over last year, but most of our expenses are very much in line with what we experienced last year. We continue to look for ways to provide for our teachers - both in salaries and benefits. We are praying earnestly for God to provide in this area.

Two topics that the Finance Committee would like to respond to from the feedback provided by our Maranatha family last year through surveys and forums were around cost and funding improvements. In later posts and in the Maranatha Matters, we will strive to provide insight and plans for managing and addressing this feedback.

Development Committee

There were two key topics from the Development Committee this month: 1) Investigating a marketing firm to help us with a concerted effort to market our school for the 2011-12 school year. 2) Discussing what steps should be taken to strengthen the position of our pre-school in the marketplace. The pre-school is a critical component to our school offering for many reasons, and one of those is its profitability. So keeping our attention on this enterprise is of high importance.

Facilities Committee

The Facilities Committee has two main projects they are trying to complete before year end: 1) Deal with some drainage issues at the North Campus that cause water seepage into the lunchroom area. 2) Install a sign at the southwest corner of the North Campus publicizing that the land is Maranatha Academy. It will be a large, well-built, permanent sign that will be an attractive notification of the school's presence at that 4-way stop.

As are all the Committees, the Facilities Committee spent some time contemplating the future. There are many things that could really upgrade our school in our current facilities, so they have created a list and prioritized those efforts. Next up is figuring out a way to fund those projects.

Planning Committee

It is so encouraging to be around other people who match or exceed your investment and passion in a subject. The more I am around the other members of the Board, the more I realize that they are putting their heart and soul into God's work at Maranatha - and they are good at what they do.

I was unable to attend the Planning Committee meeting this month, but seeing the notes from their meeting, we are blessed to have their leadership in looking to the future. As they are quick to recognize, only the Lord knows the future, but He asks us to be thoughtful and wise about what could happen. The planning committee continues to do just that.

So this month they worked on getting the Committees organized around goals and specific metrics that will help us gauge how well we are moving toward those goals. The also considered succession planning which is prudent since inevitably each of those serving at Maranatha will retire or move on to other opportunities. Thoughtfully planning for the replacement of key positions is critical. Finally, they instigated a plan to keep the Mission, Vision and Core Values in front of the Board on a regular basis to help us stay on track.

With the Lord guiding the members of the Board, staff and teachers through their walk with Him, their experiences, knowledge and skills, I really think even better days are ahead for Maranatha.

Don't Miss the Fun

I am attempting to get to as many Maranatha sporting activities as I can. I am doing that for several reasons: 1) I enjoy sports, 2) I enjoy watching kids that I know compete, 3) I like the opportunity to visit with the parents, staff, friends and kids, and 4) I know the kids and coaches are greatly encouraged when there is a good contingent of Maranatha fans rooting for their team.

I know there are way too many events - many going on simultaneously - to attend all of them, but if you want to create memories, feel a part of the Maranatha family, and have some fun, don't miss out on the opportunity to come out and cheer on our kids. I can tell you that the atmosphere at the home volleyball games is even more fun than last year. Maranatha kids who are not involved in volleyball are bringing their parents and coming out to cheer. And they don't cheer quietly! It creates a wonderful environment for the games.

Hope to see you out there!

P.S. The Board Committees are starting to meet next week, so I should be posting some updates from them on there efforts.

Facilities Committee

The facilities we use are one of the most visible aspects of our school. So it is important for us to invest the time in maintenance, improvement and planning to ensure that the facilities are not only kept in optimal working condition, but they demonstrate our wise management of resources to take care of the things God has given us to do His ministry.

The Facilities Committee has been diligent about maintaining and improving many things around the school. They have done it while working with a tight budget. An impressive list of wise investments over the past year have been completed: new roof on North building, a new outbuilding for storage at the North Campus, new parking lot at North, new lights in the gym, and an upgrade in the athletic field at the South campus. Praise the Lord for His goodness! He certainly is not limited by our economic down turn.

There are other necessary enhancements that we are focusing on this year: taking care of a drainage issue at the North campus that will deal with the water that can seep into the building near the lunch room and do another side of the roof at the North campus. Necessary investments, but they are certainly not exciting.

As we firm up our understanding of the Lord's vision for the school, what we do with facilities will be a key component. Should we build out the North campus to more fully meet the needs of education and athletics? Should we buy a facility that could meet our needs? Should we buy different land and build? Should we stay where we are? All important questions, and we ask that you pray with us in asking for God's guidance in what we should do and for His provision in funding that direction.