June 2002 Referendum

		Issues Concerning the School Community Referendum of June, 2002 Governing Board Communiques: Management Council Communique 2002/09/06 Highlights ISG Governing Board Meeting 25 June 2002 2002/06/26 Governing Board Composition 2002/06/13 Letter to Tribune de Geneve 2002/06/13 Referendum Defence 2002/06/13 Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03 Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22 ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27 Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24 Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21 ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02 Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22 ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12 Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04 Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19 Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20 Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27 Main Index: Brief Introduction Brief Chronology Background Information Survey of Alumni Join the email discussion group Archives: Press Coverage Governing Board Communiques Director General's Newsletters Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - November 2000 Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002 Management Council Communique 6 September 2002 Management Council of the International School of Geneva With the departure of the Director General on 31 August 2002, the Governing Board has decided to institute the following arrangements for the management of the Foundation for the interim period pending the recruitment of a new Director General. A Management Council is appointed effective 1 September 2002 with overall managerial responsibility for the Foundation – in order to fulfil the duties of the Director General according to article 15 of the Regulations of the Governing Board. The Council will prepare recommendations on matters, which are within the competence of the Board and/or the Executive Committee of the Board. The Management Council will consist of the Financial & Administrative Director – François Collini, (Foundation), - the three Campus Directors – Jean-Guy Carpentier (LGB), Michel Chinal (La Chât) and Angela Hollington (Pregny) - and a person[1] to be nominated by the Board to facilitate decisions. The Council will maintain regular contacts with the Governing Board and its Executive Committee, and the Campus Development Groups (CDG's). The Council will decide on its representation in the Board and the Executive Committee but without voting rights. The Council will contribute to Foundation wide policies and actions such as accreditation and budgetary allocations. Each Campus Director will continue to assume responsibility for their respective campuses. The Financial & Administrative Director will assume the duties of management of all central administrative staff and decisions related to financial, legal and administrative issues (staffing contracts, observance of CCT, etc). The mode of working and the schedule of activities of the Council will be developed by the Council itself including assignment of responsibilities for issues of Foundation wide concern where a member will act on behalf of the entire Council. The above arrangements will continue to be closely monitored by the Board. [1] PS – Jean-Jacques Streuli has since been nominated. Version française : Direction de l'Ecole internationale de Genève A la suite du départ du directeur général, le 30 août dernier, le Conseil de Fondation a pris les dispositions suivantes afin d'assurer l'intérim jusqu'à l'engagement d'un nouveau directeur général. Un Directoire assumant toutes les responsabilités de gestion pour la Fondation, est en place depuis le 1er septembre. Il remplit les tâches incombant au directeur général, selon l'article 15 du règlement du Conseil de Fondation. Il va préparer notamment les recommandations relatives aux domaines relevant du Conseil de Fondation et/ou du comité exécutif de ce dernier. § Le Directoire est constitué du directeur administratif et financier, François Collini (Fondation), des trois directeurs de campus : Jean-Guy Carpentier, (LGB), Michel Chinal (La Chât) et Angela Hollington (Pregny) et d'un modérateur à choisir par le Conseil de Fondation1. § Le Directoire travaillera en collaboration avec le Conseil de Fondation, son comité exécutif, ainsi qu'avec les Groupes de Développement des Campus – CDG. § Il déterminera sa représentation auprès du Conseil de Fondation et du comité exécutif, aux séances desquels il participera sans droit de vote. § Le Directoire veillera à l'application de la politique générale de la Fondation et de ses procédures, telles, par exemple l'accréditation et les budgets.... § Chaque directeur de campus continuera à assumer la responsabilité de son propre campus. § Le Directeur financier et administratif répondra des tâches liées à la gestion du personnel de l'administration centrale, des décisions liées à la gestion financière, juridique et administrative (Contrats du personnel, respect de la CCT, etc.) Le mode de fonctionnement du Directoire sera déterminé par le groupe lui-même qui désignera également son/ses délégué/s pour les sujets concernant l'ensemble de la Fondation. Le fonctionnement du Directoire sera suivi avec attention par le Conseil de Fondation. Return to top of page. Highlights ISG Governing Board Meeting 25 June 2002 The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on 25 June 2002. The meeting included the completion of work on pending issues and focused on decisions linked to the results of the recent referendum vote of confidence for the Board." The incoming elected and co-opted Board members - Thierry Halff, Dev Ray, Hélèn Ballivet and Véronique Nanchen - attended the majority of meeting as observers. All current Board members were in attendance with one exception due to a death in the family. As announced in an earlier message, the referendum results indicated a clear majority of votes voting "no". Over 1,900 ballots were cast; 70% voted "no" and 30% voted "yes". Both the Swiss Federal Department of the Interior, office of Surveillance of Foundations as well as the Geneva and Vaud educational authorities are being formally notified of the results. They will assist with the maintenance of the proper governance of the Foundation as well as ensure the continued good functioning of the school. The result of the referendum has indicated to the Board the desire of the school community that it clear the way for others to take on the complex challenges of the Foundation. This will begin effective 7 July 2002 with the resignation of the six elected parents with unexpired mandates (John Boggs, Pam Gromadzki, Philippe Holderbeke, Luigi Pierleoni, Philip Procter and Rodney Ross). The commencement of the term of office for the four incoming elected and co-opted Board members has been advanced to the same date. Two current co-opted members (Lou McCaul and Atalanti Moquette) and the three members appointed by the cantonal and Swiss Federal authorities (Josie Clerc, Raymond Jourdan and Françoise Wallin)will remain as Board members serving both before and after 7 July. The Board recognised that the events leading to the referendum included a call for not only a change in the Board but also in the Director General. In recognition of this fact, the Board has agreed with Dr. Billingsley that he will leave the Foundation at the conclusion of the 2002-2003 academic year unless the new Board and Dr. Billingsley should mutually seek his contract extension. This will allow the new Board, should it choose, to conduct a proper search for an appropriate replacement as DG while the ongoing management and operation of the school continues in the coming year. He has pledged to work closely with the new Board to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any negative impact of the change in the Board on the ECIS Accreditation process that is currently on course for successful completion next year. The Board recommended that the Nominating Committee should be reconstituted according to its current regulations to allow special elections to be held as soon as practical after the start of the new academic year to fill the seats vacated due to the resignations. A number of deficiencies in the current election processes were uncovered during the intense scrutiny of the recent Board elections as well as the referendum voting process. The issues identified and recommendations for revisions were passed along for consideration by the new Board. The Board also recommended that the new Board promptly review the final proposal for the CCT to confirm its agreement with its revised provisions and future financial consequences to allow the new contract to be signed in a matter of days after 7 July. Also the Board recommended that the new Board review the plans for expansion of Foundation facilities, in particular, the plans for the Saconay campus, and proceed with fundraising efforts, negotiations with the canton of Geneva and, ultimately, construction of the facility. In other actions, the Board approved revisions to the Child Welfare and Protection Policy. The policy, originally adopted in April 2001, was scheduled for review after a year of experience with its implementation. A committee of Foundation staff and parents headed by Mike Lee, Head of Student Services, had proposed changes to ensure the updated policy document was a workable one which could be easily followed in terms of clarity and continuity as well as being relevant to legal issues and generally accepted practice in Switzerland. The outgoing Board members wish to express their thanks to those who have supported them during a challenging period in the school's history and earnestly hope that all will now unite in supporting the new Board. All members of the Governing Board - resigning, continuing and incoming - join me in the sincere hope that the changes being made will yield nothing but positive results for the Foundation and the school community. With best wishes to all, John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Return to top of page. Governing Board Composition- 2002/06/13 Names and addresses of members of the Governing Board: John Boggs Nationality: USA - Relected 1999 Route de Borex, CH-1274 Grens tel: +41 22 362.93.16 Employer: IATA Route de l'Aeroport 33, P.O. Box 416, CH-1215 Geneve 15 tel: +41 22 702.57.08 Carol Panchaud Nationality: CH - Reelected 2001 (Resigned 2002) 4 Chemin des Tulipiers, CH 1297 Founex tel: +41 22 776.69.03 Rosa Constanza Vallenas de Villar Nationality: Peru - Elected 1999 (Resigned 2002) 84 Allee des Frenes, Bois Chatton F-01210 Versonnex, France tel: +59 450 42.71.77 Employer: World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneve 27 tel: +41 22 791.41.43 Valerie de Marnix Nationality: Belgium - Elected 2000 (Resigned 2002) 60 route de la Louviere, Ch-1243 Presinge tel: +41 22 759.19.81 - +41 79 63.74.263 Rodney Enix-Ross Nationality: USA - Elected 2001 Les Grands Champs 6B, CH-1279 Bogis Bossey tel: +41 22 776.40.72 Employer: WRG - FM 1 Passage de la Radio, CH-1295 Geneva Philippe Holderbeke Nationality: Belgium - Elected 2001 100 chemin de Ruth, CH-1223 Cologny tel: +41 22 722.02.40 Employer: Banque Edouard Constant Cours de Rive 11, Case postale, CH-1211 Genève tel: +41 22 787.31.11 Luigi Pierleoni Nationality: Italy - Elected 2000 chemin Louis Degallier 63, CH-1290 Versoix tel: +41 22 779.36.63 Employer: Procter and Gamble route de Saint Georges 47, CH-1213 Petit Lancy tel: +41 22 709.63.93 Philip Procter Nationality: United Kingdom - Elected 2000 36b Les Landes, CH-1299 Crans pres Celigny tel: +41 22 362.35.50 Employer: Stryker Trauma chemin des Aulx 5, CH-1228 Plan les Ouates tel: +41 22 884.01.86 Stylianos Antonarkis Nationality: USA/GR - Elected 1998 (Resigned 2002) 28 Boulevard des Philosophes, CH-1205 Geneve tel: +41 22 789.10.07 Employer: Centre Medical Universitaire Division de Genetique Medicale 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneve 4 tel: +41 22 702.57.08 Atalanti Moquette Nationality: Greece - Appointed 2002 40 route de Vallon, CH-1224 Chene Bougeries tel: +41 22 348.04.49 Pierra-Alain Hirschy Nationality: CH - Elected 1997 (Resigned 2002) 18 avenue Jacques Martin, CH-1244 Chene Bougeries tel: +41 22 349.47.62 Employer: Merchandising International 1 Rue Pedro Meylan, CH-1208 Geneve tel: +41 22 735.35.02 Susan Hafner Nationality: USA/CH - Elected 1998 88 Chemin de Ruth, CH-1223 Cologny tel: +41 22 752.48.29 Unelected Members: Louis McCaul - United Nations - Since 2001 Josie Clerc - Conseil d'Etat Vaudois - Since 2000 Raymond Jourdan - Conseil Federal - Since 2000 Francoise Wallin - Conseil d'Etat Genevois - Since 1999 Return to top of page. Letter to the Tribune de Geneve - 2002-06-13 To: Members of the Community - International School of Geneva From: Chairman - Governing Board of the Foundation of the International School of Geneva You may have seen a number of articles regarding Ecolint appearing in the Tribune de Geneve over the past few months. These articles have often painted a very negative and incorrect picture of the school; consequently, the Board has sent the attached letter to the Editor in Chief of the Tribune de Geneve. An earlier letter from the Board in response to misleading information published in the Tribune de Geneve was heavily edited. The attached letter, along with an English translation of the text, is provided to allow all members of the community to recieve it in its entirety. You can individually make your own judgement on the possible bias of the Tribune based on the extent to which it appears in the paper, if it indeed ever is printed at all. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Monsieur Le Rédacteur en Chef Tribune de Genève Rue des Bois 11 Case Postale 1211 Genève 11 Genève, le 13 juin 2002 Monsieur, Compte tenu de l'influence que votre journal a sur la communauté genevoise, nous, membres du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole internationale, sommes outrés de la façon que vous avez choisie de relater les controverses que connaît actuellement notre école. Nous ne pouvons que nous demander quel est le but recherché par votre journaliste M. Bernard Favre puisque ce n'est en tous cas pas celui de pratiquer sa profession avec éthique et honnêteté. L'Ecole internationale de Genève, comme toute organisation vieille de plus de 75 ans, a connu des crises à intervalles réguliers, à travers les ans, alors qu'elle s'agrandissait et s'adaptait aux besoins de notre communauté. (Nous vous recommandons la lecture du livre de Michael Knight, « Un Portrait de l'Ecole internationale de Genève »). L'école a su faire face à chaque crise, et elle assume aujourd'hui l'instruction, sur 3 campus, de plus de 3400 élèves de 110 nationalités différentes et 80 langues maternelles. Les diplômés de cette année se dirigent vers des études supérieures non seulement en Suisse mais aussi dans de prestigieuses écoles en Angleterre, en France, aux Etats-Unis et dans beaucoup d'autres pays à travers le monde. La responsabilité de répondre aux besoins de cette population multiculturelle que nous partageons, vous en tant que journal local et nous en tant que Conseil de Fondation, est déjà assez difficile sans alimenter en plus une polémique avec des informations basées sur des rumeurs ou sur un parti pris. Dans vos articles et vos titres sont souvent apparus des mots tels que « machinations », « incompétent », « cinglant », « bouleversements », mots qui indiquent clairement une opinion plutôt qu'un journalisme objectif. Des interviews avec nos représentants ont été déformés pour favoriser l'opposition de manière si flagrante que personne n'ose se risquer à rétablir la vérité. Vous avez publié de fausses affirmations telles celles remettant en cause les compétences financières de notre trésorier, Philippe Holderbeke, ce qui relève de la diffamation dans n'importe quel pays démocratique. Il est d'ailleurs à relever que des vérificateurs extérieurs ont déjà contrôlé nos comptes et reconnu leur exactitude. D'autre part, vous nous accusez de falsification lors de l'élection des nouveaux membres du Conseil. Il a été clairement souligné lors de réunions dont votre journaliste a parlé dans ses articles, que Maître Naville, notaire, qui supervise nos élections, avait confirmé qu'aucune irrégularité n'avait été commise lors du processus de vote. Il nous a également assuré qu'il n'est en aucun cas possible que qui que ce soit puisse voter deux fois comme d'aucuns avaient pu le laisser entendre. La partialité de votre point de vue, qui nourrit naturellement l'agenda politique d'un groupe d'opposition sans scrupules dans sa manière de relater les choses, contribue malheureusement à la désinformation des lecteurs qui n'ont pas les moyens d'examiner le fonctionnement interne d'une institution de la taille et de la complexité de la nôtre. Le Conseil continue de travailler dans le but de définir les besoins de notre communauté et d'assurer son futur en tant qu'excellente institution académique avec comme ligne directrice le règlement de sa charte qui exige « le respect et l'égalité dans la diversité ». Des accusations, comme celles portées dans votre journal, qui laissent entendre que notre direction utilise « des méthodes de gestion à l'américaine » ne permettent pas de se faire une opinion basée sur une vraie présentation des faits et ne respectent pas les idéaux de tolérance qui sont à la base de l'état d'esprit de l'Ecole internationale. Les 12 membres de notre Conseil actuel représentent 7 nationalités, tous dûment élus par les presque 5000 électeurs de notre communauté. Dès la prochaine rentrée scolaire, les directeurs de nos deux plus grands campus seront tous deux francophones. Nous ne nions pas le fait que la fondation doit actuellement faire face à des problèmes complexes, dans une atmosphère tendue, mais nous, représentants du Conseil de Fondation, sommes actuellement en train de nous acquitter le plus consciencieusement possible de notre tâche en mettant sur pied de nombreuses réunions pour pouvoir répondre aux questions de notre communauté et lui fournir toute l'information souhaitée. Au vu de ce qui précède, nous vous demandons de vous assurer que l'information que vous publiez reflète bien toutes les facettes de la problématique. Avec nos meilleures salutations. John Boggs pour le Conseil de Fondation The Editor-in-Chief La Tribune de Geneve Rue des Bois 11 Case Postale 1211 Geneve 11 June 13, 2002, Geneva To the Editor-in-Chief, In view of the significant influence that your newspaper has on the Geneva community, we on the Governing Board of the International School of Geneva are outraged by the manner you have consistently chosen to report recent issues concerning our school. We ask ourselves what is the goal of your reporter Mr. Bernard Favre if it is not to practice his profession ethically and honestly? The International School of Geneva, like any organization with over 75 years of history behind it, has not been without crisis at regular intervals over the years, as it grew and adapted to the changing needs of our community. (We refer you to the book by Michael Knight, Ecolint, A Portrait of the International School of Geneva.) With each crisis, the school has landed soundly on its feet, today successfully educating over 3400 students on three campuses with 110 different nationalities and about 80 mother tongues. This year's graduating class is going on to higher education not only in Switzerland but also to prestigious schools in the UK, France, the United States and many other countries around the world. The task of serving this multicultural population, which you as a community newspaper and we as the Governing Board, both share although in different ways, is sufficiently challenging without feeding it information based on rumor or one point of view. Your articles and headlines have freely used words such as "machinations" (election fixing), "incompetent" (incompetence), "cinglant" (bloody), "bouleversements"(shattering); words which clearly state opinion rather than provide well-balanced journalism. Interviews with our representatives are deformed to favor the opposition to such an extent as to discourage any party wishing to set the record straight. You have printed inaccurate statements such as those attacking the financial competence of our treasurer, Philippe Holderbeke. This is libelous language in any democratic country. In fact, our accounts were recently inspected and approved by auditors. You accuse us of fixing our recent election for new Board members. Yet at public meetings about which your reporter wrote it was clearly stated that the notary Mr. Naville, who oversees our elections, confirmed that there were no irregularities in our voting process and that no one can vote twice in our elections, such as your articles suggested. Your one-sided viewpoint, which so clearly serves the political agenda of one very vocal opposition group in its manner of reporting, unfortunately contributes to misinforming a public that does not have the means to examine the inner functions of an institution of our size and complexity. This Board continues to work toward defining the needs of our community and assure its future as a fine academic institution, upholding the laws of its Charter that demand, as you wrote, "respect for equality within diversity". Accusations, such as those used in your paper by describing our direction as using "American management methods" do not allow for an opinion based on fair reporting, nor do they respect the ideals of tolerance that are at the basis of the spirit of the International School. The 12 current members of our present Board represent seven nationalities, all duly elected by the nearly 5000 voting members of our community. This coming school year the campus principals who direct our two biggest campuses will both be francophone. We do not deny that the Foundation is facing tense and challenging issues. But we of the Governing Board are presently working to fulfill our task of listening to and informing our community with numerous open meetings. We ask you to take your responsibility for providing information that reflects all sides of a story. Sincerely, John Boggs for the Governing Board. Return to top of page. Referendum Defence - 2002-06-13 Dear Fellow Members of the International School Community, > > The International School of Geneva is facing a very difficult time with > concern and confusion prevalent throughout the Foundation. > > On this past Monday night, open meetings were held on all three campuses > to answer questions and to provide information. As anyone present could > quickly determine, we are a Foundation with major problems which will not > be solved without restoring a spirit of mutual co-operation and a > recognition that the proper goals of the school are educational and not > political. > > A number of questions were raised during the open meetings as well as in > the correspondence from the various interest groups opposing the Board > which deserve response. > BACKGROUND ON THE REFERENDUM > * What should be done if you don't receive a ballot or if you have > lost the one that was mailed? > Apply in writing to: > International School of Geneva > REFERENDUM > Case Postale 3484 > 1211 Geneve 3 > > * Why is the Board asking for this vote of confidence in their > mandate? > > To determine if a duly elected board can continue to work in the interests > of the Foundation without interference. Throughout this academic year, the > Board and Director General have been under increasing attack from two > groups; The Federation of Staff Associations, led by Mr. John Schuman, and > the Committee of Concerned Members of the Community of the International > School of Geneva whose spokesperson is Hélèn Durand Balivet. > > Precisely who constitutes this Committee of Concerned Members has never > been made clear because much of the communication between this group and > the community occurs via unattributed quotes in local newspaper articles > and letters to the board and DG that arrive signed only by M. Balivet. > What is clear is that they are a very powerful and very politically > well-connected group. > > The Federation of Staff Assocations are accountable to their individual > union organisations and the employees of the Foundation. They are a > clearly defined group that may have legitimate grievances with the > Director General and other members of management. More importantly, > methods and structures exist that allow the Staff Federation to resolve > those conflicts with management if and when they occur without involving > the Governing Board or the community at large. > * Is this a vote to change the structure of governance for the Foundation? No. The referendum is not a vote on whether or not the current form of governance is the correct one for our Foundation. That question must be determined under the guidelines of the existing charter and should occur in an open and democratic process that includes the entire school community. The current Board has already launched this initiative by establishing a Governance Task Force which includes representatives from the Alumni Association and Federation of Staff Associations in addition to former CDG and Governing Board members. IF THE BOARD DOES NOT RECEIVE A MAJORITY "YES" VOTE > * Why has the Board indicated it would call upon the Swiss Federal > Authorities? > > The Foundation is organised and governed according to rules which were > adopted after consultation with the community and approval by the Swiss > Government. One of the key elements in these is that the Supervisory > Authority in Berne has authority over an otherwise autonomous Foundation. > This provision was added following a particularly bitter battle over > governance that occurred a little over 10 years ago. The Board has been > discharging its responsibilities under these regulations which dictate > that the Board is the sole responsible party for hiring and supervising > the Director General and that the DG has responsibility for relations and > negotiations with the staff and its unions. Attempts by the Staff > Association to circumvent the DG by bringing union-management problems to > the Board violate these regulations as do attempts by segments of the > community to usurp the authority of the Board in supervision of the DG. > > * Will the community lose control if the Supervisory Authority > intervenes? > > No. On the contrary, the community remains in control. The mission of the > Supervisory Authority would be simply to ensure that the regulations of > the Foundation are followed as intended. Their role is to ensure that the > Foundation is not "hijacked" by an anonymous committee or a small group of > union leaders but remains governed under established, democratic > procedures and continues to be managed by professional leaders and > administrators. > > * What happens to the initiatives of the Board on issues such as the > Governance Task Force, the fundraising efforts and the plans for capital > improvements on all the campuses if they are removed from office? > These projects, including the effort for self-renewal and change which the initiative on Governance represents, have an uncertain future at best as the attention of the Foundation will be focused on survival and not on progress in the wake of the change. * If the current Board leaves, can staff salaries increase without tuition increases? No. The commitment of the current Board to the staff is clearly demonstrated in their support for the need to increase staff salaries. The inevitable consequence of these salary increases is the requirement for unpopular tuition increases. * How will the current problems be addressed if the community votes the current Board out of office? Beyond the question of the mechanics of assembling a new Board willing to take the challenge of leadership, what concrete steps and what real actions are planned by those opposed to the direction of the Board to repair the damage of the past few months and to address the real problems facing the school? This important question about the possible future of the Foundation remains unanswered. BACKGROUND INFORMATION * What was the major incident that triggered the crisis? The current crisis evolved when a School Director and the Director General attempted to discipline a teacher whose classroom behavior warranted such action. The Federation refused to use the collective labour/management (CCT) agreement provisions designed for resolution of just this sort of staff/management disagreement but rather began circulating petitions. At one point, the progress on the ECIS accreditation was held up for the entire Foundation in protest of the issuance of a warning rather than appealing it via the established arbitration procedures. The Concerned Members of the Community group falsely accused the Director General of trying to fire this teacher and chose to protest the very legitimacy of the duly elected board, accusing them of creating the current 'malaise'. The exact nature of this malaise has never been articulated by either group. * What are the tangible examples of the problems caused by the Board and Director General that are causing the "malaise"? The Head of the Staff Association provided his answer during the open meeting at La Chat on Monday night - his primary example was that teachers have only learned of their class timetable on 1 September for the past two years. It was very hard for the audience to make any connection between this administrative problem and the governance actions of the Board. If real problems can be brought forward by the staff to the management, they can and will be fixed. * Has the inquiry into the alleged 'forged document' been delayed? Not at all - the independent professional hired with the agreement of both sides will be issuing his final report on the incident in a matter of days. It is important to note that the alleged forgery was a document that was over 10 years old and had no substantive relationship to the warning letter that was issued and subsequently withdrawn. It was simply an issue that was relayed in a distorted manner to many members of the community and then escalated out of proportion in the local press. * Was there any voting irregularity in the multinational corporate community in the last Board election? No. As clearly stated by all involved in the Board election at the Consultative General Assembly, no extra ballots were provided to any one or to any organisation. A great amount of very negative publicity was needlessly generated over a true non-event. Allegations of 'pressure tactics' by individual Board members on their fellow employees have been roundly denounced by other employee/parents who stood up and spoke at both the CGA as well as at the open meetings on Monday evening. Again, a story is being inflated and enhanced with the sole purpose of generating a perception of wrongdoing where none actually existed. IF THE BOARD RECEIVES A MAJORITY "YES" VOTE * What happens if the community endorses the mandate of the current Board? The current Board is committed to consultation, to holding open meetings to discuss issues and, most importantly, to find solutions to the problems that face the Foundation. As mentioned on Monday night in all the Board presentations, educational quality must be seen as our primary, common goal. Working with the CDGs, the Board has developed long term plans which address the facility needs of all campuses. It has established policies in important areas such as Conflict of Interest and Child Welfare and Protection - policies that were not previously codified in the Foundation and which have led to some unfortunate incidents in recent years. The Board and the DG have worked with the CDGs to mould the structure of the Saconay "fourth campus" to serve the needs of the community and strengthen rather than undermine the existing schools. * What happens to ECIS Accreditation? Despite the threat from the Staff Association that ". . . disasters will most likely occur if we continue with our present leadership", failure of the staff to co-operate with the accreditation effort would be not only a violation of their Collective Agreement but would be a violation of Swiss law. The vast majority of teachers in the Foundation as well as parents and alumni know that a threat to accreditation or to allow "the consequences from reaching into the classroom" is simply unthinkable for true professional educators; consequently it is hard to accept these threatening statements from the Staff Association at face value. * Does the vote of confidence in the board have other implications? Yes. The Board feels that the community must decide on who should be governing the school. The choice is clear. A "YES" vote demonstrates that the school community will support the duly elected board along with a Director General hired and supervised by the board. A "NO" means that a group of unelected individuals, accountable to no one can dictate the direction of the Foundation and overrule its governance mechanisms. > Is the community ready to cease the fighting and move forward together? That is the key question - regardless of the outcome of the referendum vote. The Board is committed, regardless of the outcome of the vote, to seek to rebuild the trust and co-operative spirit that are needed to move ahead. The Governing Board fully recognises that problems do exist. It has a clear plan to address the issues and is seeking to be open to new solutions and different approaches to resolve them. The Board remains committed to making the hard choices required to see progress. > sincerely, John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Chers Membres de la Communauté de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève, L'Ecole Internationale de Genève affronte une période très difficile alliant préoccupation et confusion à travers toute la Fondation. Lundi soir dernier, des séances d'information ont été tenues sur les trois campus pour répondre aux questions et fournir des informations. Comme tout un chacun présent a pu le déterminer rapidement, nous sommes une Fondation avec des problèmes importants qui ne pourront pas être réglés sans avoir au préalable restauré un esprit de coopération mutuelle et avoir reconnu que le véritable but de l'Ecole est l'éducation et non la politique. Un certain nombre de questions ont été soulevées durant ces séances et également dans les correspondances des différents groupes s'opposant au Conseil ; celles-ci méritent une réponse. CONTEXTE DU REFERENDUM * Que pouvez-vous faire si vous ne recevez pas de bulletin de vote ou si vous avez perdu celui qui vous a été envoyé ? Veuillez vous adresser par écrit à : Ecole Internationale de Genève REFERENDUM Case Postale 3484 1211 Genève 3 * Que demande le Conseil pour ce vote de confiance dans son mandat ? Déterminer si un Conseil élu valablement peut continuer à travailler dans les intérêts de la Fondation sans interférence. Tout au long de cette année académique, le Conseil et le Directeur Général ont fait face à des attaques grandissantes de deux groupes; la Fédération des Associations du personnel, conduite par John Schumann, et le « Committee of Concerned Members » de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève dont le porte-parole est Hélène Durant Ballivet. Il n'a jamais été établi clairement qui constitue précisément ce « Committee of Concerned Members » parce que beaucoup de communications entre ce groupe et la communauté apparaissent à travers des citations non appropriées dans des articles de presse locale et des lettres au Conseil et au Directeur Général qui arrivent signées uniquement de Mme Ballivet. Ce qui est clair, c'est que ce sont des groupes à pouvoir et contacts politiques très influents. La Fédération des Associations du personnel est responsable de l'organisation de son syndicat et des employés de la Fondation. Il s'agit d'un groupe bien défini qui aurait des griefs légitimes avec le Directeur Général et d'autres membres de la Direction. De manière plus importante, des méthodes et structures existent qui permettent à l'Association du Personnel de résoudre les conflits avec la Direction lorsque ceux-là se présentent, sans impliquer le Conseil de Fondation ou la Communauté toute entière. * Est-ce un vote qui a pour but de changer la structure de gestion de la Fondation ? Non. Le Référendum n'est pas un vote visant à définir si oui ou non la forme actuelle de gestion est correcte pour la Fondation. Cette question doit être déterminée par rapport aux directives de la Charte existante et devrait apparaître dans un processus ouvert et démocratique qui inclut la totalité de la Communauté de l'Ecole. Le Conseil actuel a déjà lancé cette initiative en établissant une « Governance Task Force » qui inclut un représentant de l'Association des Anciens Elèves et de la Fédération des Associations de Personnel en plus du CDG et des Membres du Conseil. SI LE CONSEIL NE RECOIT PAS UNE MAJORITE DE « OUI » * Pourquoi le Conseil a-t-il indiqué qu'il ferait appel aux Autorités Fédérales Suisses ? La Fondation est organisée et gouvernée suivant des règles qui ont été adoptées après consultation de la Communauté et approbation du Gouvernement Suisse. Un des éléments clés dans celles-ci est que l'Autorité de Supervision à Berne a autorité sur la Fondation qui, autrement, est autonome. Cette provision a été ajoutée suite à un combat amère dans le Conseil qui a eu lieu il y a une dizaine d'années. Le Conseil remplit ses responsabilités par cette clause qui dit qu'il est la seule partie responsable d'engager et de superviser le Directeur Général et que le DG a la responsabilité de relation et négociation avec le personnel et ses syndicats. Les tentatives de l'Association du personnel de dépasser le DG en amenant des problèmes de direction-syndicat au Conseil viole ces réglementations comme le font les tentatives d'un certain nombre de membres de la Communauté lorsqu'ils usurpent l'autorité du Conseil dans la supervision du DG. * La Communauté va-t-elle perdre le contrôle si cette Autorité de Supervision intervient ? Non. Au contraire, la Communauté garde le contrôle. La mission de l'Autorité de Supervision serait simplement de s'assurer que les règles de la Fondation sont suivies comme prévu. Leur rôle est d'assurer que la Fondation n'est pas « piratée » par un comité anonyme ou un petit groupe de chefs syndicaux mais qu'elle reste gouvernée par les procédures établies et démocratiques et continue à être dirigée par des Directeurs et Administrateurs professionnels. * Que va-t-il advenir des sujets traités par le Conseil tels que la « Governance Task Force », les efforts de récolte de fonds et les plans pour l'amélioration des prestations sur tous les campus si le Conseil doit quitter ses fonctions ? L'avenir de ces projets, y compris les efforts d'auto renouvellement et de changement constituant actuellement le travail du « Task Force » est au mieux incertain, étant donné que l'attention de la Fondation sera portée sur la survie et non plus sur le progrès qui doit suivre le changement. * Si le Conseil s'en va, les salaires du personnel peuvent-ils augmenter sans augmenter les frais d'écolage ? Non. L'engagement du Conseil actuel envers le personnel est clairement démontré dans son soutien quant au besoin d'augmenter les salaires. Les conséquences inévitables de cette augmentation est de réclamer des augmentations impopulaires de frais d'écolage. * Comment les problèmes actuels vont-ils être présentés si la Communauté vote pour un départ du Conseil actuel ? En dehors de la question du mécanisme permettant de rassembler un nouveau Conseil désireux de reprendre le défi de la gouvernance, quelles étapes concrètes et quelles actions réelles sont planifiées par ceux qui s'opposent à la direction du Conseil, pour réparer les dommages des quelques mois passés et présenter les vrais problèmes auxquels l'école fait face ? Cette question importante au sujet du futur possible de la Fondation reste sans réponse. RAPPEL D'INFORMATIONS * Quel a été l'incident majeur qui a causé la crise ? La crise actuelle a évolué lorsqu'un Directeur d'Ecole et le Directeur Général ont tenté de discipliner un professeur dont le comportement nécessitait une telle action. La Fédération a refusé d'utiliser les clauses de la CCT - désignée pour arranger avec justice cette sorte de différents entre le personnel et la direction – mais a plutôt commencé à faire circuler des pétitions. A un point, l'avancement du processus d'accréditation ECIS a été suspendu par la Fondation toute entière en protestation contre cet avertissement, au lieu de passer par les procédures d'arbitrage habituelles. Le groupe des « Concerned Members of the Community » accusèrent à tort le Directeur Général d'essayer de licencier ce professeur et choisit de protester contre la légitimité de ce Conseil normalement élu, en l'accusant de créer ce malaise. L'exacte nature de ce malaise n'a jamais été présentée par un quelconque groupe. * Quels sont les exemples tangibles des problèmes causés par le Conseil de Fondation et le Directeur Général qui ont causé ce malaise ? Le Chef de l'Association du personnel a donné sa réponse durant la séance d'information de la Châtaigneraie lundi soir – son premier exemple était que les professeurs ont pris connaissance de leur programme de classe le 1er septembre seulement durant les deux dernières années. Il était très difficile pour l'audience de faire un lien entre ce problème administratif et les actions de gouvernance du Conseil. Si de vrais problèmes peuvent être amenés par le personnel à la direction, ils peuvent et seront réglés. * La question du prétendu 'faux document' a-t-elle été réglée ? Pas du tout – le professionnel indépendant engagé avec l'accord des deux parties va rendre son rapport final sur l'incident dans quelques jours. Il est important de noter que le prétendu faux est un document qui date de plus de 10 ans et n'a pas de rapport concret avec la lettre d'avertissement qui a été écrite puis retirée. C'était tout simplement un sujet qui a été relaté d'une manière inexacte à de nombreux membres de la communauté et qui a pris des proportions vertigineuses ensuite dans la presse. * Y a-t-il eu une quelconque irrégularité dans le vote de la communauté de sociétés multinationales lors des dernières élections du Conseil ? Non. Comme clairement établi par toutes les personnes impliquées dans les élections du Conseil lors de l'Assemblée Générale Consultative, aucun bulletin de vote supplémentaire n'a été fourni à quiconque ou à quelque organisation que ce soit. Un grand nombre de publicité négative a été inutilement générée à ce propos. Les allégations de « tactiques de pression » par des personnes du Conseil sur les employés ont été rondement dénoncées par d'autres employés/parents qui se sont levés et ont parlé à la fois à la CGA et aux séances d'information lundi soir. Encore une fois, une histoire a été gonflée et accrue avec le seul but de générer une perception de mauvais fonctionnement là où il n'y en a pas. SI LE CONSEIL RECOIT UNE MAJORITE DE « OUI » AU VOTE * Qu'arrivera-t-il si la communauté soutien le mandat du Conseil actuel ? Le Conseil actuel s'est engagé à consulter la communauté, à tenir des séances d'information à discuter des problèmes et, de manière plus importante, de trouver des solutions aux problèmes auxquels la Fondation fait face. Comme mentionné lundi soir dans toutes les présentations du Conseil, la qualité de l'éducation doit être vue comme premier but commun. En travaillant avec le CDG, le Conseil a développé des plans à long terme qui présentent les besoins de structures sur tous les campus. Il a établi des politiques dans de nombreux sujets comme le Conflit d'intérêt et la Protection de l'Enfance – politiques qui n'étaient au préalable pas enregistrées dans la Fondation, ce qui a mené à des incidents malheureux ces dernières années. Le Conseil et le DG ont travaillé avec le CDG afin de mouler la structure du quatrième campus de Sacconey dans le but de servir les besoins de la Communauté et de renforcer plutôt que d'amoindrir les écoles existantes. * Que se passe-t-il avec l'Accréditation ECIS ? En dépit de la menace de l'Association du Personnel disant que ". . . le désastre arrivera plus certainement si nous continuons avec la direction actuelle", le manque de coopération du personnel quant aux efforts pour l'Accréditation ne serait pas seulement une violation de leur Convention Collective mais serait une violation de la loi Suisse. La grande majorité des professeurs dans la Fondation, de même que les parents et anciens élèves savent qu'une menace à l'accréditation ou de permettre "aux conséquences d'atteindre les salles de classes" est simplement impensable pour de vrais éducateurs professionnels ; en conséquence, il est difficile de prendre ces menaces de l'Association du personnel au pieds de la lettre. * Le vote de confiance au Conseil a-t-il d'autres implications ? Oui. Le Conseil pense que la Communauté doit décider qui doit gérer l'Ecole. Le choix est clair. Un « OUI » démontre que la Communauté de l'école soutient le Conseil en place élu valablement ainsi que le Directeur Général engagé et supervisé par le Conseil. Un « NON » signifie qu'un groupe d'individuels non élus, responsable de personne peut dicter la direction de l'école et outrepasser les mécanismes de gouvernance. * La Communauté est-elle prête à cesser la bagarre et à aller de l'avant ensemble ? Ceci est la question clé – en dehors du résultat du vote du référendum. Le Conseil s'est engagé, quelque soit le résultat du référendum, de chercher à reconstruire l'esprit de confiance et de coopération qui sont nécessaires pour aller de l'avant. Le Conseil de Fondation reconnaît pleinement que des problèmes existent. Il a un plan clair pour présenter les points et cherche à trouver de nouvelles solutions et différentes approches pour les résoudre. Le Conseil reste engagé à faire le choix difficile qui s'imposera pour voir le progrès. Sincèrement, John Boggs Président du Conseil de Fondation Ecole Internationale de Genève Return to top of page. Resignation Letter - 2002/06/03 Monsieur John Boggs Président du Conseil de Fondation De l'Ecole Internationale de Genève IATA Center 33, route de l'Aéroport P.O. Box 416 1215 Genève 15 Genève, le 3 juin 2002 Concerne : Mandat de membre du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève Cher John, Après mûre réflexion, et à regrêt, nous avons décidés de mettre un terme à nos mandats au sein du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève avec effet immédiat. Tout au long de cette année il nous est apparu de plus en plus clairement que notre conseil était divisé. Cette division ne reflète pas seulement une divergence d'opinion, ce qui est normal et même sain dans ce genre de forum. Au contraire, cette division reflète une profonde divergence quant à la perception de la philosophie même de l'école, de sa gestion dans un esprit de respect et de démocratie. Les récents et regrettables événements ne sont qu'un exemple parmi d'autres de cette dissenssion. Nous nous étions engagées à défendre cet esprit. Nous n'y sommes parvenues. Nous te remercions de ton dévouement et de tous tes efforts et te transmettons nos meilleurs sentiments. Constanza Vallenas Carol Panchaud Valérie de Marnix Cc : Membres du Conseil de Fondation Membres des CDG Membres de Conseil Administratif Membres des PTA Return to top of page. Resignation Letter - 2002/05/22 Mr. Chairman, After mature reflection, I find myself obliged to terminate my mandate within the Governing Board of the International School of Geneva with immediate effect. v The disclosure of questionable last minute activities in the context of the Governing Board elections no longer allows me to operate according to my own ethical standards. I can only feel sadness in reading about these matters and anger in observing once, again the inappropriate mixing of different areas of engagement as well as the confusion of levels of responsibility As I can no longer identify myself with the governing authorities of the School, I do not wish to be a burden to meetings where my own philosophy of the school influences neither the decisions nor the direction. My interpretation of the spirit of the Charter compels me to return to a position where I am free to hold my own opinion and make my own responses towards policies I can no longer agree with. Original Language: PIERRE-ALAIN HIRSCHY Monsieur John Boggs President du Conseil de Fondarion De l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve IATA Center Route de l'Aeroport 33 P.O. BOX 416 1215 Geneve 15 Geneve, le 22 mai 2002. Concerne: mandat de membre du Conseil de Fondation de l'ecole Internationale de Geneve. Monsieur le President, Apres mure reflection, je me trouve dans l'obligation de mettre un terme a mon mandat au sein du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve avec effet immediat. Les revelatons mettant on question des agissements de derniere heure dans le cadre des eleclions au Conseil de Fondation ne me permettent plus de fonctionner au niveau d'ethique qui est le mien. Je ne peux qu'eprouver de la tristesse en les lisant et de la colere en constatant une fois de plus le melange des genres, donc des niveaux de responsabilites. Ne me reconnaissant plus avec les instances dirigeantes de l'Ecole, je ne tiens pas a alourdir de ma presence des seances de travail ou la philosophie que ja me fais de l'Ecole n'influence ni les decisions, ni les orientations. Mon interpretation de l'esprit de la Charte me force a reprendre ma liberte d'opinion et d'agissements envers une politique qua je ne partage plus. Veulliez agreer, Monsieur le President, l'expression de mes salutations distinguees. Pierre-Alain Hirschy Cc: Valerie de Marnix Daniel Konikoff, chairman CDG - LGB 47 chemin de la Seymaz CH 1253 Vandoeuvres/GE Tel 4122 349 47 62 Fax 4122 349 00 96 email: chap@iprolink.ch Return to top of page. ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 - 2002/05/27 Subject: FW: Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva held a special meeting on 27 May. As announced at the Annual Consultative General Assembly the following evening, 28 May, the Board has voted to organise a referendum to validate the confidence of the full community in the policies and plans of the Governing Board. This referendum, following the basic mechanisms used for postal voting for Board members, will be organised immediately under the direction of a neutral third party. The results will be made known by the end of the current school year. The Board established that it must have a majority of positive votes in an election with at least 1200 total votes cast to confirm the alignment of the community with its decisions and actions. In the event of a majority vote against the Board and its policies, or if there is not sufficient support or interest in the community to pass the 1,200 vote barrier, the nine current incumbent elected board members will be replaced via a special election held as quickly as possible after the start of the new academic year in September 2002. The three new Governing Board members elected in the 2002 election - Thierry Halff, Atalanti Moquette and Dev Ray, the Board members appointed by the cantonal and federal government and the individuals chosen in the special election, will form a new Governing Board. Alternatively, if the vote demonstrates that the majority of the community supports the goals and plans of the current Board, the democratic spirit of Ecolint is expected to continue to prevail. The individuals who have questioned this support will acknowledge the mandate of the Board and accept the direction of its leadership. In other business, the Board had voted earlier in May to co-opt an individual from le Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM), an organisation of 49 major companies in the Geneva area to further augment the resources and diversity of the board as well as to provide a strong link with the multi-national corporations in Geneva. After reviewing candidates proposed by GEM, the Board co-opted Ms. Veronique Nanchen, a Swiss native from the Valais, to join effective September 2002 along with the three newly elected members and Helene Balivet-Durand, another co-opted member proposed by the Staff Association. Ms Nanchen is a lawyer by training and currently serves as a Human Resources Director at Reuters. Please distribute this information as appropriate to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community. It is also being distributed e-mail to parents and Foundation employees as well as posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home) fax: + (022) 799 2647 e-mail: boggsj@iata.org website: www.ecolint.ch Return to top of page. Election Update/Nouvelles des élections - 2002/05/24 Elections Update - May 24, 2002 The nominations committee would like to advise the voting community of the International School of Geneva that the voting process for the election of three new Board members has been so far very successful. By the ballot mail deadline of May 14, the office of Me Naville, huissier de justice, tabulated 1356 votes. We are now looking forward to receiving any yet unsubmitted votes on May 28 at the General Assembly to be held at the U.N. All voting has followed strict democratic procedure. Every voter within the Foundation community had an opportunity to vote following the same restrictions. Any one who has not voted and still wishes to do so may cast their vote at the General Assembly. We hope that we will see all of you on May 28 at 7.30 p.m. at the United Nations (room XIX). Pamela Gromadzki, Nominations Committee ---------------------------------- Nouvelles des élections - 24 mai 2002 Le comité des Nominations souhaite annoncer à la communauté de l'École Internationale de Genève l'exceptionnelle réussite des élections pour le Conseil de Fondation de cette année. Au 14 mai, date limite pour envoyer son bulletin par la poste, le bureau de Me Naville, huissier de justice, avait comptabilisé 1356 votes pour trois sièges à pourvoir. Nous attendons maintenant les derniers bulletins de vote qui nous seront soumis le soir du 28 mai à l'assemblée générale. Tous les membres votant de la Fondation ont suivi la même procédure démocratique et ont été soumis aux même restrictions. Tous ceux qui n'ont pas encore voté et qui souhaitent le faire pourront le faire le soir de l' assemblée générale. Des bulletins seront mis à leur disposition. Nous espérons vous voir nombreux le 28 mai à partir de 19 h 30 aux Nations Unies (salle XIX). Pamela Gromadzki, Comité des Nominations Return to top of page. Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet - 2002/05/21 Subject: EOL Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet Madame Helene Durand Ballivet Committee of Concerned Members of the International School of Geneva E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch Monsieur John Boggs President du Conseil de la Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve john.boggs@ecolint.ch BoggsJ@iata.org Geneve, le 21 mai 2002 Monsieur le President, Nous avons ete saisis des faits suivants touchant le deroulement des elections des membres du Conseil de Fondation. Selon ce qui nous a ete rapporte, Madame Valerie DE MARNIX, responsable du Comite des nominations et elections, a ete sollicitee le 13 mai 2002 au soir par un membre du Conseil de Fondation de demander au service d'imprimerie de l'Ecole de tirer une serie speciale de bulletins de vote destinee aux electeurs employes des societes CATERPILLAR et PROCTER & GAMBLE, alors que ceux-ci, comme les autres electeurs, avaient reE7u leur materiel de vote au prealable, conformement a la procedure en vigueur. Madame DE MARNIX a refuse cette requete, le matin du 14 mai, pour ne pas favoriser injustement une frange des electeurs. Ne tenant pas compte de ce refus, le directeur general, M. Donald BILLINGSLEY, dans l'apres-midi du meme jour, a donne l'ordre au service de l'imprimerie, par l'intermediaire de M. Scott LANE, d'editer 400 bulletins de vote destines a etre repartis pour moitie entre les entreprises sus-designees. Grace a l'intervention de Madame DE MARNIX, ces bulletins ont pu etre retenus par ses soins. Il ne vous aura pas echappe que ces faits se situent le 14 mai, date ultime du vote par correspondance. Ces faits, dans la mesure oF9 leur exactitude est etablie, laissent planer un doute serieux sur l'impartialite a laquelle sont tenus le Conseil de Fondation et la direction generale de l'Ecole lors des elections. Ces pratiques nous interpellent sur la regularite de cette procedure, qui ne peut que nous rappeler certains disfonctionnements souleves lors de la derniere Assemblee generale extraordinaire, et qui portent atteinte a l'image et a la reputation morale de l'Ecole. Nous vous invitons a verifier l'exactitude de ce qui precede et a nous faire connaEEtre votre determination avant la tenue de l'Assemblee generale. Veuillez croire, Monsieur le President, en l'assurance de ma consideration la meilleure. Helene Durand Ballivet Pour le Committee of Concerned Community Members of the International School of Geneva Copie : Aux membres du Conseil de Fondation ; Aux membres du Staff ; Aux membres des PTA ; Aux Presidents et membres des CDG ; Aux President et membres du Comite des Alumni ; Aux Alumni Madame Helene Durand Ballivet E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch Monsieur John Boggs President du Conseil de la Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve john.boggs@ecolint.ch BoggsJ@iata.org Geneve, le 21 mai 2002 Monsieur le President, cher John, Dans les " Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meeting 1-2 May 02 " il est ecrit au sujet de ma cooptation au Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve : " Helene will provide the Board with links not only to the staff but also to the alumni. Her firm commitment to maintaining the "spirit" of the school will be a great asset to the Board and the Foundation". C'est pourquoi, quant a l'acceptation de ma cooptation et pour me conformer au mandat qui m'a ete confie par le Conseil de Fondation a la demande du Staff de la Fondation, vous comprendrez que je me reserve la possibilite de me determiner apres la tenue de l'Assemblee generale. Je soumets donc mon entree en fonction a votre reponse a la lettre que je vous ai adressee au nom du Committee of concerned Members of the International School of Geneva, le 21 mai 2002 ; il me serait, en effet, impossible d'exercer mon mandat si les pratiques qui nous interpellent aujourd'hui s'averraient exactes car elles portent atteinte a l'image et a la reputation morale de notre Ecole. Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur le President, cher John, en l'assurance de ma consideration la meilleure. Helene Durand Ballivet Membre cooptee du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve : Ecolint Online - For information write to: info@alumni.ecolint.net : Subject: EOL (English version) Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet Mrs. Helene Durand Ballivet Committee of Concerned Members of the International School of Geneva E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch Mr. John Boggs Chairman of the Governing Board Foundation of the International School of Geneva john.boggs@ecolint.ch BoggsJ@iata.org Geneva, 21st May 2002 Dear Mr. Chairman, We have just been apprised of the following facts concerning the manner in which the election of the Foundation's Governing Board members has been held. According to our sources, Mrs. Valerie DE MARNIX, who presides over the Nominations and Elections Committee, was contacted on the evening of the 13th May 2002 by a member of the Governing Board who wanted the School's printing unit to produce a special set of ballot-papers specifically for voters employed by CATERPILLAR and PROCTER & GAMBLE, although each of them had already received, like all the other voters, all the necessary voting documents, as established in the procedural rules governing the elections. On the morning of the 14th May, Mrs. DE MARNIX formally turned down this request, so as not to favour unfairly a particular segment of voters. The Director General, Dr. Donald BILLINGSLEY, nevertheless ignored Mrs. DE MARNIX's decision, and that very same afternoon instructed the printing unit, via Mr. Scott LANE, to print 400 additional ballot-papers, which were to be evenly distributed to the employees of the two above-mentioned companies. Providentially, Mrs. DE MARNIX was able to intervene and confiscate these ballot-papers. I need not point out to you that the day on which these events took place, the 14th May, was in fact the deadline for mailing postal ballots. If the authenticity of these circumstances is confirmed, the impartiality which it is the duty of the Governing Board and the Director General to uphold would be seriously open to question. These goings-on cannot but raise grave doubts concerning the integrity with which the voting process is conducted. They are reminiscent of the dysfunctional practices that were exposed during the last Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly, and further undermine the School's image and moral reputation. We therefore request that you should verify the authenticity of the events to which we refer, and await your response before the forthcoming General Assembly. Yours faithfully, Helene Durand Ballivet For the Committee of Concerned Community Members of the International School of Geneva cc: Members of the Governing Board ; Members of Staff ; Members of the PTA; Chairmen and Members of the Campus Development Groups ; President and Members of the Alumni Association ; Alumni. Return to top of page. ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 - 2002/05/02 Subject: Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association, Campus Principals - International School of Geneva From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on two consecutive evenings, 1 May at Pregny and 2 May at La Chât. The major focus of these meetings involved a number of major policy and long-term planning issues. The CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB, Marianne Loken from Pregny/Rigot and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as the Staff Observers, Philip Wingate and Luc Hamsavi, attended as observers. The Board adopted the final version of updated Campus Development Group Regulations, which were developed by the Director-General and the Chairs of the three CDGs during mid-2001. A Conflict of Interest Policy was also adopted, which provides guidelines on employment of relatives in the Foundation and fills a significant void in school policy. As part of the Board's actions in response to the 28 February 2002 Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly, the Board invited the Staff Association to exercise the existing but long-unused provision in the Board regulations for the staff to nominate a non-employee for co-option to the Board. Hélène Balivet-Durand was proposed by the staff and appointed for a four-year term commencing in September 2002. Hélène will provide the Board with links not only to the staff but also to the alumni. Her firm commitment to maintaining the 'sprit' of the school will be a great asset to the Board and the Foundation. To help the board provide oversight of the operation and management of the Foundation as well as to provide stronger links with the multi-national corporations, the Board will co-opt an individual from Le Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM), an organisation of 49 major companies in the Geneva area. The Board is in the process of selecting the individual who will join the Board in September 2002 along with the other new co-opted and elected members. The most significant decisions of the meeting concerned long-range facilities investments. The basis for the decisions came from the Foundation Plan, a document assembled over the past year that incorporates Campus Plans which articulate short, medium and long range pedagogical priorities and specifies the resources to realise these goals. The culmination of this effort was the finalisation of a list of major capital projects for the next five to seven years totalling over 18 million Swiss francs. The list was prioritised in a joint meeting of the three CDGs in November 2001 and has been validated as financially feasible to accomplish from current sources of funds. The Board formally approved the list of projects included in this list and their priority ranking as proposed by the joint CDG meeting. Looking to the long term, the Board approved purchase of a parcel of land that has become available immediately adjacent to the La Chât campus. While it cannot be immediately used for anything other than its current agricultural use, the process of reclassification is underway and is hoped it could be successful in a three to five year time horizon. The approximately 5 million Swiss francs investment will enable expansion and enhancement of facilities to benefit future students. Also looking to future students, the Board conditionally approved the Saconay project. Saconay will ultimately permit the Pregny/Rigot Early Childhood Education programme to move from the Rigot facility. It will also create a true full "third campus" as Pregny primary school students will continue their secondary education at a nearby facility and not be need to be accommodated in the limited places available at either the La Chât Secondary or LGB Middle Schools. Saconay approval is conditional upon successfully clearing three significant hurdles to the satisfaction of the Board: * receiving firm commitments for donations exceeding 15 million Swiss francs * obtaining further support and commitment from the canton of Geneva to eliminate any ongoing cost for the right to build on the site * performing a satisfactory risk analysis of alternative student demand forecasts. * While construction of Saconay is not yet completely assured, the Board remains hopeful that it will ultimately proceed and complement the major facility upgrades being started on all three existing campuses. Please distribute this information as appropriate to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community. It is also being distributed e-mail to parents and Foundation employees as well as posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home) fax: + (022) 799 2647 e-mail: boggsj@iata.org website: www.ecolint.ch Return to top of page. Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot - 2002/04/22 Attention: Changement dans les élections Il y a eu un changement dans les candidatures aux élections du Conseil de Fondation: Madame Marita Boe retire sa candidature suite à son départ de Genève. Pour cette raison, ceux d'entre vous qui souhaitent revoter peuvent le faire en utilisant le nouveau bulletin de vote (de couleur rose) qu'ils recevront par la poste à partir du 26 avril. Soit vous apportez le bulletin en personne à l'assemblée générale consultative du 28 mai soit vous l'envoyez par la Poste au plus tard le 14 mai. Ce nouveau bulletin de vote, une fois envoyé, remplacera l'ancien bulletin dans son intégralité. Que ceux qui ne veulent pas revoter soient rassurés. Les bulletins de vote (de couleur blanche) qui ont déjà été renvoyés par la poste restent valables. Ce changement a été décidé par le Comité des Nominations pour garantir des élections correctes reflétant la volonté réelle des électeurs. Le saviez-vous ? - Chaque parent individuellement (soit deux votes par couple), chaque employé, chaque ancien de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève a le droit de voter pour les membres du Conseil de Fondation ; - Chaque année nous ne recevons en moyenne que 400 bulletins de vote alors qu'il y a 3.200 parents, 500 membres du personnel et des milliers d'anciens !; - C'est au Conseil de Fondation que sont prises certaines des décisions les plus importantes pour l'école: création d'un nouveau campus, augmentation des frais de scolarité, création d'un nouveau programme pédagogique, ...; - Chacun d'entre nous a déjà reçu les documents lui permettant de voter; - Chaque bulletin de vote doit être renvoyé par la Poste (et par la poste seulement) au plus tard le 14 mai, passée cette date il vous faudra venir voter en personne à l'Assemblée Générale Consultative du 28 mai 2002; - Chaque campus ayant déjà un minimum de deux représentants, tous les candidats sont éligibles aux trois postes vacants sans restriction; - Chacun d'entre nous peut rencontrer les 10 candidats à l'une des manifestations suivantes: le samedi 27 avril de 10h30 à midi à La Châtaigneraie à l'occasion du marché aux puces organisé par l'école; le mardi 30 avril à 19h30 à La Grande Boissière (dans la Cafétéria); le jeudi 2 mai à 19h30 à La Châtaigneraie; le mardi 7 mai de 8h30 à 9h30 à La Grande Boissière (dans la Cafétéria) pour un Coffee Morning; le mercredi 8 mai de 8h15 à 9h15 à Pregny (dans le hall). Alors, n'hésitez pas !! Venez rencontrer les candidats .... et votez! merci. Le Comite des Nominations du conseil de Fondation de l'EIG - 22/4/02 Attention: Change to Election Ballot May Concern You There has been a change to the ballot for the election. One of the candidates, Marita Boe, is withdrawing her candidature due to her upcoming departure from Switzerland. Therefore, anyone who has already voted for her and wishes to change his or her vote can do so. A new, pink ballot will be sent out to all voters on April 26. Any second ballot received by posted mail no later than May 14, or by hand at the General Assembly on May 28, will automatically annul the first ballot. If you did not already vote for Mrs. Boe and therefore have no need to change your ballot, you do not have to send in the second ballot. This change is being made by the Nominations Committee to assure fair voting for all candidates. Did you know......? -That every parent, staff member and alumnus of the International Schools of Geneva has the right to vote for members of the Governing Board? -That out of 3200 parents, 500 staff members and thousands of alumni, each with the right to vote, only 400 vote ballots on average are sent in each year? -That the Board of Governors is the highest decision making forum in our school system and represents everyone? -That by now you should have received your voting packet with an introduction to the ten new candidates? -That you have to vote before May 15 by postal mail, and if you miss that date your only other possibility is to vote in person at the General Assembly on May 28, 2002? -That you will have five opportunities to meet the candidates in the month ahead, to hear them present themselves and to ask them questions? -That EACH parent of every ISG child should vote individually, not share a ballot. -That there are NO restrictions on who may be elected from among the candidates. All candidates have a chance to win one of the three vacant places since each school presently has two representatives serving on the Board as is required by our laws. - That any votes received by the school's internal mail cannot be counted. All ballots must be postmarked by the Post Office. MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT. There are three places to be filled on the Board of Governors this year, to join 14 current members. Come and Meet the Candidates on one of the following dates. Saturday, April 27 from 10h30-12h at La Chat outside the gym at PTA coffee stands set up between the Car Boot Sale and Road Safety Day.. Tuesday, April 30 at 19h30 at LGB in the Cafeteria. Thursday, May 2 at 19h30 at La Chat in the Primary Hall. Tuesday, May 7 from 8h30-9h30 at LGB in the Cafeteria. Wednesday, May 8 from 8h15-9h15 at Pregny (in the school entrance). The Nominations Committee of the ISG Governing Board - April 22, 2002 Return to top of page. ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 - 2002/03/12 Subject: Highlights - ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association, Campus Principals - International School of Geneva From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on 12 March with review of the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly held on Tuesday evening, 26 February as the major focus of the meeting. Attending the meeting as observers were CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as one of the Staff Observers, Philip Wingate. The Director-General, Dr. Donald Billingsley, reported to the Board on the actions, both completed and planned, he is taking to address the issues raised on 26 February. He has communicated these to the community in his most recent DG Newsletter. The Board welcomed these steps and fully endorsed his continued efforts to move ahead with a variety of initiatives. The Board is equally committed to address the issues falling within its scope of responsibility and it agreed on a number of actions and initiatives on its part that included: * Reinforcing the resumption of the ECIS Accreditation Process * Performing a detailed analysis of the transcript of the ECGA to ensure all issues raised are being addressed * Embracing the concept of objective and constructive appraisal at all levels of the Foundation including extension of the 360 degree feedback process in the Governing Board evaluation process to be conducted at the end of the current academic year * Strengthening links between the Board and Campus Development Groups A number of ideas relating to revised structures and procedures for Foundation governance were identified for further study and consideration. The Board directed that these ideas are reviewed and evaluated by the Governance Task Force whose composition includes alumni, parents and staff as well as current and former Board members. This Task Force will commence work in April. The Board agreed that the current focus on meetings between staff and management - at the campus and section levels - appears to be more appropriate than holding additional open community meetings. These discussions, which will be less political and more solution-oriented, should be allowed to proceed without distractions from parents, alumni or Board intervention. In addition to the discussion of current issues, the Board reviewed the 360-degree feedback from staff and parents which forms part of the annual performance appraisal of the Director-General. Other agenda items planned for discussion at the March meeting were deferred for consideration at the next Board meeting. These items include the revision of the CDG regulations, adoption of a conflict of interest policy for the Foundation and approval of the Foundation Plan document that includes the long-term major capital expenditure plans for the LGB, La Chat and Pregny/Rigot campuses. Please distribute this information to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community, as you deem appropriate. It is also being sent to the parents@ecolint e-mail list and posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home) fax: + (022) 799 2647 e-mail: boggsj@iata.org website: www.ecolint.ch Return to top of page. Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 - 2002/03/04 Subject: Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met in a special session to review the outcome of the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly held on Tuesday evening, 26 February 2002. A number of fundamental and substantive issues surfaced during the ECGA that must be addressed by every adult in the Foundation - parents, teachers, school leaders and alumni - lest they further escalate to interfere with the most important element of the school - our students. Among the issues raised, two specific questions were put to the Board: first, the continued mandate of the Director-General and, second, the continued mandate of the current Governing Board. They are serious questions that the Board has carefully considered and that deserve clear and unambiguous answers. The Board reaffirmed the mandate of the Director-General, Dr. Donald Billingsley. Many of the objectives set for him by the Board address root causes of frustrations and concerns expressed at the ECGA and more time is needed for the initiatives he has launched to be fully effective. The Board noted with great interest an overview of plans outlined by the DG to address and resolve many of the most pressing issues within his scope of responsibility. Details of these will be communicated to Foundation staff as well as parents in the coming days. The Board also considered its position in light of the comments made at the ECGA. Its members remain committed to the Foundation and expressed their individual desire to work for its best interest. While many issues face the school, their resolution will not be facilitated by creating a leadership vacuum at the level of the Board. The Governing Board desires to remain responsive to the community at large which includes students, parents, alumni and staff members. More comprehensive background information regarding issues raised at the ECGA will be forthcoming presently, as well as communication regarding plans to address these issues in the very near future. Most importantly, the Board and Foundation Management are prepared to launch the ECIS accreditation self-study process and expect it to proceed to a successful conclusion. The teamwork and self-examination of the process should facilitate resolution of issues as well as ensure the school retains its excellent reputation in the world of international education. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Return to top of page. Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 - 2002/02/19 Subject: Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on Tuesday, 19 February 2002 with resource requirements and financial issues dominating the agenda for the evening. Attending the meeting as observers were CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as the Staff Observers, Luc Hamzavi and Philip Wingate. The Treasurer, Philippe Holderbeke, reported that the financial results for the current academic year continue to improve from the projected 1 million Swiss franc deficit forecasted at the start of the school year to a current projection of a 551,000 Swiss franc deficit. This amount represents approximately 0.8 percent of the total 66 million Swiss franc operating budget. The Governing Board approved the Annual Capital Expenditure plans for calendar year 2002 that totals 857,142 Swiss francs. These funds are used to purchase teaching equipment including classroom computers, laboratory instruments and audio/visual aids but are not used for building projects or maintenance work. The proposals were developed and reviewed at campus level and were recommended for adoption by the Foundation Financial Committee (which includes both Governing Board Members and CDG representatives). While the global amount is comparable to 2001, expenditures on the individual campuses are up by approximately 10% as a consequence of reductions in funding for administration and Foundation-wide projects. The Operating Budget and associated Financial Conditions for the coming academic year, 2002-2003, were also reviewed and approved as developed by the school management and recommended by the Financial Committee. Budgeted revenues are 69,521,000 Swiss francs and expenses are 69,446,000 francs resulting in a projected surplus of 55,000 francs. Key areas of cost increase are approximately 2,000,000 francs in anticipated pay increases for staff related to step progression, cost of living adjustment and a general 1.2 % salary increase. These amounts are projected based on the substantive agreement reached in negotiations on a new Collective Agreement (CCT) for the staff. An increase in salary expense of 950,000 francs is for additional teaching staff and 350,000 francs is an allowance budgeted for expenses of the visiting ECIS accreditation team. As the total number of students enrolled is budgeted to remain essentially unchanged, the additional costs will be funded by a tuition increase of 1,000 Swiss francs per student. Transportation and cafeteria fees will remain unchanged. More detailed information on the budget and associated tuition fee increases will be provided in the next few days. Additionally, an open meeting devoted exclusively to financial issues will be called in the next few weeks to furnish in-depth explanations, to provide benchmark comparisons against other schools and to answer questions that will arise. v The Board reviewed plans for the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly to be held on Tuesday, 26 February, starting at 1930 at the Palais de Nations. All members of the community are invited to attend and participate in this evening. We anticipate a lively but ultimately very useful exchange of views which we hope will contribute positively to a greater understanding of the needs of the International School of Geneva for all members of the school community. The opinions expresssed will help guide the Board and the Foundation Management going forward into the future. sincerely, John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Return to top of page. Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting - 2001/11/20 ---------- Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 04:27:19 -0500 Subject: Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association, Campus Principals - International School of Geneva From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board The Governing Board of the Foundation of the International School of Geneva met at La Grande Boissiére on 20 November 2001. Key actions and decisions were as follows: * approved final audited financial statements for the past (2000/2001) academic year reflecting total revenues of 63.4 million Swiss francs and total expenses of 63.2 million Swiss francs for a net operating surplus of 180,000 Swiss francs. * reviewed latest estimates on operating revenues and expenses for the current (2001/2002) academic year which project a net operating deficit of approximately 1 million Swiss francs. * adopted a more rigorous policy for non-refundable enrolment/re-enrolment deposits and increased their amount from 600 to 2,000 Swiss francs effective for the 2002/2003 academic year * received an update on emergency measures taken across the Foundation to enhance security on all campuses, primarily a four-fold increase in expenditure on contract security guards. To help meet this unexpected requirement, the Board agreed to assess a one-time, extraordinary surcharge of 200 Swiss francs per family for the current year. * agreed to a revised procedure for planning and authorisation of capital expenditures which provides for multi-year planning for major building construction as well as maintenance expenses. The revised procedures provide for emergency expenditures as well as a simplified process for annual academic-related capital budgeting. * examined the International Baccalaureate results from Spring 2001. The board was were pleased to note the high standards attained and destinations for higher education in Switzerland, Europe, North America and other parts of the world. Areas for improvement were discussed and the board will continue to encourage academic excellence in all curriculum areas. * discussed final Foundation and Campus Plans, revision of Campus Development Group regulations and policy on Conflict of Interest and Employment of Relatives for final adoption at a subsequent meeting The Board has gained a new member, Atalanti Moquette. She has been co-opted to serve as provided under section 1 article 1 paragraph 4 of the Governing Board regulations to replace Stylianos Antonarakis who recently resigned from the Board. Atalanti will join the board in January 2002 following the expiration of her term as Chairman of the LGB Campus Development Group. Please distribute this information to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community as you deem appropriate. It is also posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page. sincerely, John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva Return to top of page. Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 - 2001/03/27 Subject: EOL Fw: Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 To: Chairs - Campus Development Group, Campus Principals From: Chairman - Governing Board Below are the key highlights from the board meeting on 27 March at Grand-Sacconex: Two major decisions were the natural conclusion of the discussions from the Extraordinary CGA held on 7 March: - Following approval of the Saconay land reclassification by the Grand Conseil of the State of Geneva on 23 March, the board formally confirmed that the Saconay facility is to be constructed as a class 3 to 13 structure to allow Pregny/Rigot to be combined with Saconay to form an ECE-13 campus with English as the primary language of instruction and a strong French-as-second-language emphasis. - The board authorised Foundation Management to secure option to purchase land adjacent to La Chat contingent upon declassification to allow construction. Possible solutions to address facility inadequacies at the Grand-Saconnex annex for Pregny-Rigot were reviewed. A proposal to secure additional space at Mies to further enhance that facility and relocate current staff and students from Grand-Saconnex to Mies was endorsed for further study. Capital improvement projects from all three campuses totalling over 8 million CHF were reviewed. Actions by the board were to - approve special capital project for replacement of the boiler at La Châtaigneraie (185,000 CHF) - confirm special capital project to convert la Ferme at La Châtaigneraie into a Music Facility (250,000 CHF) - request additional information to be presented to the April board meeting on the following projects - - - La Châtaigneraie - Multi-media centre furnishings and equipment - - - Pregny-Rigot - Multi-media centre - - - La Grande Bossiere - remodelling of old Cafeteria space - recognise investigation of addition of space at les Marronniers at La Grande Bossiere To augment the letters regarding the fee increase being sent from the Director-General and Board Chairman as well as those being sent from the Campus Principals/Section Directors, the board agreed to call an informal 'open meeting' to provide more detailed background information and enable an exchange of views with interested members of the community. The meeting will be held on Friday, 6 April starting at 1800 in the Primary Assembly Hall at La Châtaigneraie. These board meeting highlights will be posted shortly at www.ecolint.ch. Please disseminate this information within your campus community as appropriate. John Boggs Chairman - Governing Board International School of Geneva phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home) fax: + (022) 799 2647 e-mail: boggsj@iata.org Return to top of page. Referendum Homepage 2002-05-29 by: ecolint.alumni@florin.com

Issues Concerning the
School Community Referendum
of June, 2002

Governing Board Communiques:

: Management Council Communique 2002/09/06
Highlights ISG Governing Board Meeting 25 June 2002 2002/06/26
Governing Board Composition 2002/06/13
Letter to Tribune de Geneve 2002/06/13
Referendum Defence 2002/06/13
Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Highlights ISG Governing Board Meeting 25 June 2002 2002/06/26
Governing Board Composition 2002/06/13
Letter to Tribune de Geneve 2002/06/13
Referendum Defence 2002/06/13
Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Governing Board Composition 2002/06/13
Letter to Tribune de Geneve 2002/06/13
Referendum Defence 2002/06/13
Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Letter to Tribune de Geneve 2002/06/13
Referendum Defence 2002/06/13
Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Referendum Defence 2002/06/13
Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Resignation Letter (2) 2002/06/03
Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Resignation Letter (1) 2002/05/22
ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 2002/05/27
Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Election Update/Nouvelles des élections 2002/05/24
Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet 2002/05/21
ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 2002/05/02
Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot 2002/04/22
ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 2002/03/12
Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 2002/03/04
Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 2002/02/19
Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting 2001/11/20
Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27; Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 2001/03/27

Main Index:

: Brief Introduction

Brief Chronology

Background Information

Survey of Alumni

Join the email discussion group; Brief Chronology

Background Information

Survey of Alumni

Join the email discussion group; Background Information

Survey of Alumni

Join the email discussion group; Survey of Alumni

Join the email discussion group; Join the email discussion group

Archives:

: Press Coverage

Governing Board Communiques

Director General's Newsletters

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - November 2000

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002; Governing Board Communiques

Director General's Newsletters

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - November 2000

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002; Director General's Newsletters

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - November 2000

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002; Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - November 2000

Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002; Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly - March 2002

Management Council Communique 6 September 2002

Management Council of the International School of Geneva

With the departure of the Director General on 31 August 2002, the Governing Board has decided to institute the following arrangements for the management of the Foundation for the interim period pending the recruitment of a new Director General. A Management Council is appointed effective 1 September 2002 with overall managerial responsibility for the Foundation – in order to fulfil the duties of the Director General according to article 15 of the Regulations of the Governing Board. The Council will prepare recommendations on matters, which are within the competence of the Board and/or the Executive Committee of the Board.

The Management Council will consist of the Financial & Administrative Director – François Collini, (Foundation), - the three Campus Directors – Jean-Guy Carpentier (LGB), Michel Chinal (La Chât) and Angela Hollington (Pregny) - and a person[1] to be nominated by the Board to facilitate decisions. The Council will maintain regular contacts with the Governing Board and its Executive Committee, and the Campus Development Groups (CDG's). The Council will decide on its representation in the Board and the Executive Committee but without voting rights. The Council will contribute to Foundation wide policies and actions such as accreditation and budgetary allocations. Each Campus Director will continue to assume responsibility for their respective campuses. The Financial & Administrative Director will assume the duties of management of all central administrative staff and decisions related to financial, legal and administrative issues (staffing contracts, observance of CCT, etc).

The mode of working and the schedule of activities of the Council will be developed by the Council itself including assignment of responsibilities for issues of Foundation wide concern where a member will act on behalf of the entire Council. The above arrangements will continue to be closely monitored by the Board.

[1] PS – Jean-Jacques Streuli has since been nominated.

Version française :

Direction de l'Ecole internationale de Genève

A la suite du départ du directeur général, le 30 août dernier, le Conseil de Fondation a pris les dispositions suivantes afin d'assurer l'intérim jusqu'à l'engagement d'un nouveau directeur général.

Un Directoire assumant toutes les responsabilités de gestion pour la Fondation, est en place depuis le 1er septembre. Il remplit les tâches incombant au directeur général, selon l'article 15 du règlement du Conseil de Fondation. Il va préparer notamment les recommandations relatives aux domaines relevant du Conseil de Fondation et/ou du comité exécutif de ce dernier.

§ Le Directoire est constitué du directeur administratif et financier, François Collini (Fondation), des trois directeurs de campus : Jean-Guy Carpentier, (LGB), Michel Chinal (La Chât) et Angela Hollington (Pregny) et d'un modérateur à choisir par le Conseil de Fondation1. § Le Directoire travaillera en collaboration avec le Conseil de Fondation, son comité exécutif, ainsi qu'avec les Groupes de Développement des Campus – CDG. § Il déterminera sa représentation auprès du Conseil de Fondation et du comité exécutif, aux séances desquels il participera sans droit de vote. § Le Directoire veillera à l'application de la politique générale de la Fondation et de ses procédures, telles, par exemple l'accréditation et les budgets.... § Chaque directeur de campus continuera à assumer la responsabilité de son propre campus. § Le Directeur financier et administratif répondra des tâches liées à la gestion du personnel de l'administration centrale, des décisions liées à la gestion financière, juridique et administrative (Contrats du personnel, respect de la CCT, etc.)

Le mode de fonctionnement du Directoire sera déterminé par le groupe lui-même qui désignera également son/ses délégué/s pour les sujets concernant l'ensemble de la Fondation.

Le fonctionnement du Directoire sera suivi avec attention par le Conseil de Fondation.

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Highlights ISG Governing Board Meeting 25 June 2002

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on 25 June 2002. The meeting included the completion of work on pending issues and focused on decisions linked to the results of the recent referendum vote of confidence for the Board."

The incoming elected and co-opted Board members - Thierry Halff, Dev Ray, Hélèn Ballivet and Véronique Nanchen - attended the majority of meeting as observers. All current Board members were in attendance with one exception due to a death in the family.

As announced in an earlier message, the referendum results indicated a clear majority of votes voting "no". Over 1,900 ballots were cast; 70% voted "no" and 30% voted "yes".

Both the Swiss Federal Department of the Interior, office of Surveillance of Foundations as well as the Geneva and Vaud educational authorities are being formally notified of the results. They will assist with the maintenance of the proper governance of the Foundation as well as ensure the continued good functioning of the school.

The result of the referendum has indicated to the Board the desire of the school community that it clear the way for others to take on the complex challenges of the Foundation. This will begin effective 7 July 2002 with the resignation of the six elected parents with unexpired mandates (John Boggs, Pam Gromadzki, Philippe Holderbeke, Luigi Pierleoni, Philip Procter and Rodney Ross). The commencement of the term of office for the four incoming elected and co-opted Board members has been advanced to the same date. Two current co-opted members (Lou McCaul and Atalanti Moquette) and the three members appointed by the cantonal and Swiss Federal authorities (Josie Clerc, Raymond Jourdan and Françoise Wallin)will remain as Board members serving both before and after 7 July.

The Board recognised that the events leading to the referendum included a call for not only a change in the Board but also in the Director General. In recognition of this fact, the Board has agreed with Dr. Billingsley that he will leave the Foundation at the conclusion of the 2002-2003 academic year unless the new Board and Dr. Billingsley should mutually seek his contract extension. This will allow the new Board, should it choose, to conduct a proper search for an appropriate replacement as DG while the ongoing management and operation of the school continues in the coming year. He has pledged to work closely with the new Board to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any negative impact of the change in the Board on the ECIS Accreditation process that is currently on course for successful completion next year.

The Board recommended that the Nominating Committee should be reconstituted according to its current regulations to allow special elections to be held as soon as practical after the start of the new academic year to fill the seats vacated due to the resignations. A number of deficiencies in the current election processes were uncovered during the intense scrutiny of the recent Board elections as well as the referendum voting process. The issues identified and recommendations for revisions were passed along for consideration by the new Board.

The Board also recommended that the new Board promptly review the final proposal for the CCT to confirm its agreement with its revised provisions and future financial consequences to allow the new contract to be signed in a matter of days after 7 July. Also the Board recommended that the new Board review the plans for expansion of Foundation facilities, in particular, the plans for the Saconay campus, and proceed with fundraising efforts, negotiations with the canton of Geneva and, ultimately, construction of the facility.

In other actions, the Board approved revisions to the Child Welfare and Protection Policy. The policy, originally adopted in April 2001, was scheduled for review after a year of experience with its implementation. A committee of Foundation staff and parents headed by Mike Lee, Head of Student Services, had proposed changes to ensure the updated policy document was a workable one which could be easily followed in terms of clarity and continuity as well as being relevant to legal issues and generally accepted practice in Switzerland.

The outgoing Board members wish to express their thanks to those who have supported them during a challenging period in the school's history and earnestly hope that all will now unite in supporting the new Board.

All members of the Governing Board - resigning, continuing and incoming - join me in the sincere hope that the changes being made will yield nothing but positive results for the Foundation and the school community.

With best wishes to all,
John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

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Governing Board Composition- 2002/06/13

Names and addresses of members of the Governing Board:


 
  John Boggs
    Nationality: USA - Relected 1999
    Route de Borex, CH-1274 Grens
    tel: +41 22 362.93.16
    Employer: IATA
      Route de l'Aeroport 33, P.O. Box 416, CH-1215 Geneve 15
      tel: +41 22 702.57.08


  Carol Panchaud
    Nationality: CH - Reelected 2001 (Resigned 2002)
    4 Chemin des Tulipiers, CH 1297 Founex
    tel: +41 22 776.69.03

  Rosa Constanza Vallenas de Villar
    Nationality: Peru - Elected 1999 (Resigned 2002)
    84 Allee des Frenes, Bois Chatton
    F-01210 Versonnex, France
    tel: +59 450 42.71.77
    Employer: World Health Organization
      Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneve 27
      tel: +41 22 791.41.43

  Valerie de Marnix
    Nationality: Belgium - Elected 2000 (Resigned 2002)
    60 route de la Louviere, Ch-1243 Presinge
    tel: +41 22 759.19.81 - +41 79 63.74.263
    
  Rodney Enix-Ross
    Nationality: USA - Elected 2001
    Les Grands Champs 6B, CH-1279 Bogis Bossey
    tel: +41 22 776.40.72
    Employer: WRG - FM
      1 Passage de la Radio, CH-1295 Geneva
      
  Philippe Holderbeke
    Nationality: Belgium - Elected 2001
    100 chemin de Ruth, CH-1223 Cologny
    tel: +41 22 722.02.40
    Employer: Banque Edouard Constant
      Cours de Rive 11, Case postale, CH-1211 Genève
      tel: +41 22 787.31.11
      
  Luigi Pierleoni
    Nationality: Italy - Elected 2000
    chemin Louis Degallier 63, CH-1290 Versoix
    tel: +41 22 779.36.63
    Employer: Procter and Gamble
      route de Saint Georges 47, CH-1213 Petit Lancy
      tel: +41 22 709.63.93
 
  Philip Procter
    Nationality: United Kingdom - Elected 2000
    36b Les Landes, CH-1299 Crans pres Celigny
    tel: +41 22 362.35.50
    Employer: Stryker Trauma 
      chemin des Aulx 5, CH-1228 Plan les Ouates
      tel: +41 22 884.01.86   

  Stylianos Antonarkis
    Nationality: USA/GR - Elected 1998 (Resigned 2002)
    28 Boulevard des Philosophes, CH-1205 Geneve
    tel: +41 22 789.10.07
    Employer: Centre Medical Universitaire
      Division de Genetique Medicale
      1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneve 4
      tel: +41 22 702.57.08
      
  Atalanti Moquette
    Nationality: Greece - Appointed 2002
    40 route de Vallon, CH-1224 Chene Bougeries
    tel: +41 22 348.04.49
 
  Pierra-Alain Hirschy
    Nationality: CH - Elected 1997 (Resigned 2002)
    18 avenue Jacques Martin, CH-1244 Chene Bougeries
    tel: +41 22 349.47.62
    Employer: Merchandising International
      1 Rue Pedro Meylan, CH-1208 Geneve
      tel: +41 22 735.35.02 

  Susan Hafner
    Nationality: USA/CH - Elected 1998
    88 Chemin de Ruth, CH-1223 Cologny
    tel: +41 22 752.48.29

    
  Unelected Members:

    Louis McCaul - United Nations - Since 2001
    Josie Clerc - Conseil d'Etat Vaudois - Since 2000
    Raymond Jourdan - Conseil Federal - Since 2000
    Francoise Wallin - Conseil d'Etat Genevois - Since 1999

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Letter to the Tribune de Geneve - 2002-06-13

To: Members of the Community - International School of Geneva
From: Chairman - Governing Board of the Foundation of the International School of Geneva

You may have seen a number of articles regarding Ecolint appearing in the Tribune de Geneve over the past few months. These articles have often painted a very negative and incorrect picture of the school; consequently, the Board has sent the attached letter to the Editor in Chief of the Tribune de Geneve.

An earlier letter from the Board in response to misleading information published in the Tribune de Geneve was heavily edited. The attached letter, along with an English translation of the text, is provided to allow all members of the community to recieve it in its entirety. You can individually make your own judgement on the possible bias of the Tribune based on the extent to which it appears in the paper, if it indeed ever is printed at all.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

Monsieur Le Rédacteur en Chef
Tribune de Genève
Rue des Bois 11
Case Postale
1211 Genève 11 Genève, le 13 juin 2002

Monsieur,

Compte tenu de l'influence que votre journal a sur la communauté genevoise, nous, membres du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole internationale, sommes outrés de la façon que vous avez choisie de relater les controverses que connaît actuellement notre école. Nous ne pouvons que nous demander quel est le but recherché par votre journaliste M. Bernard Favre puisque ce n'est en tous cas pas celui de pratiquer sa profession avec éthique et honnêteté.

L'Ecole internationale de Genève, comme toute organisation vieille de plus de 75 ans, a connu des crises à intervalles réguliers, à travers les ans, alors qu'elle s'agrandissait et s'adaptait aux besoins de notre communauté. (Nous vous recommandons la lecture du livre de Michael Knight, « Un Portrait de l'Ecole internationale de Genève »). L'école a su faire face à chaque crise, et elle assume aujourd'hui l'instruction, sur 3 campus, de plus de 3400 élèves de 110 nationalités différentes et 80 langues maternelles. Les diplômés de cette année se dirigent vers des études supérieures non seulement en Suisse mais aussi dans de prestigieuses écoles en Angleterre, en France, aux Etats-Unis et dans beaucoup d'autres pays à travers le monde.

La responsabilité de répondre aux besoins de cette population multiculturelle que nous partageons, vous en tant que journal local et nous en tant que Conseil de Fondation, est déjà assez difficile sans alimenter en plus une polémique avec des informations basées sur des rumeurs ou sur un parti pris. Dans vos articles et vos titres sont souvent apparus des mots tels que « machinations », « incompétent », « cinglant », « bouleversements », mots qui indiquent clairement une opinion plutôt qu'un journalisme objectif. Des interviews avec nos représentants ont été déformés pour favoriser l'opposition de manière si flagrante que personne n'ose se risquer à rétablir la vérité.

Vous avez publié de fausses affirmations telles celles remettant en cause les compétences financières de notre trésorier, Philippe Holderbeke, ce qui relève de la diffamation dans n'importe quel pays démocratique. Il est d'ailleurs à relever que des vérificateurs extérieurs ont déjà contrôlé nos comptes et reconnu leur exactitude. D'autre part, vous nous accusez de falsification lors de l'élection des nouveaux membres du Conseil. Il a été clairement souligné lors de réunions dont votre journaliste a parlé dans ses articles, que Maître Naville, notaire, qui supervise nos élections, avait confirmé qu'aucune irrégularité n'avait été commise lors du processus de vote. Il nous a également assuré qu'il n'est en aucun cas possible que qui que ce soit puisse voter deux fois comme d'aucuns avaient pu le laisser entendre. La partialité de votre point de vue, qui nourrit naturellement l'agenda politique d'un groupe d'opposition sans scrupules dans sa manière de relater les choses, contribue malheureusement à la désinformation des lecteurs qui n'ont pas les moyens d'examiner le fonctionnement interne d'une institution de la taille et de la complexité de la nôtre.

Le Conseil continue de travailler dans le but de définir les besoins de notre communauté et d'assurer son futur en tant qu'excellente institution académique avec comme ligne directrice le règlement de sa charte qui exige « le respect et l'égalité dans la diversité ». Des accusations, comme celles portées dans votre journal, qui laissent entendre que notre direction utilise « des méthodes de gestion à l'américaine » ne permettent pas de se faire une opinion basée sur une vraie présentation des faits et ne respectent pas les idéaux de tolérance qui sont à la base de l'état d'esprit de l'Ecole internationale. Les 12 membres de notre Conseil actuel représentent 7 nationalités, tous dûment élus par les presque 5000 électeurs de notre communauté. Dès la prochaine rentrée scolaire, les directeurs de nos deux plus grands campus seront tous deux francophones.

Nous ne nions pas le fait que la fondation doit actuellement faire face à des problèmes complexes, dans une atmosphère tendue, mais nous, représentants du Conseil de Fondation, sommes actuellement en train de nous acquitter le plus consciencieusement possible de notre tâche en mettant sur pied de nombreuses réunions pour pouvoir répondre aux questions de notre communauté et lui fournir toute l'information souhaitée. Au vu de ce qui précède, nous vous demandons de vous assurer que l'information que vous publiez reflète bien toutes les facettes de la problématique.

Avec nos meilleures salutations.

John Boggs
pour le Conseil de Fondation

The Editor-in-Chief
La Tribune de Geneve
Rue des Bois 11
Case Postale
1211 Geneve 11

June 13, 2002, Geneva

To the Editor-in-Chief,

In view of the significant influence that your newspaper has on the Geneva community, we on the Governing Board of the International School of Geneva are outraged by the manner you have consistently chosen to report recent issues concerning our school. We ask ourselves what is the goal of your reporter Mr. Bernard Favre if it is not to practice his profession ethically and honestly?

The International School of Geneva, like any organization with over 75 years of history behind it, has not been without crisis at regular intervals over the years, as it grew and adapted to the changing needs of our community. (We refer you to the book by Michael Knight, Ecolint, A Portrait of the International School of Geneva.) With each crisis, the school has landed soundly on its feet, today successfully educating over 3400 students on three campuses with 110 different nationalities and about 80 mother tongues. This year's graduating class is going on to higher education not only in Switzerland but also to prestigious schools in the UK, France, the United States and many other countries around the world.

The task of serving this multicultural population, which you as a community newspaper and we as the Governing Board, both share although in different ways, is sufficiently challenging without feeding it information based on rumor or one point of view. Your articles and headlines have freely used words such as "machinations" (election fixing), "incompetent" (incompetence), "cinglant" (bloody), "bouleversements"(shattering); words which clearly state opinion rather than provide well-balanced journalism. Interviews with our representatives are deformed to favor the opposition to such an extent as to discourage any party wishing to set the record straight.

You have printed inaccurate statements such as those attacking the financial competence of our treasurer, Philippe Holderbeke. This is libelous language in any democratic country. In fact, our accounts were recently inspected and approved by auditors. You accuse us of fixing our recent election for new Board members. Yet at public meetings about which your reporter wrote it was clearly stated that the notary Mr. Naville, who oversees our elections, confirmed that there were no irregularities in our voting process and that no one can vote twice in our elections, such as your articles suggested. Your one-sided viewpoint, which so clearly serves the political agenda of one very vocal opposition group in its manner of reporting, unfortunately contributes to misinforming a public that does not have the means to examine the inner functions of an institution of our size and complexity.

This Board continues to work toward defining the needs of our community and assure its future as a fine academic institution, upholding the laws of its Charter that demand, as you wrote, "respect for equality within diversity". Accusations, such as those used in your paper by describing our direction as using "American management methods" do not allow for an opinion based on fair reporting, nor do they respect the ideals of tolerance that are at the basis of the spirit of the International School. The 12 current members of our present Board represent seven nationalities, all duly elected by the nearly 5000 voting members of our community. This coming school year the campus principals who direct our two biggest campuses will both be francophone.

We do not deny that the Foundation is facing tense and challenging issues. But we of the Governing Board are presently working to fulfill our task of listening to and informing our community with numerous open meetings. We ask you to take your responsibility for providing information that reflects all sides of a story.

Sincerely,

John Boggs
for the Governing Board.

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Referendum Defence - 2002-06-13

Dear Fellow Members of the International School Community,
>
> The International School of Geneva is facing a very difficult time with
> concern and confusion prevalent throughout the Foundation.
>
> On this past Monday night, open meetings were held on all three campuses
> to answer questions and to provide information. As anyone present could
> quickly determine, we are a Foundation with major problems which will not
> be solved without restoring a spirit of mutual co-operation and a
> recognition that the proper goals of the school are educational and not
> political.
>
> A number of questions were raised during the open meetings as well as in
> the correspondence from the various interest groups opposing the Board
> which deserve response.
> BACKGROUND ON THE REFERENDUM

> * What should be done if you don't receive a ballot or if you have
> lost the one that was mailed?
> Apply in writing to:
> International School of Geneva
> REFERENDUM
> Case Postale 3484
> 1211 Geneve 3
>
> * Why is the Board asking for this vote of confidence in their
> mandate?
>
> To determine if a duly elected board can continue to work in the interests
> of the Foundation without interference. Throughout this academic year, the
> Board and Director General have been under increasing attack from two
> groups; The Federation of Staff Associations, led by Mr. John Schuman, and
> the Committee of Concerned Members of the Community of the International
> School of Geneva whose spokesperson is Hélèn Durand Balivet.
>
> Precisely who constitutes this Committee of Concerned Members has never
> been made clear because much of the communication between this group and
> the community occurs via unattributed quotes in local newspaper articles
> and letters to the board and DG that arrive signed only by M. Balivet.
> What is clear is that they are a very powerful and very politically
> well-connected group.
>
> The Federation of Staff Assocations are accountable to their individual
> union organisations and the employees of the Foundation. They are a
> clearly defined group that may have legitimate grievances with the
> Director General and other members of management. More importantly,
> methods and structures exist that allow the Staff Federation to resolve
> those conflicts with management if and when they occur without involving
> the Governing Board or the community at large.
> * Is this a vote to change the structure of governance for the Foundation?

No. The referendum is not a vote on whether or not the current form of governance is the correct one for our Foundation. That question must be determined under the guidelines of the existing charter and should occur in an open and democratic process that includes the entire school community. The current Board has already launched this initiative by establishing a Governance Task Force which includes representatives from the Alumni Association and Federation of Staff Associations in addition to former CDG and Governing Board members.

IF THE BOARD DOES NOT RECEIVE A MAJORITY "YES" VOTE
> * Why has the Board indicated it would call upon the Swiss Federal
> Authorities?
>
> The Foundation is organised and governed according to rules which were
> adopted after consultation with the community and approval by the Swiss
> Government. One of the key elements in these is that the Supervisory
> Authority in Berne has authority over an otherwise autonomous Foundation.
> This provision was added following a particularly bitter battle over
> governance that occurred a little over 10 years ago. The Board has been
> discharging its responsibilities under these regulations which dictate
> that the Board is the sole responsible party for hiring and supervising
> the Director General and that the DG has responsibility for relations and
> negotiations with the staff and its unions. Attempts by the Staff
> Association to circumvent the DG by bringing union-management problems to
> the Board violate these regulations as do attempts by segments of the
> community to usurp the authority of the Board in supervision of the DG.
>
> * Will the community lose control if the Supervisory Authority
> intervenes?
>
> No. On the contrary, the community remains in control. The mission of the
> Supervisory Authority would be simply to ensure that the regulations of
> the Foundation are followed as intended. Their role is to ensure that the
> Foundation is not "hijacked" by an anonymous committee or a small group of
> union leaders but remains governed under established, democratic
> procedures and continues to be managed by professional leaders and
> administrators.
>
> * What happens to the initiatives of the Board on issues such as the
> Governance Task Force, the fundraising efforts and the plans for capital
> improvements on all the campuses if they are removed from office?
> These projects, including the effort for self-renewal and change which the initiative on Governance represents, have an uncertain future at best as the attention of the Foundation will be focused on survival and not on progress in the wake of the change.

* If the current Board leaves, can staff salaries increase without tuition increases?

No. The commitment of the current Board to the staff is clearly demonstrated in their support for the need to increase staff salaries. The inevitable consequence of these salary increases is the requirement for unpopular tuition increases.

* How will the current problems be addressed if the community votes the current Board out of office?

Beyond the question of the mechanics of assembling a new Board willing to take the challenge of leadership, what concrete steps and what real actions are planned by those opposed to the direction of the Board to repair the damage of the past few months and to address the real problems facing the school? This important question about the possible future of the Foundation remains unanswered.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

* What was the major incident that triggered the crisis?

The current crisis evolved when a School Director and the Director General attempted to discipline a teacher whose classroom behavior warranted such action. The Federation refused to use the collective labour/management (CCT) agreement provisions designed for resolution of just this sort of staff/management disagreement but rather began circulating petitions. At one point, the progress on the ECIS accreditation was held up for the entire Foundation in protest of the issuance of a warning rather than appealing it via the established arbitration procedures. The Concerned Members of the Community group falsely accused the Director General of trying to fire this teacher and chose to protest the very legitimacy of the duly elected board, accusing them of creating the current 'malaise'. The exact nature of this malaise has never been articulated by either group.

* What are the tangible examples of the problems caused by the Board and Director General that are causing the "malaise"?

The Head of the Staff Association provided his answer during the open meeting at La Chat on Monday night - his primary example was that teachers have only learned of their class timetable on 1 September for the past two years. It was very hard for the audience to make any connection between this administrative problem and the governance actions of the Board. If real problems can be brought forward by the staff to the management, they can and will be fixed.

* Has the inquiry into the alleged 'forged document' been delayed?

Not at all - the independent professional hired with the agreement of both sides will be issuing his final report on the incident in a matter of days. It is important to note that the alleged forgery was a document that was over 10 years old and had no substantive relationship to the warning letter that was issued and subsequently withdrawn. It was simply an issue that was relayed in a distorted manner to many members of the community and then escalated out of proportion in the local press.

* Was there any voting irregularity in the multinational corporate community in the last Board election?

No. As clearly stated by all involved in the Board election at the Consultative General Assembly, no extra ballots were provided to any one or to any organisation. A great amount of very negative publicity was needlessly generated over a true non-event. Allegations of 'pressure tactics' by individual Board members on their fellow employees have been roundly denounced by other employee/parents who stood up and spoke at both the CGA as well as at the open meetings on Monday evening. Again, a story is being inflated and enhanced with the sole purpose of generating a perception of wrongdoing where none actually existed.

IF THE BOARD RECEIVES A MAJORITY "YES" VOTE

* What happens if the community endorses the mandate of the current Board?

The current Board is committed to consultation, to holding open meetings to discuss issues and, most importantly, to find solutions to the problems that face the Foundation. As mentioned on Monday night in all the Board presentations, educational quality must be seen as our primary, common goal. Working with the CDGs, the Board has developed long term plans which address the facility needs of all campuses. It has established policies in important areas such as Conflict of Interest and Child Welfare and Protection - policies that were not previously codified in the Foundation and which have led to some unfortunate incidents in recent years. The Board and the DG have worked with the CDGs to mould the structure of the Saconay "fourth campus" to serve the needs of the community and strengthen rather than undermine the existing schools.

* What happens to ECIS Accreditation?

Despite the threat from the Staff Association that ". . . disasters will most likely occur if we continue with our present leadership", failure of the staff to co-operate with the accreditation effort would be not only a violation of their Collective Agreement but would be a violation of Swiss law. The vast majority of teachers in the Foundation as well as parents and alumni know that a threat to accreditation or to allow "the consequences from reaching into the classroom" is simply unthinkable for true professional educators; consequently it is hard to accept these threatening statements from the Staff Association at face value.

* Does the vote of confidence in the board have other implications?

Yes. The Board feels that the community must decide on who should be governing the school. The choice is clear. A "YES" vote demonstrates that the school community will support the duly elected board along with a Director General hired and supervised by the board. A "NO" means that a group of unelected individuals, accountable to no one can dictate the direction of the Foundation and overrule its governance mechanisms.

> Is the community ready to cease the fighting and move forward together? That is the key question - regardless of the outcome of the referendum vote. The Board is committed, regardless of the outcome of the vote, to seek to rebuild the trust and co-operative spirit that are needed to move ahead.

The Governing Board fully recognises that problems do exist. It has a clear plan to address the issues and is seeking to be open to new solutions and different approaches to resolve them. The Board remains committed to making the hard choices required to see progress.

> sincerely,
John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

Chers Membres de la Communauté de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève,

L'Ecole Internationale de Genève affronte une période très difficile alliant préoccupation et confusion à travers toute la Fondation. Lundi soir dernier, des séances d'information ont été tenues sur les trois campus pour répondre aux questions et fournir des informations. Comme tout un chacun présent a pu le déterminer rapidement, nous sommes une Fondation avec des problèmes importants qui ne pourront pas être réglés sans avoir au préalable restauré un esprit de coopération mutuelle et avoir reconnu que le véritable but de l'Ecole est l'éducation et non la politique.

Un certain nombre de questions ont été soulevées durant ces séances et également dans les correspondances des différents groupes s'opposant au Conseil ; celles-ci méritent une réponse.

CONTEXTE DU REFERENDUM

* Que pouvez-vous faire si vous ne recevez pas de bulletin de vote ou si vous avez perdu celui qui vous a été envoyé ? Veuillez vous adresser par écrit à :

Ecole Internationale de Genève REFERENDUM Case Postale 3484 1211 Genève 3

* Que demande le Conseil pour ce vote de confiance dans son mandat ?

Déterminer si un Conseil élu valablement peut continuer à travailler dans les intérêts de la Fondation sans interférence. Tout au long de cette année académique, le Conseil et le Directeur Général ont fait face à des attaques grandissantes de deux groupes; la Fédération des Associations du personnel, conduite par John Schumann, et le « Committee of Concerned Members » de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève dont le porte-parole est Hélène Durant Ballivet.

Il n'a jamais été établi clairement qui constitue précisément ce « Committee of Concerned Members » parce que beaucoup de communications entre ce groupe et la communauté apparaissent à travers des citations non appropriées dans des articles de presse locale et des lettres au Conseil et au Directeur Général qui arrivent signées uniquement de Mme Ballivet.

Ce qui est clair, c'est que ce sont des groupes à pouvoir et contacts politiques très influents.

La Fédération des Associations du personnel est responsable de l'organisation de son syndicat et des employés de la Fondation. Il s'agit d'un groupe bien défini qui aurait des griefs légitimes avec le Directeur Général et d'autres membres de la Direction. De manière plus importante, des méthodes et structures existent qui permettent à l'Association du Personnel de résoudre les conflits avec la Direction lorsque ceux-là se présentent, sans impliquer le Conseil de Fondation ou la Communauté toute entière.

* Est-ce un vote qui a pour but de changer la structure de gestion de la Fondation ?

Non. Le Référendum n'est pas un vote visant à définir si oui ou non la forme actuelle de gestion est correcte pour la Fondation. Cette question doit être déterminée par rapport aux directives de la Charte existante et devrait apparaître dans un processus ouvert et démocratique qui inclut la totalité de la Communauté de l'Ecole.

Le Conseil actuel a déjà lancé cette initiative en établissant une « Governance Task Force » qui inclut un représentant de l'Association des Anciens Elèves et de la Fédération des Associations de Personnel en plus du CDG et des Membres du Conseil.

SI LE CONSEIL NE RECOIT PAS UNE MAJORITE DE « OUI »

* Pourquoi le Conseil a-t-il indiqué qu'il ferait appel aux Autorités Fédérales Suisses ?

La Fondation est organisée et gouvernée suivant des règles qui ont été adoptées après consultation de la Communauté et approbation du Gouvernement Suisse. Un des éléments clés dans celles-ci est que l'Autorité de Supervision à Berne a autorité sur la Fondation qui, autrement, est autonome.

Cette provision a été ajoutée suite à un combat amère dans le Conseil qui a eu lieu il y a une dizaine d'années. Le Conseil remplit ses responsabilités par cette clause qui dit qu'il

est la seule partie responsable d'engager et de superviser le Directeur Général et que le DG a la responsabilité de relation et négociation avec le personnel et ses syndicats. Les tentatives de l'Association du personnel de dépasser le DG en amenant des problèmes de direction-syndicat au Conseil viole ces réglementations comme le font les tentatives d'un certain nombre de membres de la Communauté lorsqu'ils usurpent l'autorité du Conseil dans la supervision du DG.

* La Communauté va-t-elle perdre le contrôle si cette Autorité de Supervision intervient ?

Non. Au contraire, la Communauté garde le contrôle. La mission de l'Autorité de Supervision serait simplement de s'assurer que les règles de la Fondation sont suivies comme prévu. Leur rôle est d'assurer que la Fondation n'est pas « piratée » par un comité anonyme ou un petit groupe de chefs syndicaux mais qu'elle reste gouvernée par les procédures établies et démocratiques et continue à être dirigée par des Directeurs et Administrateurs professionnels.

* Que va-t-il advenir des sujets traités par le Conseil tels que la « Governance Task Force »,

les efforts de récolte de fonds et les plans pour l'amélioration des prestations sur tous les campus si le Conseil doit quitter ses fonctions ?

L'avenir de ces projets, y compris les efforts d'auto renouvellement et de changement constituant actuellement le travail du « Task Force » est au mieux incertain, étant donné que l'attention de la Fondation sera portée sur la survie et non plus sur le progrès qui doit suivre le changement.

* Si le Conseil s'en va, les salaires du personnel peuvent-ils augmenter sans augmenter les frais d'écolage ?

Non. L'engagement du Conseil actuel envers le personnel est clairement démontré dans son soutien quant au besoin d'augmenter les salaires. Les conséquences inévitables de cette augmentation est de réclamer des augmentations impopulaires de frais d'écolage.

* Comment les problèmes actuels vont-ils être présentés si la Communauté vote pour un départ du Conseil actuel ?

En dehors de la question du mécanisme permettant de rassembler un nouveau Conseil désireux de reprendre le défi de la gouvernance, quelles étapes concrètes et quelles actions réelles sont planifiées par ceux qui s'opposent à la direction du Conseil, pour réparer les dommages des quelques mois passés et présenter les vrais problèmes auxquels l'école fait face ? Cette question importante au sujet du futur possible de la Fondation reste sans réponse.

RAPPEL D'INFORMATIONS

* Quel a été l'incident majeur qui a causé la crise ?

La crise actuelle a évolué lorsqu'un Directeur d'Ecole et le Directeur Général ont tenté de discipliner un professeur dont le comportement nécessitait une telle action. La Fédération a refusé d'utiliser les clauses de la CCT - désignée pour arranger avec justice cette sorte de différents entre le personnel et la direction – mais a plutôt commencé à faire circuler des pétitions. A un point, l'avancement du processus d'accréditation ECIS a été suspendu par la Fondation toute entière en protestation contre cet avertissement, au lieu de passer par les procédures d'arbitrage habituelles. Le groupe des « Concerned Members of the Community » accusèrent à tort le Directeur Général d'essayer de licencier ce professeur et choisit de protester contre la légitimité de ce Conseil normalement élu, en l'accusant de créer ce malaise.

L'exacte nature de ce malaise n'a jamais été présentée par un quelconque groupe.

* Quels sont les exemples tangibles des problèmes causés par le Conseil de Fondation et le Directeur Général qui ont causé ce malaise ?

Le Chef de l'Association du personnel a donné sa réponse durant la séance d'information de la Châtaigneraie lundi soir – son premier exemple était que les professeurs ont pris connaissance de leur programme de classe le 1er septembre seulement durant les deux dernières années. Il était très difficile pour l'audience de faire un lien entre ce problème administratif et les actions de gouvernance du Conseil. Si de vrais problèmes peuvent être amenés par le personnel à la direction, ils peuvent et seront réglés.

* La question du prétendu 'faux document' a-t-elle été réglée ?

Pas du tout – le professionnel indépendant engagé avec l'accord des deux parties va rendre son rapport final sur l'incident dans quelques jours.

Il est important de noter que le prétendu faux est un document qui date de plus de 10 ans et n'a pas de rapport concret avec la lettre d'avertissement qui a été écrite puis retirée.

C'était tout simplement un sujet qui a été relaté d'une manière inexacte à de nombreux membres de la communauté et qui a pris des proportions vertigineuses ensuite dans la presse.

* Y a-t-il eu une quelconque irrégularité dans le vote de la communauté de sociétés multinationales lors des dernières élections du Conseil ?

Non. Comme clairement établi par toutes les personnes impliquées dans les élections du Conseil lors de l'Assemblée Générale Consultative, aucun bulletin de vote supplémentaire n'a été fourni à quiconque ou à quelque organisation que ce soit. Un grand nombre de publicité négative a été inutilement générée à ce propos. Les allégations de « tactiques de pression » par des personnes du Conseil sur les employés ont été rondement dénoncées par d'autres employés/parents qui se sont levés et ont parlé à la fois à la CGA et aux séances d'information lundi soir. Encore une fois, une histoire a été gonflée et accrue avec le seul but de générer une perception de mauvais fonctionnement là où il n'y en a pas.

SI LE CONSEIL RECOIT UNE MAJORITE DE « OUI » AU VOTE

* Qu'arrivera-t-il si la communauté soutien le mandat du Conseil actuel ?

Le Conseil actuel s'est engagé à consulter la communauté, à tenir des séances d'information à discuter des problèmes et, de manière plus importante, de trouver des solutions aux problèmes auxquels la Fondation fait face. Comme mentionné lundi soir dans toutes les présentations du Conseil, la qualité de l'éducation doit être vue comme premier but commun. En travaillant avec le CDG, le Conseil a développé des plans à long terme qui présentent les besoins de structures sur tous les campus. Il a établi des politiques dans de nombreux sujets comme le Conflit d'intérêt et la Protection de l'Enfance – politiques qui n'étaient au préalable pas enregistrées dans la Fondation, ce qui a mené à des incidents malheureux ces dernières années. Le Conseil et le DG ont travaillé avec le CDG afin de mouler la structure du quatrième campus de Sacconey dans le but de servir les besoins de la Communauté et de renforcer plutôt que d'amoindrir les écoles existantes.

* Que se passe-t-il avec l'Accréditation ECIS ?

En dépit de la menace de l'Association du Personnel disant que ". . . le désastre arrivera plus certainement si nous continuons avec la direction actuelle", le manque de coopération du personnel quant aux efforts pour l'Accréditation ne serait pas seulement une violation de leur Convention Collective mais serait une violation de la loi Suisse. La grande majorité des professeurs dans la Fondation, de même que les parents et anciens élèves savent qu'une menace à l'accréditation ou de permettre "aux conséquences d'atteindre les salles de classes" est simplement impensable pour de vrais éducateurs professionnels ; en conséquence, il est difficile de prendre ces menaces de l'Association du personnel au pieds de la lettre.

* Le vote de confiance au Conseil a-t-il d'autres implications ?

Oui. Le Conseil pense que la Communauté doit décider qui doit gérer l'Ecole. Le choix est clair. Un « OUI » démontre que la Communauté de l'école soutient le Conseil en place élu valablement ainsi que le Directeur Général engagé et supervisé par le Conseil.

Un « NON » signifie qu'un groupe d'individuels non élus, responsable de personne peut dicter la direction de l'école et outrepasser les mécanismes de gouvernance.

* La Communauté est-elle prête à cesser la bagarre et à aller de l'avant ensemble ?

Ceci est la question clé – en dehors du résultat du vote du référendum.

Le Conseil s'est engagé, quelque soit le résultat du référendum, de chercher à reconstruire l'esprit de confiance et de coopération qui sont nécessaires pour aller de l'avant. Le Conseil de Fondation reconnaît pleinement que des problèmes existent. Il a un plan clair pour présenter les points et cherche à trouver de nouvelles solutions et différentes approches pour les résoudre. Le Conseil reste engagé à faire le choix difficile qui s'imposera pour voir le progrès.

Sincèrement,

John Boggs
Président du Conseil de Fondation Ecole Internationale de Genève

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Resignation Letter - 2002/06/03

Monsieur John Boggs
Président du Conseil de Fondation
De l'Ecole Internationale de Genève
IATA Center
33, route de l'Aéroport
P.O. Box 416
1215 Genève 15

Genève, le 3 juin 2002

Concerne : Mandat de membre du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève

Cher John,

Après mûre réflexion, et à regrêt, nous avons décidés de mettre un terme à nos mandats au sein du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève avec effet immédiat.

Tout au long de cette année il nous est apparu de plus en plus clairement que notre conseil était divisé. Cette division ne reflète pas seulement une divergence d'opinion, ce qui est normal et même sain dans ce genre de forum. Au contraire, cette division reflète une profonde divergence quant à la perception de la philosophie même de l'école, de sa gestion dans un esprit de respect et de démocratie. Les récents et regrettables événements ne sont qu'un exemple parmi d'autres de cette dissenssion. Nous nous étions engagées à défendre cet esprit. Nous n'y sommes parvenues.

Nous te remercions de ton dévouement et de tous tes efforts et te transmettons nos meilleurs sentiments.

Constanza Vallenas
Carol Panchaud
Valérie de Marnix

Cc : Membres du Conseil de Fondation
Membres des CDG
Membres de Conseil Administratif
Membres des PTA

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Resignation Letter - 2002/05/22

Mr. Chairman,

After mature reflection, I find myself obliged to terminate my mandate within the Governing Board of the International School of Geneva with immediate effect.

v The disclosure of questionable last minute activities in the context of the Governing Board elections no longer allows me to operate according to my own ethical standards. I can only feel sadness in reading about these matters and anger in observing once, again the inappropriate mixing of different areas of engagement as well as the confusion of levels of responsibility

As I can no longer identify myself with the governing authorities of the School, I do not wish to be a burden to meetings where my own philosophy of the school influences neither the decisions nor the direction.

My interpretation of the spirit of the Charter compels me to return to a position where I am free to hold my own opinion and make my own responses towards policies I can no longer agree with.

Original Language:

PIERRE-ALAIN HIRSCHY

Monsieur John Boggs
President du Conseil de Fondarion
De l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve
IATA Center
Route de l'Aeroport 33
P.O. BOX 416
1215 Geneve 15

Geneve, le 22 mai 2002.

Concerne: mandat de membre du Conseil de Fondation de l'ecole Internationale de Geneve.

Monsieur le President,

Apres mure reflection, je me trouve dans l'obligation de mettre un terme a mon mandat au sein du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve avec effet immediat.

Les revelatons mettant on question des agissements de derniere heure dans le cadre des eleclions au Conseil de Fondation ne me permettent plus de fonctionner au niveau d'ethique qui est le mien. Je ne peux qu'eprouver de la tristesse en les lisant et de la colere en constatant une fois de plus le melange des genres, donc des niveaux de responsabilites.

Ne me reconnaissant plus avec les instances dirigeantes de l'Ecole, je ne tiens pas a alourdir de ma presence des seances de travail ou la philosophie que ja me fais de l'Ecole n'influence ni les decisions, ni les orientations.

Mon interpretation de l'esprit de la Charte me force a reprendre ma liberte d'opinion et d'agissements envers une politique qua je ne partage plus.

Veulliez agreer, Monsieur le President, l'expression de mes salutations distinguees.

Pierre-Alain Hirschy

Cc: Valerie de Marnix
Daniel Konikoff, chairman CDG - LGB

47 chemin de la Seymaz CH 1253 Vandoeuvres/GE
Tel 4122 349 47 62 Fax 4122 349 00 96
email: chap@iprolink.ch

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ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002 - 2002/05/27

Subject: FW: Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meeting 27 May 2002

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva held a special meeting on 27 May.

As announced at the Annual Consultative General Assembly the following evening, 28 May, the Board has voted to organise a referendum to validate the confidence of the full community in the policies and plans of the Governing Board. This referendum, following the basic mechanisms used for postal voting for Board members, will be organised immediately under the direction of a neutral third party. The results will be made known by the end of the current school year. The Board established that it must have a majority of positive votes in an election with at least 1200 total votes cast to confirm the alignment of the community with its decisions and actions.

In the event of a majority vote against the Board and its policies, or if there is not sufficient support or interest in the community to pass the 1,200 vote barrier, the nine current incumbent elected board members will be replaced via a special election held as quickly as possible after the start of the new academic year in September 2002. The three new Governing Board members elected in the 2002 election - Thierry Halff, Atalanti Moquette and Dev Ray, the Board members appointed by the cantonal and federal government and the individuals chosen in the special election, will form a new Governing Board.

Alternatively, if the vote demonstrates that the majority of the community supports the goals and plans of the current Board, the democratic spirit of Ecolint is expected to continue to prevail. The individuals who have questioned this support will acknowledge the mandate of the Board and accept the direction of its leadership.

In other business, the Board had voted earlier in May to co-opt an individual from le Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM), an organisation of 49 major companies in the Geneva area to further augment the resources and diversity of the board as well as to provide a strong link with the multi-national corporations in Geneva. After reviewing candidates proposed by GEM, the Board co-opted Ms. Veronique Nanchen, a Swiss native from the Valais, to join effective September 2002 along with the three newly elected members and Helene Balivet-Durand, another co-opted member proposed by the Staff Association. Ms Nanchen is a lawyer by training and currently serves as a Human Resources Director at Reuters.

Please distribute this information as appropriate to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community. It is also being distributed e-mail to parents and Foundation employees as well as posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home)
fax: + (022) 799 2647
e-mail: boggsj@iata.org
website: www.ecolint.ch

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Election Update/Nouvelles des élections - 2002/05/24

Elections Update - May 24, 2002

The nominations committee would like to advise the voting community of the International School of Geneva that the voting process for the election of three new Board members has been so far very successful. By the ballot mail deadline of May 14, the office of Me Naville, huissier de justice, tabulated 1356 votes. We are now looking forward to receiving any yet unsubmitted votes on May 28 at the General Assembly to be held at the U.N.

All voting has followed strict democratic procedure. Every voter within the Foundation community had an opportunity to vote following the same restrictions. Any one who has not voted and still wishes to do so may cast their vote at the General Assembly. We hope that we will see all of you on May 28 at 7.30 p.m. at the United Nations (room XIX).

Pamela Gromadzki, Nominations Committee

----------------------------------

Nouvelles des élections - 24 mai 2002

Le comité des Nominations souhaite annoncer à la communauté de l'École Internationale de Genève l'exceptionnelle réussite des élections pour le Conseil de Fondation de cette année. Au 14 mai, date limite pour envoyer son bulletin par la poste, le bureau de Me Naville, huissier de justice, avait comptabilisé 1356 votes pour trois sièges à pourvoir. Nous attendons maintenant les derniers bulletins de vote qui nous seront soumis le soir du 28 mai à l'assemblée générale.

Tous les membres votant de la Fondation ont suivi la même procédure démocratique et ont été soumis aux même restrictions. Tous ceux qui n'ont pas encore voté et qui souhaitent le faire pourront le faire le soir de l' assemblée générale. Des bulletins seront mis à leur disposition. Nous espérons vous voir nombreux le 28 mai à partir de 19 h 30 aux Nations Unies (salle XIX).

Pamela Gromadzki, Comité des Nominations

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Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet - 2002/05/21

Subject: EOL Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet

Madame Helene Durand Ballivet
Committee of Concerned Members of the
International School of Geneva
E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch

Monsieur John Boggs
President du Conseil de la Fondation de
l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve
john.boggs@ecolint.ch
BoggsJ@iata.org

Geneve, le 21 mai 2002

Monsieur le President,

Nous avons ete saisis des faits suivants touchant le deroulement des elections des membres du Conseil de Fondation.

Selon ce qui nous a ete rapporte, Madame Valerie DE MARNIX, responsable du Comite des nominations et elections, a ete sollicitee le 13 mai 2002 au soir par un membre du Conseil de Fondation de demander au service d'imprimerie de l'Ecole de tirer une serie speciale de bulletins de vote destinee aux electeurs employes des societes CATERPILLAR et PROCTER & GAMBLE, alors que ceux-ci, comme les autres electeurs, avaient reE7u leur materiel de vote au prealable, conformement a la procedure en vigueur.

Madame DE MARNIX a refuse cette requete, le matin du 14 mai, pour ne pas favoriser injustement une frange des electeurs.

Ne tenant pas compte de ce refus, le directeur general, M. Donald BILLINGSLEY, dans l'apres-midi du meme jour, a donne l'ordre au service de l'imprimerie, par l'intermediaire de M. Scott LANE, d'editer 400 bulletins de vote destines a etre repartis pour moitie entre les entreprises sus-designees. Grace a l'intervention de Madame DE MARNIX, ces bulletins ont pu etre retenus par ses soins.

Il ne vous aura pas echappe que ces faits se situent le 14 mai, date ultime du vote par correspondance.

Ces faits, dans la mesure oF9 leur exactitude est etablie, laissent planer un doute serieux sur l'impartialite a laquelle sont tenus le Conseil de Fondation et la direction generale de l'Ecole lors des elections.

Ces pratiques nous interpellent sur la regularite de cette procedure, qui ne peut que nous rappeler certains disfonctionnements souleves lors de la derniere Assemblee generale extraordinaire, et qui portent atteinte a l'image et a la reputation morale de l'Ecole.

Nous vous invitons a verifier l'exactitude de ce qui precede et a nous faire connaEEtre votre determination avant la tenue de l'Assemblee generale.

Veuillez croire, Monsieur le President, en l'assurance de ma consideration la meilleure.

Helene Durand Ballivet

Pour le Committee of Concerned Community Members of the International School of Geneva

Copie : Aux membres du Conseil de Fondation ; Aux membres du Staff ; Aux membres des PTA ; Aux Presidents et membres des CDG ; Aux President et membres du Comite des Alumni ; Aux Alumni

Madame Helene Durand Ballivet
E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch

Monsieur John Boggs
President du Conseil de la Fondation de
l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve
john.boggs@ecolint.ch
BoggsJ@iata.org

Geneve, le 21 mai 2002

Monsieur le President, cher John,

Dans les " Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meeting 1-2 May 02 " il est ecrit au sujet de ma cooptation au Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve : " Helene will provide the Board with links not only to the staff but also to the alumni. Her firm commitment to maintaining the "spirit" of the school will be a great asset to the Board and the Foundation".

C'est pourquoi, quant a l'acceptation de ma cooptation et pour me conformer au mandat qui m'a ete confie par le Conseil de Fondation a la demande du Staff de la Fondation, vous comprendrez que je me reserve la possibilite de me determiner apres la tenue de l'Assemblee generale. Je soumets donc mon entree en fonction a votre reponse a la lettre que je vous ai adressee au nom du Committee of concerned Members of the International School of Geneva, le 21 mai 2002 ; il me serait, en effet, impossible d'exercer mon mandat si les pratiques qui nous interpellent aujourd'hui s'averraient exactes car elles portent atteinte a l'image et a la reputation morale de notre Ecole.

Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur le President, cher John, en l'assurance de ma consideration la meilleure.

Helene Durand Ballivet

Membre cooptee du Conseil de Fondation de l'Ecole Internationale de Geneve

: Ecolint Online - For information write to: info@alumni.ecolint.net :

Subject: EOL (English version) Letter to John Boggs from Madame Helene Durand Ballivet

Mrs. Helene Durand Ballivet
Committee of Concerned Members of the
International School of Geneva
E-mail : ccig@bluewin.ch

Mr. John Boggs
Chairman of the Governing Board
Foundation of the International School of Geneva
john.boggs@ecolint.ch
BoggsJ@iata.org

Geneva, 21st May 2002

Dear Mr. Chairman,

We have just been apprised of the following facts concerning the manner in which the election of the Foundation's Governing Board members has been held.

According to our sources, Mrs. Valerie DE MARNIX, who presides over the Nominations and Elections Committee, was contacted on the evening of the 13th May 2002 by a member of the Governing Board who wanted the School's printing unit to produce a special set of ballot-papers specifically for voters employed by CATERPILLAR and PROCTER & GAMBLE, although each of them had already received, like all the other voters, all the necessary voting documents, as established in the procedural rules governing the elections.

On the morning of the 14th May, Mrs. DE MARNIX formally turned down this request, so as not to favour unfairly a particular segment of voters.

The Director General, Dr. Donald BILLINGSLEY, nevertheless ignored Mrs. DE MARNIX's decision, and that very same afternoon instructed the printing unit, via Mr. Scott LANE, to print 400 additional ballot-papers, which were to be evenly distributed to the employees of the two above-mentioned companies. Providentially, Mrs. DE MARNIX was able to intervene and confiscate these ballot-papers.

I need not point out to you that the day on which these events took place, the 14th May, was in fact the deadline for mailing postal ballots.

If the authenticity of these circumstances is confirmed, the impartiality which it is the duty of the Governing Board and the Director General to uphold would be seriously open to question.

These goings-on cannot but raise grave doubts concerning the integrity with which the voting process is conducted. They are reminiscent of the dysfunctional practices that were exposed during the last Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly, and further undermine the School's image and moral reputation.

We therefore request that you should verify the authenticity of the events to which we refer, and await your response before the forthcoming General Assembly.

Yours faithfully,

Helene Durand Ballivet

For the Committee of Concerned Community Members of the International School of Geneva

cc: Members of the Governing Board ; Members of Staff ; Members of the PTA; Chairmen and Members of the Campus Development Groups ; President and Members of the Alumni Association ; Alumni.

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ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02 - 2002/05/02

Subject: Highlights - ISG Governing Board Meetings 1 - 2 May 02

To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association,
Campus Principals - International School of Geneva
From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on two consecutive evenings, 1 May at Pregny and 2 May at La Chât. The major focus of these meetings involved a number of major policy and long-term planning issues. The CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB, Marianne Loken from Pregny/Rigot and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as the Staff Observers, Philip Wingate and Luc Hamsavi, attended as observers.

The Board adopted the final version of updated Campus Development Group Regulations, which were developed by the Director-General and the Chairs of the three CDGs during mid-2001. A Conflict of Interest Policy was also adopted, which provides guidelines on employment of relatives in the Foundation and fills a significant void in school policy.

As part of the Board's actions in response to the 28 February 2002 Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly, the Board invited the Staff Association to exercise the existing but long-unused provision in the Board regulations for the staff to nominate a non-employee for co-option to the Board. Hélène Balivet-Durand was proposed by the staff and appointed for a four-year term commencing in September 2002. Hélène will provide the Board with links not only to the staff but also to the alumni. Her firm commitment to maintaining the 'sprit' of the school will be a great asset to the Board and the Foundation.

To help the board provide oversight of the operation and management of the Foundation as well as to provide stronger links with the multi-national corporations, the Board will co-opt an individual from Le Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM), an organisation of 49 major companies in the Geneva area. The Board is in the process of selecting the individual who will join the Board in September 2002 along with the other new co-opted and elected members.

The most significant decisions of the meeting concerned long-range facilities investments. The basis for the decisions came from the Foundation Plan, a document assembled over the past year that incorporates Campus Plans which articulate short, medium and long range pedagogical priorities and specifies the resources to realise these goals. The culmination of this effort was the finalisation of a list of major capital projects for the next five to seven years totalling over 18 million Swiss francs. The list was prioritised in a joint meeting of the three CDGs in November 2001 and has been validated as financially feasible to accomplish from current sources of funds. The Board formally approved the list of projects included in this list and their priority ranking as proposed by the joint CDG meeting.

Looking to the long term, the Board approved purchase of a parcel of land that has become available immediately adjacent to the La Chât campus. While it cannot be immediately used for anything other than its current agricultural use, the process of reclassification is underway and is hoped it could be successful in a three to five year time horizon. The approximately 5 million Swiss francs investment will enable expansion and enhancement of facilities to benefit future students.

Also looking to future students, the Board conditionally approved the Saconay project. Saconay will ultimately permit the Pregny/Rigot Early Childhood Education programme to move from the Rigot facility. It will also create a true full "third campus" as Pregny primary school students will continue their secondary education at a nearby facility and not be need to be accommodated in the limited places available at either the La Chât Secondary or LGB Middle Schools.

Saconay approval is conditional upon successfully clearing three significant hurdles to the satisfaction of the Board:

* receiving firm commitments for donations exceeding 15 million Swiss francs

* obtaining further support and commitment from the canton of Geneva to eliminate any ongoing cost for the right to build on the site

* performing a satisfactory risk analysis of alternative student demand forecasts. * While construction of Saconay is not yet completely assured, the Board remains hopeful that it will ultimately proceed and complement the major facility upgrades being started on all three existing campuses.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home)
fax: + (022) 799 2647
e-mail: boggsj@iata.org
website: www.ecolint.ch

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Changement dans les élections/Change to Election Ballot - 2002/04/22

Attention: Changement dans les élections

Il y a eu un changement dans les candidatures aux élections du Conseil de Fondation: Madame Marita Boe retire sa candidature suite à son départ de Genève.

Pour cette raison, ceux d'entre vous qui souhaitent revoter peuvent le faire en utilisant le nouveau bulletin de vote (de couleur rose) qu'ils recevront par la poste à partir du 26 avril. Soit vous apportez le bulletin en personne à l'assemblée générale consultative du 28 mai soit vous l'envoyez par la Poste au plus tard le 14 mai. Ce nouveau bulletin de vote, une fois envoyé, remplacera l'ancien bulletin dans son intégralité.

Que ceux qui ne veulent pas revoter soient rassurés. Les bulletins de vote (de couleur blanche) qui ont déjà été renvoyés par la poste restent valables.

Ce changement a été décidé par le Comité des Nominations pour garantir des élections correctes reflétant la volonté réelle des électeurs.

Le saviez-vous ?

- Chaque parent individuellement (soit deux votes par couple), chaque employé, chaque ancien de l'Ecole Internationale de Genève a le droit de voter pour les membres du Conseil de Fondation ;
- Chaque année nous ne recevons en moyenne que 400 bulletins de vote alors qu'il y a 3.200 parents, 500 membres du personnel et des milliers d'anciens !;
- C'est au Conseil de Fondation que sont prises certaines des décisions les plus importantes pour l'école: création d'un nouveau campus, augmentation des frais de scolarité, création d'un nouveau programme pédagogique, ...;
- Chacun d'entre nous a déjà reçu les documents lui permettant de voter;
- Chaque bulletin de vote doit être renvoyé par la Poste (et par la poste seulement) au plus tard le 14 mai, passée cette date il vous faudra venir voter en personne à l'Assemblée Générale Consultative du 28 mai 2002;
- Chaque campus ayant déjà un minimum de deux représentants, tous les candidats sont éligibles aux trois postes vacants sans restriction;
- Chacun d'entre nous peut rencontrer les 10 candidats à l'une des manifestations suivantes:
le samedi 27 avril de 10h30 à midi à La Châtaigneraie à l'occasion du marché aux puces organisé par l'école;
le mardi 30 avril à 19h30 à La Grande Boissière (dans la Cafétéria);
le jeudi 2 mai à 19h30 à La Châtaigneraie;
le mardi 7 mai de 8h30 à 9h30 à La Grande Boissière (dans la Cafétéria) pour un Coffee Morning;
le mercredi 8 mai de 8h15 à 9h15 à Pregny (dans le hall).

Alors, n'hésitez pas !!

Venez rencontrer les candidats .... et votez!

merci.

Le Comite des Nominations du conseil de Fondation de l'EIG - 22/4/02

Attention: Change to Election Ballot May Concern You

There has been a change to the ballot for the election. One of the candidates, Marita Boe, is withdrawing her candidature due to her upcoming departure from Switzerland. Therefore, anyone who has already voted for her and wishes to change his or her vote can do so. A new, pink ballot will be sent out to all voters on April 26. Any second ballot received by posted mail no later than May 14, or by hand at the General Assembly on May 28, will automatically annul the first ballot. If you did not already vote for Mrs. Boe and therefore have no need to change your ballot, you do not have to send in the second ballot. This change is being made by the Nominations Committee to assure fair voting for all candidates.

Did you know......?

-That every parent, staff member and alumnus of the International Schools of Geneva has the right to vote for members of the Governing Board?
-That out of 3200 parents, 500 staff members and thousands of alumni, each with the right to vote, only 400 vote ballots on average are sent in each year?
-That the Board of Governors is the highest decision making forum in our school system and represents everyone?
-That by now you should have received your voting packet with an introduction to the ten new candidates?
-That you have to vote before May 15 by postal mail, and if you miss that date your only other possibility is to vote in person at the General Assembly on May 28, 2002?
-That you will have five opportunities to meet the candidates in the month ahead, to hear them present themselves and to ask them questions?
-That EACH parent of every ISG child should vote individually, not share a ballot.
-That there are NO restrictions on who may be elected from among the candidates. All candidates have a chance to win one of the three vacant places since each school presently has two representatives serving on the Board as is required by our laws.
- That any votes received by the school's internal mail cannot be counted. All ballots must be postmarked by the Post Office.

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT. There are three places to be filled on the Board of Governors this year, to join 14 current members.

Come and Meet the Candidates on one of the following dates.

Saturday, April 27 from 10h30-12h at La Chat outside the gym at PTA coffee stands set up between the Car Boot Sale and Road Safety Day..
Tuesday, April 30 at 19h30 at LGB in the Cafeteria.
Thursday, May 2 at 19h30 at La Chat in the Primary Hall.
Tuesday, May 7 from 8h30-9h30 at LGB in the Cafeteria.
Wednesday, May 8 from 8h15-9h15 at Pregny (in the school entrance).

The Nominations Committee of the ISG Governing Board - April 22, 2002

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ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002 - 2002/03/12

Subject: Highlights - ISG Board Meeting 12 March 2002

To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association, Campus Principals - International School of Geneva From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on 12 March with review of the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly held on Tuesday evening, 26 February as the major focus of the meeting. Attending the meeting as observers were CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as one of the Staff Observers, Philip Wingate.

The Director-General, Dr. Donald Billingsley, reported to the Board on the actions, both completed and planned, he is taking to address the issues raised on 26 February. He has communicated these to the community in his most recent DG Newsletter. The Board welcomed these steps and fully endorsed his continued efforts to move ahead with a variety of initiatives.

The Board is equally committed to address the issues falling within its scope of responsibility and it agreed on a number of actions and initiatives on its part that included:
* Reinforcing the resumption of the ECIS Accreditation Process
* Performing a detailed analysis of the transcript of the ECGA to ensure all issues raised are being addressed
* Embracing the concept of objective and constructive appraisal at all levels of the Foundation including extension of the 360 degree feedback process in the Governing Board evaluation process to be conducted at the end of the current academic year
* Strengthening links between the Board and Campus Development Groups

A number of ideas relating to revised structures and procedures for Foundation governance were identified for further study and consideration. The Board directed that these ideas are reviewed and evaluated by the Governance Task Force whose composition includes alumni, parents and staff as well as current and former Board members. This Task Force will commence work in April.

The Board agreed that the current focus on meetings between staff and management - at the campus and section levels - appears to be more appropriate than holding additional open community meetings. These discussions, which will be less political and more solution-oriented, should be allowed to proceed without distractions from parents, alumni or Board intervention.

In addition to the discussion of current issues, the Board reviewed the 360-degree feedback from staff and parents which forms part of the annual performance appraisal of the Director-General.

Other agenda items planned for discussion at the March meeting were deferred for consideration at the next Board meeting. These items include the revision of the CDG regulations, adoption of a conflict of interest policy for the Foundation and approval of the Foundation Plan document that includes the long-term major capital expenditure plans for the LGB, La Chat and Pregny/Rigot campuses.

Please distribute this information to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community, as you deem appropriate. It is also being sent to the parents@ecolint e-mail list and posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home)
fax: + (022) 799 2647
e-mail: boggsj@iata.org
website: www.ecolint.ch

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Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002 - 2002/03/04

Subject: Highlights - Governing Board meeting 04 March 2002

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met in a special session to review the outcome of the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly held on Tuesday evening, 26 February 2002.

A number of fundamental and substantive issues surfaced during the ECGA that must be addressed by every adult in the Foundation - parents, teachers, school leaders and alumni - lest they further escalate to interfere with the most important element of the school - our students.

Among the issues raised, two specific questions were put to the Board: first, the continued mandate of the Director-General and, second, the continued mandate of the current Governing Board. They are serious questions that the Board has carefully considered and that deserve clear and unambiguous answers.

The Board reaffirmed the mandate of the Director-General, Dr. Donald Billingsley. Many of the objectives set for him by the Board address root causes of frustrations and concerns expressed at the ECGA and more time is needed for the initiatives he has launched to be fully effective. The Board noted with great interest an overview of plans outlined by the DG to address and resolve many of the most pressing issues within his scope of responsibility. Details of these will be communicated to Foundation staff as well as parents in the coming days.

The Board also considered its position in light of the comments made at the ECGA. Its members remain committed to the Foundation and expressed their individual desire to work for its best interest. While many issues face the school, their resolution will not be facilitated by creating a leadership vacuum at the level of the Board. The Governing Board desires to remain responsive to the community at large which includes students, parents, alumni and staff members. More comprehensive background information regarding issues raised at the ECGA will be forthcoming presently, as well as communication regarding plans to address these issues in the very near future.

Most importantly, the Board and Foundation Management are prepared to launch the ECIS accreditation self-study process and expect it to proceed to a successful conclusion. The teamwork and self-examination of the process should facilitate resolution of issues as well as ensure the school retains its excellent reputation in the world of international education.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

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Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002 - 2002/02/19

Subject: Governing Board - Highlights, 19 February 2002

The Governing Board of the International School of Geneva met on Tuesday, 19 February 2002 with resource requirements and financial issues dominating the agenda for the evening. Attending the meeting as observers were CDG Chairs, Danny Konikoff from LGB and Wendy Bennett Powell from La Chat, as well as the Staff Observers, Luc Hamzavi and Philip Wingate.

The Treasurer, Philippe Holderbeke, reported that the financial results for the current academic year continue to improve from the projected 1 million Swiss franc deficit forecasted at the start of the school year to a current projection of a 551,000 Swiss franc deficit. This amount represents approximately 0.8 percent of the total 66 million Swiss franc operating budget.

The Governing Board approved the Annual Capital Expenditure plans for calendar year 2002 that totals 857,142 Swiss francs. These funds are used to purchase teaching equipment including classroom computers, laboratory instruments and audio/visual aids but are not used for building projects or maintenance work. The proposals were developed and reviewed at campus level and were recommended for adoption by the Foundation Financial Committee (which includes both Governing Board Members and CDG representatives). While the global amount is comparable to 2001, expenditures on the individual campuses are up by approximately 10% as a consequence of reductions in funding for administration and Foundation-wide projects.

The Operating Budget and associated Financial Conditions for the coming academic year, 2002-2003, were also reviewed and approved as developed by the school management and recommended by the Financial Committee. Budgeted revenues are 69,521,000 Swiss francs and expenses are 69,446,000 francs resulting in a projected surplus of 55,000 francs. Key areas of cost increase are approximately 2,000,000 francs in anticipated pay increases for staff related to step progression, cost of living adjustment and a general 1.2 % salary increase. These amounts are projected based on the substantive agreement reached in negotiations on a new Collective Agreement (CCT) for the staff. An increase in salary expense of 950,000 francs is for additional teaching staff and 350,000 francs is an allowance budgeted for expenses of the visiting ECIS accreditation team. As the total number of students enrolled is budgeted to remain essentially unchanged, the additional costs will be funded by a tuition increase of 1,000 Swiss francs per student. Transportation and cafeteria fees will remain unchanged.

More detailed information on the budget and associated tuition fee increases will be provided in the next few days. Additionally, an open meeting devoted exclusively to financial issues will be called in the next few weeks to furnish in-depth explanations, to provide benchmark comparisons against other schools and to answer questions that will arise.

v The Board reviewed plans for the Extraordinary Consultative General Assembly to be held on Tuesday, 26 February, starting at 1930 at the Palais de Nations. All members of the community are invited to attend and participate in this evening. We anticipate a lively but ultimately very useful exchange of views which we hope will contribute positively to a greater understanding of the needs of the International School of Geneva for all members of the school community. The opinions expresssed will help guide the Board and the Foundation Management going forward into the future.

sincerely,

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

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Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting - 2001/11/20

---------- Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 04:27:19 -0500
Subject: Highlights 20 Nov 01 Governing Board Meeting

To: Chairs - Campus Development Groups, President - Alumni Association,
Campus Principals - International School of Geneva
From: Chairman, ISG Governing Board

The Governing Board of the Foundation of the International School of Geneva met at La Grande Boissiére on 20 November 2001.

Key actions and decisions were as follows:

* approved final audited financial statements for the past (2000/2001) academic year reflecting total revenues of 63.4 million Swiss francs and total expenses of 63.2 million Swiss francs for a net operating surplus of 180,000 Swiss francs.

* reviewed latest estimates on operating revenues and expenses for the current (2001/2002) academic year which project a net operating deficit of approximately 1 million Swiss francs.

* adopted a more rigorous policy for non-refundable enrolment/re-enrolment deposits and increased their amount from 600 to 2,000 Swiss francs effective for the 2002/2003 academic year

* received an update on emergency measures taken across the Foundation to enhance security on all campuses, primarily a four-fold increase in expenditure on contract security guards. To help meet this unexpected requirement, the Board agreed to assess a one-time, extraordinary surcharge of 200 Swiss francs per family for the current year.

* agreed to a revised procedure for planning and authorisation of capital expenditures which provides for multi-year planning for major building construction as well as maintenance expenses. The revised procedures provide for emergency expenditures as well as a simplified process for annual academic-related capital budgeting.

* examined the International Baccalaureate results from Spring 2001. The board was were pleased to note the high standards attained and destinations for higher education in Switzerland, Europe, North America and other parts of the world. Areas for improvement were discussed and the board will continue to encourage academic excellence in all curriculum areas.

* discussed final Foundation and Campus Plans, revision of Campus Development Group regulations and policy on Conflict of Interest and Employment of Relatives for final adoption at a subsequent meeting

The Board has gained a new member, Atalanti Moquette. She has been co-opted to serve as provided under section 1 article 1 paragraph 4 of the Governing Board regulations to replace Stylianos Antonarakis who recently resigned from the Board. Atalanti will join the board in January 2002 following the expiration of her term as Chairman of the LGB Campus Development Group.

Please distribute this information to CDG members, Foundation employees, school alumni and other interested members of your campus community as you deem appropriate. It is also posted on the ISG website - www.ecolint.ch - on the 'news' page.

sincerely,

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

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Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001 - 2001/03/27

Subject: EOL Fw: Highlights - Governing Board Meeting 27 March 2001

To: Chairs - Campus Development Group, Campus Principals
From: Chairman - Governing Board

Below are the key highlights from the board meeting on 27 March at Grand-Sacconex:

Two major decisions were the natural conclusion of the discussions from the Extraordinary CGA held on 7 March:

- Following approval of the Saconay land reclassification by the Grand Conseil of the State of Geneva on 23 March, the board formally confirmed that the Saconay facility is to be constructed as a class 3 to 13 structure to allow Pregny/Rigot to be combined with Saconay to form an ECE-13 campus with English as the primary language of instruction and a strong French-as-second-language emphasis.

- The board authorised Foundation Management to secure option to purchase land adjacent to La Chat contingent upon declassification to allow construction.

Possible solutions to address facility inadequacies at the Grand-Saconnex annex for Pregny-Rigot were reviewed. A proposal to secure additional space at Mies to further enhance that facility and relocate current staff and students from Grand-Saconnex to Mies was endorsed for further study.

Capital improvement projects from all three campuses totalling over 8 million CHF were reviewed. Actions by the board were to
- approve special capital project for replacement of the boiler at La Châtaigneraie (185,000 CHF)
- confirm special capital project to convert la Ferme at La Châtaigneraie into a Music Facility (250,000 CHF)
- request additional information to be presented to the April board meeting on the following projects
- - - La Châtaigneraie - Multi-media centre furnishings and equipment
- - - Pregny-Rigot - Multi-media centre
- - - La Grande Bossiere - remodelling of old Cafeteria space
- recognise investigation of addition of space at les Marronniers at La Grande Bossiere

To augment the letters regarding the fee increase being sent from the Director-General and Board Chairman as well as those being sent from the Campus Principals/Section Directors, the board agreed to call an informal 'open meeting' to provide more detailed background information and enable an exchange of views with interested members of the community. The meeting will be held on Friday, 6 April starting at 1800 in the Primary Assembly Hall at La Châtaigneraie.

These board meeting highlights will be posted shortly at www.ecolint.ch. Please disseminate this information within your campus community as appropriate.

John Boggs
Chairman - Governing Board
International School of Geneva

phone: (022) 799 2628 (office); (022) 362 9316 (home)
fax: + (022) 799 2647
e-mail: boggsj@iata.org

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Referendum Homepage

2002-05-29 by: ecolint.alumni@florin.com

Issues Concerning theSchool Community Referendumof June, 2002

Issues Concerning the
School Community Referendum
of June, 2002