Burke Mountain Academy

Focused on Excellence

STRATEGIC PLAN 2008-2013

Mission Statement

Burke Mountain Academy provides passionate ski racers the opportunity to pursue their limitless academic and athletic potential in a community based on trust. We embrace an ethos in which hard work is held in the highest esteem, and believe risking failure and learning from success are exceptional preparations for life beyond Burke.

Vision

To be the preeminent ski academy in the USA

Burke Mountain Academy (BMA) was founded in 1970 to support the dreams of passionate ski racers. In its short history, BMA has produced an outstanding record of athletic and academic achievement. The ’Burkie spirit’ has created a vibrant and productive group of students, alumni, faculty and faculty alumni. Innovative leaders like BMA, however, must continually strive for excellence and plan for the future regardless of previous success.

BMA is well positioned to play a leading role in ski racing and education. Over the past eight years, BMA has regained its preeminent position with impressive academic, athletic and community accomplishments. The sale of Burke Mountain Ski Area removed the school’s largest financial liability and, along with a strong annual fund, BMA has laid the foundation for an endowment critical to future success.

BMA recognizes ski racing is a sport with a static number of athletes and is not likely to experience significant growth in the United States. In order to compete with established eastern schools and expanded opportunities in the western states BMA will need to continue its history of innovation while leveraging existing strengths to maintain it’s leadership position. These trends place BMA in a very competitive marketplace and heighten the need to offer students the best possible environment for integrating learning, athletic training and character development.

Through an ever-changing environment, we recognize the need to establish targets for advancement that will allow BMA to excel and continue as the preeminent ski academy in the United States.

Strategic Focus - 1

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Burke Mountain Academy’s college preparatory education fosters an excitement for learning and independent thinking in small, student-centered classes. Each student’s development is appraised by way of comprehensive written evaluations that assess content mastery and intellectual character.

Goal: Strengthen and reinforce an academic program that encourages a passion for learning, maximizes the intellectual potential of every student, and prepares students for a rapidly changing world.

Implementation:

Maintain maximum class size at 15 to insure a low student-to-teacher ratio in every course.
Hire, develop, and retain dynamic, creative and committed faculty.
Energize the curriculum with hands-on projects emphasizing collaboration and problem solving.
Develop strong students by emphasizing writing and critical thinking throughout the curriculum.
Continually assess the efficacy of the curriculum and student evaluation process.

Strategic Focus - 2

ATHLETIC PROGRAM

The athletic program at Burke Mountain Academy is designed to help students achieve their full athletic potential through preparation and proactive management of each athlete. Coaches and athletes prioritize the process of training (preparation, commitment, determination and pride) over end results. Long-term planning and individual athlete development take precedence over a short-term, outcome-driven strategy. Through this process BMA will strive to win at every level in which we compete and to develop the best, most versatile young ski racers across all junior age groups in the country.

Goal: Strengthen and reinforce the successful principles of the athletic program at BMA while honoring and supporting the academic and character development of each student-athlete.

Implementation:

Deliberately reduce the size of the Alpine Program and maintain a low skier-to-coach ratio in order to optimize the BMA training experience for our athletes.
Expand the reach and role of BMA through the development of a BMA-branded junior ski progression program.
Be an industry leader in the use of technology within the athletic program.
Enhance the training environment through the development of a hillside training facility and the presence of Nordic ski trails on the BMA campus.
Collaborate with the Ginn Companies to develop Burke Mountain as the most versatile and safest training and racing venue in the East.

Strategic Focus - 3

COMMUNITY LIFE

The mission of Burke Mountain Academy places equal emphasis on the core components of the school: academics, athletics, and community. Together, students and staff strive to create a community that is passionate about learning and athletics while living every day in an environment built on trust, accountability, and respect. While students are encouraged to develop their individual character, we also ask Burke students to take active roles in strengthening the community we share. BMA’s commitment to its honor code differentiates us from other institutions and prepares our students for a life of leadership, character and responsibility.

Goal: Reinforce the time-honored core values of BMA.

Strengthen ongoing training programs for staff and students that will foster healthy and safe dorm and campus life.
Develop a community service progression for all students and staff to serve the broader community.
Increase residential staff presence by expanding and/or renovating on-campus housing.

Strategic Focus - 4

FACULTY

The essence of a great school revolves around the quality of its faculty and staff. They are our single greatest resource. To achieve growth in our academic and athletic programs, Burke Mountain Academy must continue to hire teachers, coaches and administrative personnel who strive for and demand excellence. We must make every effort to offer our staff a rich and supportive environment in which to achieve their professional growth. Recognizing the nationwide demand for excellent teacher and coaches, BMA must provide salaries, benefits and professional development to build a critical competitive advantage.

Goal: Attract, retain and support an outstanding faculty who are committed to the on-going process of developing the professional skills necessary to deliver excellence in education and athletics and who inspire a passion for achievement in every student.

Implementation:

Create a faculty and staff evaluation system which provides constructive and actionable feedback for all personnel.
Formalize and fund a professional development program that complements and strengthens the academic, athletic, and community-building aspects of BMA.
Create and implement a comprehensive training program for new staff and all dorm parents.

Strategic Focus - 5

LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY

Since 2001, BMA has maintained an operating surplus due to the focused implementation of financial controls and increased contributions from alumni, alumni parents, current parents, and friends. In 2006, BMA substantially increased its endowment to $3 million. Notwithstanding these achievements, BMA must increase the breadth and depth of its financial support and continue to build its permanent endowment in order to fund strategic and operational needs such as student scholarships, staff development, and facilities improvement.

Goal: Diversify and expand the base of financial support and develop a long-term financial model that supports BMA’s mission, vision and core values.

Implementation:

Embark on a capital campaign to increase BMA’s endowment to approximately $8 million.
Maintain a balanced annual operating budget that reflects the desired reduction in class size, increase student scholarship and support, and implement professional development plans.
Identify and pursue alternative revenue sources that are sustainable and support the mission of BMA.
Assess the functionality of campus structures and update the Campus Master Plan.