Ben Lippen School Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN

The Purpose and Mission of Ben Lippen School Ben Lippen School seeks to glorify God by educating students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ and by assisting the family and church in equipping students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Vision for the Future Ben Lippen School’s vision is to be the premier Christian school in the Southeast identified by its intentional discipleship of students, varied college preparatory academic offerings, dynamic fine arts department, and competitive athletic program.

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Authority of Scripture Victorious Christian Living World Evangelization Prayer & Faith Evangelical Unity These core values are taught to our students daily and are applied by our administration as we seek to lead our school faithfully.

As we desire to grow and flourish, realizing our full potential now and in the future, a plan is required – one that is reasonable in scope, compelling in nature, and beckons our collective, steadfast commitment to its success. The strategic plan is our roadmap toward our desired future.

Today, Ben Lippen School is embracing exciting opportunities that will propel our school into a new era of excellence. We will continue to DREAM BIG, PRAY MUCH, and SERVE OTHERS along this journey.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

–Romans 15:13

D R E A M B I G, P R AY M U C H , S E R V E O T H E R S

BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Since its inception in 1940, Ben Lippen School has stayed true to a single, enduring promise – to partner with families in providing a superior education that is distinctively Christian. Having celebrated 80 years of God’s faithfulness, there is no better time to renew that promise and turn our attention to the needs of the future. Our vision for the future is to provide an extraordinary, Christ-centered and innovative education. What does this mean?

EXTRAORDINARY: Excellence is a biblical standard worthy of our pursuit. Ben Lippen has the capacity to compete beyond the geographical limits of Columbia and even South Carolina and should measure itself against the finest schools in the world.

CHRIST-CENTERED: Ben Lippen will remain intentionally Christian. Our faculty and curriculum will continue to train students in rigorous academic disciplines from an unapologetically biblical worldview, and emphasis will be given to the spiritual development of each individual student.

INNOVATIVE: Ben Lippen is uniquely positioned to produce alumni who change the world both in ministry and in the marketplace. As educators and education leaders, we must reflect upon our current practices and policies and explore new ways to transform education to address challenges in an increasingly complex world. We must rethink education in order to design educational experiences and environments that meet the needs of children today and in the future.

Achieving such an ambitious vision will require both incremental and significant updates and improvements to programs and facilities.

We believe, however, that both the scope and timing of our vision are in accordance with God’s leading. It is our hope that as you read the following six strategic areas of focus, you become captivated by the opportunities ahead and partner with us to fulfill the vision for Ben Lippen School.

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Initiative I

Ensure that we remain true to our spiritual foundations and academic programs.

GOAL To remain anchored to our spiritual foundations as we endeavor to instill a biblical world and life view in our students as well as redesign and rebalance the curriculum and programs to align with the knowledge, skills, habits, and mindsets most vital to thrive as scholars and leaders.

Increase and enhance academic services and facilities to more effectively assist our full range of students in meeting the challenges of a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum.

Expand the emphasis on critical thinking, creativity and design, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, communication, cross-cultural competencies, programming/coding, and social and emotional intelligence across all levels.

Enhance the Bible curriculum and spiritual cocurriculum by strengthening Bible literacy and advancing personal spiritual development and service.

Build within our students the outlook and skills to work within a global economy and collaborate across borders with peers of diverse backgrounds and heritages, both during students’ school years and throughout their lives.

Commit to discovering students’ strengths and accommodating learning to the nature of the learner by intentionally investing in programs, personnel, and facilities to reach all students at all levels of learning.

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Initiative II

Programming Excellence (cocurricular and extracurricular programs)

GOAL To sustain, enhance, and improve early education through 12th grade curricular and extracurricular programs consistent with the Ben Lippen School philosophy.

Ben Lippen School will deliver a unique and expanded arts experience in concert with the importance of creativity in the 21st century.

Create opportunities for students to shadow, intern, serve, or work, while connecting them with mentors, so they gain a better understanding of their unique giftings and how they can use their gifts to serve the Lord and others in a future calling.

Increase programs and opportunities for lifetime fitness, wellness, and strength and conditioning.

Develop a leadership institute for students that provides training in leadership skills, equipping them to engage the culture, evangelize and serve within their communities.

Develop a well-rounded 21st century creative student by expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) for early education through 12th grade.

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Initiative III

Personnel additions and enhancement of faculty and staff morale, ensuring that they are well-valued and professionally developed.

GOAL To actively recruit, retain, and professionally develop godly, well-trained faculty and staff whose lives reflect relationships, service, and a mindset that is consistent with biblical truth.

Implement a faculty compensation system that incentivizes excellence and leadership across all faculty and staff.

Foster a culture that encourages and empowers the faculty to share their ideas, have opportunities for advancement and leadership, and play an active role in shaping the school.

Enhance faculty and staff compensation (salaries and benefits) to range from competitive to highlycompetitive in the local and national markets and compensate appropriately in relationship to performance and alignment with BLS values, culture and direction.

Strengthen the professional development institute, preparing faculty at all levels to understand their roles as mentors and disciple-makers, to utilize appropriate technological resources, and to employ best practices within the learning environment.

Work toward optimal cultural diversity reflected in the school community.

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Initiative IV

Institutional sustainability and affordability

GOAL Secure the strength and sustainability of the school, including access and affordability for a range of families across all demographics.

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Invest in future program enhancement by eliminating significant long-term debt over the next five years.

Strengthen the annual school operating budget and designate at least 1% for professional growth and development.

Energize and deepen the connection and commitment to lifetime engagement and relationships with our alumni.

Launch efforts to implement and increase Ben Lippen’s endowment for merit-based scholarships, tuition assistance, faculty compensation and professional development.

Develop a sustainable model that maintains a minimum of three months operating expenses plus current liabilities.

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Initiative V

Develop our facilities to provide an optimal environment for the execution of our mission.

GOAL To be good stewards of the property and facilities entrusted to our care, ensuring the mission of BLS is successfully accomplished.

Better serve the rapidly-growing enrollment by expanding and updating the Falcon’s Nest dining room.

Construct the Center for Life Impact, providing a one-stop location for all student resources, spaces for student activities, alumni and parent meetings, and community commons.

Support the significant growth in Fine Arts and community events with expansion and updating of the Performing Arts Center.

Construct a Middle School facility to support enrollment growth, new STEAM curriculum, programs and approaches to teaching and learning.

Continue to invest in the expansion of our athletic facilities to better support the athletic performance of our student athletes.

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1 - EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL 2 - ARTS AND SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL WING 3 - FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM WING 4 - EXISTING LOWER SCHOOL 5 - EXPANDED LOWER SCHOOL 6 - EXISTING MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM 7 - EXPANDED MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM 8 - EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOL COTTAGES CLEARED FOR NEW PLAYGROUND 9 - EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOL 10 - EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFICE 11 - LOWER SCHOOL DROP-OFF ROAD 12 - NEW CENTER FOR LIFE IMPACT 13 - STUDENT PARKING 14 - HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OFF ROAD 15 - PARENT/VISITOR PARKING 16 - MIDDLE SCHOOL DROP-OFF ROAD

17 - EXISTING GYMNASIUM 18 - NEW AUXILIARY GYMNASIUM 19 - NEW SPEED AND STRENGTH ADDITION 20 - ENCLOSED SPACE FOR DINING HALL EXPANSION 21 - EXISTING DINING HALL 22 - EXISTING BAND BUILDING 23 - FUTURE FINE ARTS CENTER 24 - NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 25 - PARKING FOR FINE ARTS CENTER AND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 26 - TRACK 27 - SOCCER / FOOTBALL FIELD 28 - SOFTBALL FIELD 29 - BASEBALL FIELD 30 - FUTURE TRACK AND FIELD EVENT 31 - FUTURE PITCH AND PUTT GREEN 32 - EXISTING STUDENT HOUSING

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BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Dreaming BIG $16,000,000 Student Scholarships Endowment

$1,000,000

Faculty Endowment Fund

$1,000,000

Center for Life Impact (Student Activity Center)

$1,500,000

Dining Hall Renovation

$1,000,000

New Middle School Facility

$3,500,000

Performing Arts Center

$8,000,000

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Monticello Road Campus

Pre-K3 through 12th Grade 7401 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203

Northeast Campus

BenLippen.com (803) 807-4000

Pre-K4 through 2nd Grade Sandhills Community Church 3513 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia, SC 29223

St. Andrews Road Campus

Pre-K3 through 4th Grade 500 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29210

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