2014 Town Hall
Meeting
Welcome and Overview
Mark Dietz, Chairman
Hill Country Board of Trustees
John Brooks, Finance Committee Chair
Cori Cline, Finance Committee
Mark Dietz, Board Chair, Finance Committee
Hope Fritschle, Committee on Trustees
Eric Howard, Education Committee Chair
Brenda Lychner, Marketing Committee Chair
James McSpadden, Development Committee
David Nelson, Committee on Trustees, Education Committee
Trae Vacek, Development Committee Chair
Todd Janssen, HCBC Elder Board Representative, Non-Voting Member
Bill McGee, Head of School, Non-Voting Member
A Recent History of Hill
Country Christian School
Bill McGee, Head Master
• Focused on economic survival and financial
sustainability
• Transitioned from price-product model to
process model
• Set tuition levels to reflect true cost to educate;
expanded financial aid to ensure socioeconomic diversity
• Addressed negative public perceptions, e.g.,
“homework crucible”
• Established budget processes and financial
structure to generate surpluses
• Produced marketing plan to increase visibility,
re-image and rebrand school
• Broadened mission by expanding services for
bright students with mild learning differences
• Recruited strategically-minded board members
• Focused on long-term financial sustainability.
• Cultivated financial leaders
• Emphasized professional development and
spiritual growth of faculty/staff
• Equipped teachers to better disciple students
• Developed new academic plan and schedule
• Enhanced fine arts curriculum and programs
• Developed ambitious and aggressive strategic
plan
• Built operating surpluses
• Retired debt one year early
• Increased base of donors (<15% to >50%)
• Improved quality of faculty and curriculum
• Increased enrollment by 30%
• Accommodate expected growth in enrollment
(projected to reach capacity in 2015-16)
• Provide facilities that enable excellent programs and
services
• Continue to invest in the spiritual growth of faculty,
staff, and parents, so that they may better live
biblically-integrated lives before their students
• Build adequate reserves to ensure financial stability
• Develop a Christ-centered, gospel-minded
community
Finance Committee
Report
John Brooks, CPA
Finance Committee Chair
Nap Time
Enrollment
Gross Tuition
Financial Aid
Other Revenue
Net Giving
Net Revenue
FY13
YoY
610
560
50
$ 5,611 $ 4,904 $
(559)
(485)
454
472
290
243
5,796
5,134
Personnel
Admin & Classroom
Athletics & Extracurr
Facilities & Equip
Total Expenses
Net Income
FY14
4,700
303
208
659
5,870
$
(74) $
3,947
235
186
533
4,901
707
(73)
(18)
47
663
753
68
22
126
969
233 $ (306)
FY13 Highlights
• Enrollment & Tuition +15% YoY
• Effectively managed expenses to
generate $230K in Net Income
• Stabilized our cash position, made
overdue capital expenditures and fully
retired our debt one year ahead of
schedule.
FY14 Highlights
• 9% YoY enrollment growth
• Increased salaries and benefits to
attract/retain top talent and keep pace
with rising heath care costs
• Added 10 faculty and staff; increased
classroom and programs budgets
• Installed new portables
• Budgeted net loss is cash-flow positive
and driven by “catch-up” spending no
longer bound by debt covenant
• Projecting positive FY14 Net Income
Education Committee
Report
Eric Howard, PhD
Education Committee Chair
• Researching accreditation agencies to determine
best fit for the school
• New schedule and course offerings
 Sequence and alignment
 Science and math emphasis
 Debate and continued emphasis on public
speaking and rhetoric
• Fine arts offerings
 Many new offerings in the last year with more
to come
 In budget to hire fine arts director for next year
• Christian worldview immersion



School and community-wide understanding
of what a worldview is
What it means to partner with parents in the
discipleship of students
Christ-centered vs. moral atheists
Marketing Committee
Report
Brenda Lychner
Marketing Committee Chair
Parent, Staff, and Upper School Student Surveys
• Contracted ISM to administer surveys
• Allows for data comparison
• Surveyed staff and students for the first time
Internet Initiatives
• Created testimonial video/began additional videos
• Increased use of student-created video links
• Continued website enhancements, expanded social
media usage, created blog with RSS newsfeed to
website
Internal Marketing Initiatives
• Developed Classical education “elevator speech”
with Education Committee
• Created mentoring program to pair veteran parents
with new families
• Initiated program of monthly coffees/conversations
between school leaders and parents
• Continued efforts to implement consistent branding
 Expanded school store/moved ownership to staff
 Completed bus wrap
• Continued web-based advertising through Google
Ads/Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads
• Targeted print advertising in local publications
• Continued partnership with HCBC to increase
awareness of school within church community
• Partnered with technology department to develop
school mobile app
Total Visitors
Unique Visitors
2011: 60,854
2012: 96,558
2013: 109,364
2011: 26,784
2012: 35,115
2013: 39,152
34% of website traffic was from new visitors
According to the Austin Business Journal, we have
grown to become the fifth largest private school in
the Austin Metro area.
Enrollment Figures:
2011
471
2012
511
2013
565
2014
614
Committee on Trustees
Report
David Nelson
Committee on Trustees Chair
Committee members: Hope Fritschle, Bill McGee,
David Nelson, Carol Smith
We serve to ensure board progress and health:
• We identify talent and skill needs and bring in
new board members
• We work to hold board accountable to strategic
plan, vision, and mission
Achievements this year:
• Added and oriented three new board members
• Revised recruiting process
Development Committee
Report
Trae Vacek
Development Committee Chair
Overall Parent Participation: 55%
Participation by Grade Level
Annual Fund
$250,461
$103,214
Donations Received
Outstanding
$353,675
Total Annual Fund
Pledges
Tuition Assistance/Benevolence
$76,985
Building Fund
$74,200
Capital Campaign
$9,000
of our 418 households have given to this year’s
Annual Fund
households have given more than they gave last year
households are first-time donors
of faculty/staff has participated
of Board of Trustees has participated
of PTF Board has participated
of Development Committee has participated
Parent-Teacher Fellowship
(PTF) Report
Carol Smith
PTF President
The mission of the PTF is to develop a positive and welcoming
climate for all parents while assisting the administration in
meeting its current needs by:
• Advancing the mission and vision of the school and
•
•
•
•
•
contributing to a positive school climate.
Facilitating communication between the parents, Head Master,
staff, faculty, and Board of Trustees.
Supporting teachers, staff, and administrators to do their work
effectively.
Serving and loving teachers, staff, and administrators as they
carry out their work.
Promoting academic, spiritual, and social development for our
student body that increases re-enrollment.
Enhancing parental participation.
• Knights Unite Back to School Event
• Family Knight Socials
• Homecoming Carnival
• Healthy Knights 5K and Knights Kitchen
• Staff Appreciation Events (monthly)
• Moms in Prayer (weekly)
• Texas Stars Hockey Game
• Spiritual Development Committee Seminars
• Healthy Knights– National Nutrition Month
• Daddy Daughter Dance– April 26
• All-School PTF Meeting– April 8
Getting
involved in
the PTF is a
great way to
support the
school. From
stay-at-home
to working
parents,
one-time
volunteers,
and
leadership
roles, we
have a place
for you!
Q&A
Preparing for College. Preparing for Life.