SBSA Conference

Dear SBSA Delegates,

In the interest of public health and safety, the SBSA Board of Directors has agreed to cancel our 34th annual conference that was planned to be hosted at the amazing St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, March 16-18, 2020.

We have been hoping the tide would turn this week to allow us all to convene in Tennessee, but that has not happened. We now must make the difficult decision to act in accordance with the guidelines being directed at the federal, state and local levels, despite all our desires to gather together. The team at St. Andrew's-Sewanee has done an exceptional job putting so much thought into the preparations for our arrival. On behalf of the Board, I thank them profusely and ask, if you can, to please do the same. This has been a lot of work for them as a school, and especially their admission team led by Derek Perkins, who took the time from the high-level expectations of running and executing an efficient and effective admission office in these highly competitive times.

SBSA is an all-volunteer organization comprised of Directors representing all sectors of the small boarding school community. The Board and the host school go above and beyond their daily work, giving many hours of dedicated time to planning and coordinating our annual conference. It is a heavy lift for all and not being able to conclude with the big event has been devastating for everyone.

We understand the inconvenience this presents you and we are working with SAS to understand the expenses they have incurred to date, what vendor services can be canceled without penalty, and how SBSA can support them in the most moral and ethical way possible. They have expensed much already and we must not leave them alone in this unfortunate circumstance, which is beyond all our control.

There is still much to determine, and as we make our way forward in understanding all the “un-doing” details, we will keep in touch with you on how we are moving toward 2021 and how we can continue to engage with you between now and then. In the meantime, please know how much we value your support. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to us to receive your many emails expressing how much you love SBSA, and how you are with us and fully supportive of our decisions during this very trying time.

Please be well, be safe, and in keeping with our theme this year, remain joyful! Despite what is happening, we continue to have joyful moments in our work, in our interactions, and in how we treat one another.

My kindest regards and thoughts to you all,

David

David J. Tuttle

President

Small Boarding Schools Association