Fellow Parents and Members of the NewGate-Field School Community,

 

I would like to introduce myself as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

 

Dr. Andrew Cutler

My wife Lori and I have had our 2 sons at NewGate-Field School for just over a year. Jackson, age 6, is in Miss Debbie's Lower Elementary class, and Nicolas, age 4, is in Miss Marjory's Primary class. Like you, we are proud of our school and happy to be members of a wonderful community where we feel welcome and continue to make such good friends.

 

Why am I enthusiastically joining the Board and why have I volunteered to be the Chair at a time when there is so much change and uncertainty?

 

The answer is quite simple. Lori and I have no uncertainty about the quality of the education our children are receiving. All we have to do is see their bright, happy faces every morning when they talk about going to school to know that we are making the right decision to stay at NewGate-Field School. When we visit their classrooms, we are consistently impressed with the quality of the true Montessori education they receive every day and with the dedication of our incredible teachers and staff.

 

Remember that you are always welcome to visit the school and your child's classroom. I would suggest visiting the school as often as possible to witness how truly unique and special our educational experience is and to communicate with teachers and administrators. We have found that seeing our children so happy and enthusiastic about learning both at home and school provides tangible evidence of why we chose NewGate-Field and why we are so committed to our school and its community. I have joined the Board now because of this sense of commitment to our school community and my desire to do all I can for my boys.

 

Of course our school continues to face some serious challenges, but I firmly believe that the worst is behind us, and that we are already turning a corner towards a vibrant future.

 

As relatively recent members of the community, Lori and I have only heard of the problems the school has had in the past, but we have shared everyone's concerns and fears about the school's finances and viability during this school year. It appears that the current crisis has been building for several years, well before Tim, Lorna and the Montessori Foundation returned to lead the school as the new school year began.

 

My confidence in our school's leadership has grown as I have gotten to know Tim, Lorna, the Montessori Foundation staff, and the other members of the Board. I see them as honest and dedicated people who are working very hard to get us through a difficult set of challenges that were not of their making.

 

While some may second guess how we ended up in this situation and whether things could have been done differently, it is clear to me that they inherited a budget and debts that were too great for the school to carry. The dedication of Tim, Lorna, and everyone at the Montessori Foundation is best demonstrated by the fact that once they realized the gravity and extent of the financial situation they rolled up their sleeves and worked harder. I am impressed by their integrity, character, and sincerity, and they have earned my trust and respect. They have a long history with and love for our school that led them to agree to return to lead it through this difficult time. They know how to build and run wonderful Montessori schools, and they have exciting, yet realistic plans for our future.

 

I bring this confidence, trust and enthusiasm to my role as Board Chair. We have had to make some difficult decisions, but since starting the consolidation and transition to Ashton Road, our financial situation has begun to improve, and things are stabilizing.

 

Sadly, some parents have decided to take their children out of our school and away from their friends and teachers at this critical time when our school and our children need us most. I know others are still undecided and have adopted a "wait and see" attitude. I am encouraged by the large number of families who have expressed their ongoing commitment and support, and I want to encourage you to continue to communicate freely with us and to keep an open mind as we make progress. There are some very positive things happening at the school, and I hope you will consider attending an upcoming parents meeting or a fun community-building social event like last Saturday's informal beach party. You might also want to pitch in and help with the revitalization of the Ashton Road campus. We are all part of the school community, and we can make it very special if we work together and have some fun along the way.

 

The school is viable and we are actively planning for next year. In fact you will soon be receiving Enrollment Agreements for the 2011-12 school year, and I want to personally ask you to complete and return them with your deposits as soon as you can. Please note that the amount of this deposit has been decreased, and as further evidence of our commitment to fiscal responsibility, the Board has agreed with our school administration's recommendations to hold the line on tuition, to eliminate mandatory fees, and to minimize all optional fees and expenses. We are also exploring ways to create further "value added" benefits to include in the tuition. Finally, you will discover that next year we will no longer depend on fund raising to balance the budget.

 

The cash flow situation remains tight, however, and we need your immediate and ongoing financial support for the rest of this school term. Sending your deposits in early will definitely help, and I also want to remind those who have pledged to the Emergency Fund to honor those pledges ASAP. Finally, whether you have already made a donation or not, I want to urge you to consider giving what you can now to help us smoothly finish the academic year.

 

With challenges come opportunities, and I hope you will agree with me that this is a time for optimism and action. All we have to do is see the school through our children's eyes to find the inspiration and will to commit to doing everything we can to continue to give them the best Montessori education possible anywhere. I am confident that together with your support and active involvement we can do this and more. Please join Lori and me and get involved in whatever way you can, and let's have some fun as we rebuild our school and community!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Andy Cutler

Andrew J. Cutler, MD

CEO & Chief Medical Officer

Florida Clinical Research Center, LLC

3914 SR 64 E

Bradenton, FL 34208

E: ACUTLER@FLCRC.COM 

Ph: 941-747-7900

F: 941-747-7992

 

   

Biography

 

Andrew J. Cutler, MD

 

Courtesy Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry

University of Florida

CEO and Chief Medical Officer,

Florida Clinical Research Center, LLC

 

 

Andrew J. Cutler, MD attended Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning a BS in Biology.He received his MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine where he was also elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor medical society. He completed his Medical internship, Internal Medicine residency and Psychiatry residency at the University of Virginia, where he served as Chief Resident of Psychiatric Medicine and did research on dopamine receptor pharmacology.  Dr. Cutler then served as an Assistant Professor and Director of Psychiatric Medicine at the University of Chicago.  He has been Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.

 

 

Dr. Cutler is currently a Courtesy Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florida, and has been Principal Investigator (PI) on over 300 psychiatric and medical clinical trials.  He is CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Florida Clinical Research Center, LLC, a clinical research company he founded in Orlando in 1998 with sites currently in Central and West Florida. He was named Best Psychiatrist in Orlando annually from 2003-2007.  He consults with amateur and professional sports organizations, including Major League Baseball (MLB), and specializes in ADHD, mood disorders and substance abuse in athletes and high profile people of all ages.

 

Dr. Cutler is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the Florida Psychiatric Society (FPS), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD).  He has earned the Certified Physician Investigator (CPI) distinction from the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. He has received several professional honors and awards including the Merck Award for outstanding medical scholarship, the University of Virginia Pride Award for outstanding patient care, the William Sorum Award from the American Psychiatric Association and the Distinguished Clinical Professional Award from the Mental Health Association of Central Florida. He presents research posters and teaches at professional meetings and has published numerous articles in scientific and medical journals. Dr. Cutler frequently gives talks to community groups and national audiences, and often appears as a medical expert in the local and national media.