Merger talks between The Andrews School and The Phillips-Osborne School moved forward today, when the Board of Trustees from each school voted to accept a proposal to merge the two independent schools in Lake County.

The Boards now enter into a period of due diligence. Over the next few months, they will share with each other more detailed information about the facilities, operations and financial condition of each school. This will allow the Boards to make a more informed decision about whether the merger is in the best interest of both schools before they take a final vote, which is expected before the end of March 2007.

If approved, the merger would create Lake County’s only coeducational, independent school offering education to students from pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. The new entity would potentially be named The Andrews Phillips-Osborne School. Jerome T. Osborne, President of the Phillips-Osborne School Board of Trustees, has pledged to contribute $12 million if the schools merge.

Dr. David Rath, Head of School of The Andrews School, called the merger “the best option for our girls, as it will ensure that they and future generations have an excellent option for independent education here in Lake County. In fact, this merger will expand that option by offering an independent upper school for boys. We expect this merger to create a school that is even stronger than either school can be on its own.”

“I see great congruence between Phillips-Osborne and Andrews School,” said Kevin Smith, Headmaster of The Phillips-Osborne School. “Both institutions have a tradition of fine academics and close-knit, nurturing environments. By bringing the two schools together, we have the opportunity to create a sustained, strong school that will honor the legacy of both institutions.”

Rick Sippola, Vice President of the Phillips-Osborne Board of Trustees, explained the next steps as an “engagement interval” of sorts. “A significant period of due diligence will now begin, during which time the Boards and administrations will examine how the finances, buildings and grounds, faculties, academic programs, admissions and administrations would mesh,” he said.  That process is expected to be completed in time for the Boards to take a final vote before March 31, Sippola said.

Mary Ann Berens, Chair of the Andrews School Board of Trustees, said that each school held Town Hall meetings to explain the proposal to its faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents, and to provide an opportunity for their comments and questions. “Many people told us how important it is to carry on the legacy of The Andrews School,” Berens said. “This merger is our best option to carry the legacy forward and keep the school open for future generations.”

Enrollment at Andrews has declined in recent years, but Berens said, “This merger brings with it a nucleus of families on which to build our future. By including boys – who now have to leave the county for an independent education in upper school – we are essentially doubling the potential market for students. They can continue on in the same school, and we have an opportunity to forge a new identity.”

The Andrews School is a college preparatory day and boarding school for girls, grades 7-12, located in Willoughby. Andrews boasts an exceptional fine and performing arts program, state-of-the-art athletic facilities and a world class Equestrian Center. Andrews enrolls students from nine states and five foreign countries, with 44 percent living on campus.

The Phillips-Osborne School is a coeducational independent day school serving about 210 students from pre-school through grade eight. Located in Painesville, the school provides an innovative, integrated program of study that includes fine and performing arts, public speaking and a new global studies program.