Valley Forge Military Academy faces battle for its soul between entrenched board and upstart alums – By Sam Wood and Erin Arvedlund (The Philadelphia Inquirer) / July 26 2020
Citing falling enrollment, weak finances, and mismanagement at Valley Forge Military Academy and College, a rebellious faction of school alumni is openly seeking regime change on the current board of trustees, claiming that a complete housecleaning is needed to preserve the institution.
“It’s dire,” said 1988 alumnus Dan McSweeney, who said the academy had 750 students during his time, compared with fewer than 175 planned for this year’s class. “This could be the academy’s last year. And if not this year, then soon.”
The school that produced Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf, who led Desert Storm; H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump; and author J.D. Salinger, among others, has been in a downward spiral, say upstart alumni who point to manifold problems. The school has had seven school presidents in the last decade, an insufficient endowment, and allegations of brutal student hazing.
Incumbent trustees on Valley Forge’s board say the criticism is overblown and that they are moving aggressively to tackle its problems. The trustees are “right-sizing” the institution, paying off debts, and licensing the Valley Forge brand online to raise money.
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