Subject: Re: Lilly Secundy
From: "Hurster, Tom" <[email-masked]>
To: "Liz Secundy" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>, "Robb Gaskins" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2017 01:08:58 -0400

Mr. Hunter Biden-  Hello.  As an introduction, I am Tom Hurster, a
Supervisor in the Child and Family Support Services Department of Benchmark
School, who has been working with Lilly and her parents since she began
attending Benchmark in December, 2015 (mid 6th grade year).  I have been
associated with Benchmark School since August, 1981 in a variety of
capacities, and am authorized to represent the school in our discussion as
to how to address the outstanding balance of Lilly's tuition account so
that she might return for her 8th grade year.

Candidly, it was my idea to approach Liz about the possibility of
Vice-President Biden, and/or Dr. Jill Biden, appearing at Benchmark School
for a speaking engagement within the upcoming school year, with the Biden's
foregoing their usual speaking fees in lieu of Lilly's outstanding
tuition.  In essence they would make an address to our community and
instead of their being paid for such, their fees would be used to cover
Lilly's outstanding tuition, thus allowing her to return for her final
year.  Currently the Secundy's owe Benchmark $22,700 (the balance owed for
the '15-'16 school year, and the '16-'17 school year- after a tuition
assistance grant last year of $20,000); the tuition for Lilly's 8th grade
year is $35,300.  This is a total of $58,000.

When I approached Liz, I had originally imagined an evening in our West
Performing Arts Center (a state of the art venue which seats 300) wherein a
moderator or two would lead a discussion with Dr. Biden (a recognized
leading educator with a national profile) and the former Vice President (a
leading American statesman, and arguably the de facto head of the
Democratic Party), about the current challenges for American education and
what the future may hold.  I imagined that we might be able to get a
prominent local news person to moderate the discussion, and that attendees
would be by invitation/lottery. Presumably there would be press coverage.
I thought maybe there would be a brief closed reception and/or dinner for
selected guests before the main event which would be maybe 60-90 minutes,
with audience questions, and perhaps a short reception afterwards in the
center lobby with light refreshments for the attendees.  Perhaps, in light
of Vice President Biden's upcoming book tour, there might be a brief book
signing.  I imagined that Dr. Biden would speak as an educator, with a
sensitivity to the education of children with special learning needs, with
the Vice President offering a political /policy perspective on the role of
the federal government in supporting innovative education.   However the
specifics of the topic and format are open to discussion and the
preferences of the speakers, and would not necessarily be in the format I
am imagining. I would think Benchmark would ideally like both present in
some way, but that is not absolutely necessary; my thought was it might be
more "fun" for them, and we would like to show off Benchmark (and Lilly's
school) to them both.  I am aware of how important they are to her.

I imagined  that the event would be connected, perhaps, to a Capital
Campaign that Benchmark is about to announce to build an "Innovation
Center", to enhance the Benchmark curriculum, and as a multi-disciplinary
design and technology center for the use of students. Two of our esteemed
alums, Chris and William Sharples (twins) have expressed a desire to "give
back" and are the architectural team behind the project (they are donating
their time/team).   They are the driving force behind the SHoP Architecture
firm in NYC, perhaps best know for the Barclay Center and their work
renovating the Manhattan waterfront, and were finalists for the Obama
Library (http://www.shoparc.com/projects/).   We of course,are very proud
of them, and more than thrilled at their offer and involvement.  They
credit their Benchmark education for much of their success (attached is a
description of the Innovation Space concept- I can mail a prospectus to you
all showing their overall design concept.  It is way cool, and we are very
excited).

To summarize, what *I* imagined was an evening with Vice-President and Dr.
Biden discussing the state and future of American education in broad
terms.  We could have a moderator to help guide their discussion.  We would
honor the speakers (and their invited guests) with a closed attendance
reception/dinner, followed by the formal presentation, and a brief general
reception (perhaps book signing) in our West Performing Arts Center lobby
for attendees.  I imagine the evening would be around 3-4 hours.  We would
use the occasion of their appearance to bolster our fund raising efforts
for our Innovation Center Capital Campaign.  They would appear, waving
their usual speaking fees, in lieu of Lilly's outstanding tuition.  This
would allow Lilly to finish out her Benchmark years, help Benchmark in its
fund raising campaign for our Innovation Center, and allow the Biden's an
opportunity to discuss their views on the future of American education and
to promote the Vice President's book.  I hope a win for all of us.  but
this would mostly be a "win" for Lilly and her parents.  Lilly has made
significant progress with us over the last year and a half, and I am
certain that an additional year will put her well along the way towards
handling a competitive academic curriculum.   I so very much want to see
her return for one more year.

Other details can be worked out.  Certainly Benchmark can arrange for a
limousine to pick up the Vice President and Dr. Biden to transport them to
the event from their Delaware home.  We can certainly work with their
schedule, although I am imagining something in early November, perhaps
before the Vice President's appearance in Philadelphia around his book
release.  And perhaps it is too much to ask for both to present, although
as I said,  I thought they'd enjoy such.  So we are open to discussion and
negotiation.

The big factor now, is timing.  We need to have an agreement, at least in
principle,  in place before next Tuesday in order for Lilly to start with
the rest of her class (clearly optimal).  There is a Board policy that
students cannot return with an outstanding balance (which we have already
waved once for Lilly and her parents).  We can't let Lilly start next week
until we have resolved her tuition situation. Additionally, candidly, the
Benchmark School Board of Directors has not yet approved this proposal, so
it remains only a possibility (although I have permission to start the
discussion with you as the representative of the Vice President and Dr.
Biden).  There have been preliminary discussions with Dr. Robb Gaskins (who
is Head of School) and the Board Director, but the finance committee chair
and the executive committee must also sign off on the proposal.  Assuming
they do so, we would need a letter of intent (a contractual agreement, if
you would) from the Bidens, agreeing to a speaking engagement sometime this
school year.  And as I have already stated, we are getting very close to
the beginning of the school year, so....

I anxiously await your response.  If you would like to speak by phone my
numbers are:  610-565-3741 (BMK); 610-525-5030 (my practice office in Bryn
Mawr); 610-420-1410 (my mobile).  I also look forward to meeting you in
person.  Both Lilly and Liz have had such kind and fond things to share
about you.  I understand you are likely traveling abroad, but I do hope we
can continue this discussion soon.

Respectfully,
Tom Hurster
Supervisor, Child and Family Support Services
Benchmark School

On Tue, Aug 29, 2017 at 12:52 PM, Liz Secundy <[email-masked]> wrote:

> Hi Tom & Hunt
>
> I wanted to introduce you two and share your emails with each other.   I
> am cautiously optimistic that together we can come to a solution for Lilly
> to remain at Benchmark and start next week.   Thank you both for all your
> support!!!!
>
> hopefully & sincerely,  Liz
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> [email-masked]
> 302-530-0600