Robert Dumont
SCHOLASTICAbout Robert L. Dumont
Robert L. Dumont (age 73) is an independent director of Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) serving since 2021. He is an attorney and principal of Robert Dumont PLLC, specializing in international private client and family office tax and estate planning; previously a partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP and leader of Deloitte Tax LLP’s international private client practice. He is a member of the New York Bar, the Bar of England and Wales (non‑practicing), and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker & McKenzie LLP | Partner | Prior to Deloitte tenure (30+ years across large organizations) | International private client/tax expertise |
| Deloitte Tax LLP | Leader, International Private Client Practice | Prior to founding Robert Dumont PLLC | Built/led international private client practice |
External Roles
| Organization | Role/Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Dumont PLLC | Principal | Boutique law firm focused on international private clients/family offices |
| Bar of the State of New York | Member | Active member |
| Bar of England and Wales | Non‑practicing solicitor | Credentialed in UK jurisdiction |
| Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) | Member | Professional trust/estate planning body |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments (FY2025/current):
- Audit Committee member; committee chaired by James W. Barge. Post July 16, 2025, Milena Alberti and Anne Clarke Wolff replaced Davies and Young; Dumont remains a member .
- Nominating & Governance Committee member (Chair: Andrés Alonso) .
- Independence: The Board determined all FY2025 directors other than CEO Peter Warwick and Chair Iole Lucchese were independent (includes Dumont) .
- Attendance: Five regular and one special Board meeting in FY2025; all incumbent directors attended ≥75% of Board and assigned committee meetings .
- Lead Independent Director: James W. Barge (not Dumont) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2025 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board cash retainer | $95,000 | Standard outside director retainer |
| Committee chair fees | $0 | Dumont is not a committee chair; chair fees are $15k (HRCC/NG/Tech) and $20k (Audit) for chairs only |
| Lead Independent Director retainer | $0 | $25,000 applies to LID (Barge), not Dumont |
Performance Compensation
| Grant/Instrument | Grant Date | Units/Shares | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting | Deferral Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant (2017 Outside Directors Plan) | Sep 18, 2024 | ~3,920 RSUs | $124,970 | Earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting (Sep 17, 2025) | Dumont participates in RSU deferral program; vested RSUs (if deferred) pay out at end of Board service, with credited dividends during deferral |
Program design: For FY2025, the Board set outside director equity at $125,000, 100% in RSUs; no stock options were granted to outside directors in FY2025 .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Dumont |
| Committee interlocks | Company disclosed no HRCC interlocks; Dumont is not on HRCC |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Significant legal, tax, and policy expertise; experience advising family offices and heirs; executive leadership experience (supports Audit and Nominating work) .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | As of/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (Common) | 18,816 shares | Includes direct, options exercisable within 60 days, and RSUs vesting within 60 days; <1% of outstanding |
| Directly held shares | 6,714 | As of record date (Jul 23, 2025) |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 8,182 | Under 2017 Plan |
| RSUs vesting within 60 days | 3,920 | 2017 Director Plan RSUs |
| RSUs outstanding (total) | 7,112 | At May 31, 2025 (reflects cumulative awards/deferrals) |
| Options outstanding (total) | 8,182 | At May 31, 2025 (no new options in FY2025) |
| Pledged shares | None disclosed for Dumont | Barge has pledged shares; no pledge disclosure for Dumont |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 3× annual Board cash retainer; 5‑year phase‑in | Adopted Sep 2023 for non‑employee directors |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent director with deep tax/estate expertise; serves on Audit and Nominating & Governance—relevant to oversight of financial reporting and board composition .
- Solid engagement: Board reports ≥75% attendance for all directors in FY2025 .
- Pay alignment: Majority of compensation in equity RSUs that vest at/after the next annual meeting; Dumont also elected RSU deferral, extending alignment to end of service .
- No related‑party transactions or hedging red flags disclosed for Dumont; company prohibits certain hedging and only occasionally permits pledging (no Dumont pledge) .
- Considerations:
- Not designated as the Audit Committee “financial expert” (that role is held by Barge), though Dumont’s tax background is additive .
- Dual‑class control (Class A holders elect most directors) concentrates voting power; not Dumont‑specific but relevant to board accountability dynamics .
RED FLAGS
- None specific to Dumont disclosed: no attendance issues, no related‑party transactions, no pledging, and compensation structure is standard for SCHL outside directors .
Notes on Director Compensation Program: FY2025 outside director pay consisted of $95,000 cash retainer plus ~$125,000 in RSUs vesting at the 2025 annual meeting. No options granted to directors in FY2025; Dumont’s stock awards totaled $124,970 and cash fees $95,000 (total $219,970) .