Willow Creek expects to reopen in fall - Main IJ - June 13,2003 - By Reporter Carla Bova

Willow Creek expects to reopen in fall
By Carla Bova, IJ reporter
Article Last Updated: Friday, June 13, 2003 - 4:29:25 AM PST

Charter school in Sausalito raised $85,000 in drive

After a rigorous fund-raising campaign that earned about $85,000 in three months, Willow Creek Academy charter school in Sausalito celebrated the end of its second year yesterday confident it would be able to reopen in the fall.

The school has been fundraising nonstop since March when the Sausalito Marin City School District Board of Trustees gave the school 90 days to mend its financial problems, including a $100,000 deficit at one point, or face charter revocation.

"As with any school in its infancy, we had our challenges," said Willow Creek board member Bruce Huff. "This year we faced many challenges, mostly financial, but I am proud to say we raised almost $1,000 a day for this school and by the end of the month we will be on strong financial footing."

Willow Creek was told it needed to give both the district and the county Office of Education assurance that it can meet its financial requirements for the fiscal year ending June 30 and that it can produce a balanced budget for 2003-04.

The district board reviewed the school's financial status and preliminary budget during a regular meeting last night and was impressed by its progress.

"I am very confident Willow Creek Academy will succeed," said district board member George Stratigos. "There are some very dedicated people on the Willow Creek board. I want to thank everyone for going through a very scary time."

The district board gave feedback on terms of the budget and other details. The school board is expected to meet Monday to make adjustments in time for the district to revisit the issue and make its final decision at its last meeting June 19.

The state Board of Education gives charters flexibility but requires them to align with state curriculum standards and holds them accountable for student achievement and financial management.

In the case of Willow Creek, the district board is charged with monitoring activities of the charter school to make sure it adheres to educational and financial standards.

Last night, Sandra Peck, the assistant superintendent for business in the County Office of Education, who consults the district, told the board that Willow Creek will still end this year with a deficit of about $25,000 to meet payroll and other bills.

"That amount may be less because it does not take into account money raised after June 6," Peck said, adding the school will get a loan for the necessary amount so that it can finish up the year.

Peck said Willow Creek's projected budget for 2003-04 is about $551,000 and the school will have a required reserve of $40,000.

The budget is based on a per student allocation of $6,600, as sought by the district. The school wanted $7,100 per student.

It is also based on an enrollment figure of 89 students even though the school expects enrollment to be 100 students next fall.

"The county and the district have asked us to be very conservative with our number, which we will do but it puts a damper on programs," said Clark Warden. "We realistically expect an enrollment of 100 but we will use a lesser number for budget purposes."

"If they find out they are getting more students, they can adjust their budget," Peck said.

Willow Creek opened on the Bayside Elementary School campus in September 2001 with 38 kids enrolled in kindergarten through the fourth grade. This year, enrollment reached 76 and a fifth-grade class was added. Next year it will add sixth grade.

District board president Shirley Thornton was concerned that money for foreign language, physical education and music programs for children, and professional development for teachers were not included in Willow Creek's budget.

"I want to be secure the comprehensive program is there," said Thornton. "I am concerned that teachers get the training they need and students have a comprehensive program that is reflected in their test scores."

Huff said the school is trying to raise money for such educational programs but had to make cuts in the short run.

"We are making decisions based on dollars, which is what you have asked us to base decisions on," Huff said. "We are to the bone. Anything above this we need to raise funds to do."

In addition to the budget, the parties have also been working on the "memorandum of understanding," that sets forth the relationship between the district and the charter school.

"All it really does is recite the fact that Willow Creek Academy will be a little more independent from the district than in the past," said the district's charter school consultant Chuck Cadman. "Some services formerly provided by the district like business functions will be contracted out to a separate organization."

Head of School Carol Cooper said the school has been meeting with the district almost weekly and has been fundraising since it was put on notice. The campaign was a widespread effort with parents, teachers, administrators, students and the community all pitching in.

"We have raised a huge amount of money," Cooper said of the $85,000 pool that is still growing. "It has been a huge collection of different kinds of things."

Willow Creek board president Orlando Lobo said 10 percent came from businesses and individuals that participate in the Adopt-A-Class and Adopt-A-School programs; 65 percent came from local foundations, businesses and individual donors, including the Sausalito School Foundation, which contributed $20,000; and 21 percent came from the annual fund made up of parent and guardian donations.

"This is a community where most parents do not have a lot of resources," Cooper said. "We are honored because they felt the school is so important that they pledged what they could afford. It is very moving."

The remaining 4 percent came from school events and student activities like the Lap-A-Thon held in conjunction with the school's Spring into Health Day.

"They raised $2,000 running around the track," Cooper said.

"We have had students come to the principal's office with their pocket money saying they heard the school needed money," said Lobo. He also said that there is $30,000 in committed funds. "They have not been entirely received, but they will be in the bank on or by June 30 as required, and as we have promised the district."

Contact Carla Bova via e-mail at cbova@marinij.com