INFORMATION UPDATE NEW HAMPSHIRE EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY This information bulletin is being forwarded to everyone who submitted pre-application materials for the New Hampshire Equestrian Academy Charter School. We’d like to keep you up to date as to the status of the new charter school which continues to move forward with a September 2006 opening date. Progress of setting up the charter school is based, first, on establishing a Board of Trustees who has authority to make decisions. The Board must first establish basics of post office, bank, insurance, etc., and although it took longer than anticipated to launch the Board of Trustees, the initial Board of 5 trustees is in place and has met twice. Eventually the Board will include 2 parents of students attending the school. The first 5 Board members are:
The Board will meet again April 8th in Rochester at 1:00 p.m. This meeting will take place at the business office of Packy Campbell in downtown Rochester. All meetings of the Board of Trustees will be posted at the Rochester and Wolfeboro libraries as well as posted on the school’s website. Charter school board meetings, like other public school board meetings, are open to the public. The Board must obtain proper insurances in order to truly begin Board functions and several companies are developing proposals at this time. We hope to have the insurance program located by April 8th so board operations can continue in earnest. The new charter school’s start-up grant has been decided. Soon the Board should be set up to draw down enough funds to secure part-time assistance with student applications and grant-writing. This is good news, and we now seek a bookkeeper/financial officer to work with the school on financial management. Several part-time volunteer specialists have come forward to assist with start-up tasks and more volunteer support is welcome. For the charter school to open as planned this September 2006, there must be a facility that can safely and properly house the first 25 students for their academic and equine studies courses. Quite a few options are being pursued at once, and at this time the Board is still committed to a September 2006 opening in the Rochester area. Fundraising is surely a major issue at this time, and volunteers are needed to form a team that implements the first few strategic events. The initial goal for fundraising (or gift outreach) is to have an indoor arena and equine studies area in place by September. Anyone with interests in event planning, e.g. a major dinner event or outdoor event, or anyone who would like to help approach companies and corporations about donating an arena should contact me. We are in touch with professional event planners but the work of these events requires grassroots involvement. Regarding student applications, the Board will require more information from students and these packets are being developed now. The charter was written to open on a small scale with 20-25 students in grades 9 and 10; however, we have received applications from a few upper class students and during April decisions will be made about how the application process will be handled. Surely there is interest in accommodating as many students as possible within this small opening program, but a small start-up school will have limits of how many courses it can offer across grades. At the last meeting, the Board voted that I continue to function as their Superintendent, helping the school come to life according to the approved charter and all the laws that apply. As more information is available, including minutes and notices of Board meetings, you can find these posted on the school’s website which is hosted by my office. Deb Young, who has talked to a few parents and students wanting more information, will continue to assist me in keeping in touch with students and parents. If you would like to host an informational meeting about this school in your area, please help us identify a space and time. April is open for these meetings. Tuesdays and Thursdays (day and evening) are best. We would like to provide information about the charter school program of studies so parents and students understand that the school is a college-preparation academic school with equine studies and business courses. It would be helpful if more parents understood how charter schools function as independent public schools of choice. To contact our office, call 224-0366 and leave a message. Deb clears messages regularly and will return calls. Our webmaster, Matt, will forward your emails to Deb and me, plus keep them secure, so please feel free to write webmaster@nhschoolreform.org and you’ll also reach Deb. There’s lots to do in the next 4 months and we need parent and student energy to help bring the school to life. Should you know of an indoor arena someone might like to donate, don’t be shy in letting us know.
There is a radio show you might want to hear. You may also visit www.nhschoolreform.org., click on “schools” then #8, Equestrian School for further information. Susan Hollins, Ph.D. |
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