Overview of the Application to Open in 2015 Why here? Why now? Discussion

Long Term Goal Unfolding the unique capacity of each child, so they an grow to realize their greatest potential as human beings in our community and our world Underlying belief: All children are uniquely capable and valuable

Community Wishes The Waldorf approach has a long track record of success around the nation and world Here in Paonia, the legacy of providing Waldorf education is over 40 years old Families have been co-operating in larger numbers the past 4 years to serve children with this unique pedagogy We wish for highly trained teachers that are fairly compensated for their work; classrooms that exist from year-to-year; and classroom peers

Proposing a New School Thanks to the Charter School Act, public Waldorf education is possible in Delta County This application proposes the opening of a school in 2015 supported by grants, private not-for-profit enterprises, as well as public funding Teachers will be paid, students will learn with peers in classrooms Education will span the intended scope of Waldorf education, from PreK-12

Proposing a New School For PreK-6: Strong developmental focus, 5 years of looping, media-free environment, in the Paonia area For 7-12: Experiential-based learning provides graduates who are desired by Colorados top schools, and Ivy League schools

Community Questions Can more choices help, more than hurt? OR will they hurt, more than help? Whats to gain, and whats to loose if this school opens? How will a new Charter school affect our economy? How will a new Charter school affect our children? Think short-term, and long-term. What is the right decision?

Why Here, Why Now? Currently, local families have no school choice, other than VCA, once they leave 6 th grade VCA is a limited choice for working families and single parents The Montessori school in Crawford serves children PreK-6 Waldorf and Montessori are distinct and different in the early grades; however, they become similar in grades 7-12 Families, including families who support businesses and jobs locally, move or send their children out of District to boarding schools for junior high and High School One Answer: CHOICE, helping families stay here

Why here, Why now? Intent to Enroll 2014: 62 students PreK-8 Local, out of District (42: 31 co-op and PreK, 11 homeschool); Not local- (7) Local, in District: 7 from Vision, 3 from Paonia, 3 from Hotchkiss ( Montessori students not included due to new school at Crawford; time Vision is considered out of District) 68% (42/62) represents families who live here and would be willing to enroll their children into Delta County Schools The learning needs of as many as 78% (49/62) were not being met by District schools in 2014 Another Answer: Providing public education to local tax-paying families ; public education that works for them

Why Here, Why Now? 2014 Scenario: 49 new students @ $6500 = $318,500 2015 Scenario: Home-stay Boarding for High School will draw students into the District $600/month stipend for 12-14 local families; staff and teachers pay equivalent to 7 full-time local jobs The Answer: Bolstering our Economy, increasing overall District enrollment, Providing Jobs

Why Here, Why Now? Students are increasingly experiencing a stressful environment. Policy makers at the Federal and State level are pressuring our Districts to conform to practices that do not work for some children Charters are granted waivers from practices such as a District Wide Curriculum. These schools may be small, but they are also nimble, and flexible to meet the needs of a learning community. The Alliance for Public Waldorf Education ensures conformance to state and federal standards, while providing flexibility for kids. The results of a stress-free environment is children who love learning,. Experience shows Waldorf graduates are welcome at the nations top schools: Brown University, Harvard, Yale, etc. The Answer: Opening doors for all students in Delta County to reach their dreams as learners, in spite of the difficult pressured environment in todays public schools

Why Here, Why Now? Our world is increasingly competitive on a global scale, American students are disadvantaged when compared to their peers from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, and many countries in Europe Waldorf education has been around for over 80 years. Increasingly, evidence shows these graduates in America are highly capable of success as adults and on par with students from other countries The Answer: Preparing our Children to Thrive in an Uncertain Global Environment

History/Current State of Schools Our public schools and VCA are full of talented, committed staff. Our District is working hard to wrestle with declining enrollment and decreasing public funds, while at the same time under more pressure for accountability to state requirements and testing There is a concern that another school will gradually weaken other schools, while there is mounting pressure to combine PHS and HHS. VCA enrollment was on the decline, but its now looking better. HK8 enrollment is up, but the school is struggling with not enough teachers in Junior High. Teachers, the backbone of our community, are strained. The success of all schools is important to our community

What do you think? What are the benefits of the proposed Charter? What are the drawbacks?

Strategy: Compliment, do not compete Programming. Orchestra; Science, performing arts, apprenticeships, hands-on work Cross-over classes. High quality academic classes available to students from other schools (H.S.) Pay attention to school location, especially the H.S.- remote or central location not based in a community containing a H.S. Farm program extends year-round Apprenticeship program Grant funding years 1&2, transitions to non-public funding sources from business ventures: Soil testing lab, equine therapy, custom small-acreage farming What are your ideas? Adopt the old Lamborn name to reduce local appeal

Overview of Application Classes of 10-12 students, combined grades PrK-8 Year 1Year 2Year 3 Pre-K/K1 class2 classes Elem.1&2 Elem.3&44&53&4 Elem.5&6 JH6&77&8 HS999 10 HS11 HS12

Curriculum and Methods Arts-based, movement, science focus World languages from 1 st Grade Main lesson in block format allow in-depth learning Looping in the early years, specialty teachers (math, english, Science) rotate for junior high/high school Slow start, ramps up; summative testing less important than teacher observations Experiential and discovery-based learning theme

Example schedule Middle School grades 6-8

Example schedule Elementary School grades 1-5

Example schedule Proposed Full Day Kindergarten 8:30-8:40 Arrival 8:40-9:00 Walk 9:10-9:30 Circle Time 9:30-10:30 Free Play/Activity 10:30-11:00 Snack 11:00-12:00 Outside Play 12:00-12:30 Story 12:30-3:15 Lunch, Rest, Outside Play 3:15-3:30 Clean/Dismissal

High School Classes- Example HistoryEnglishMathScienceArtPEElectives Contemporary Global Issues English 9 Algebra I or Geometry Biology Waldorf Wheel PESpanish 1 World History English 10 Geometry or Algebra 2 Physics Practical Arts PE Spanish 2 Gardening US History English 11 Algebra 2 or Pre- Calculas Chemist ry AP Studio Art Drama, Photography, Journalism, Gardening US- Government Economics English 12 Pre- Calculas or AP Calculas Environ mental Science Senior PlayClasses at local colleges or AP courses at other public schools

High School = High Achieving Minimum Credits for Graduation Required by School District Policy Credits Required for NFVCS Charter for Graduation, Consistent with School District Policy for College Entrance Mathematics34 Science34 English44 PE0.52 Foreign Language1 Social Studies34

Proposed Calendar- 2015/16 August 11-15, 18-22, Staff Orientation August 27 First Day of School Day September 1 Labor Day No School October 15, 16, 17 Parent/Teacher Conferences Days November 24 -28Thanksgiving Break No School December 21 Teacher Work Day December 24-January 2 Holiday Break No School January 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No School February 16 Presidents Day No School February 17 20 Professional Development for Teachers No School April 6 - 8 Spring Break April 8,9,10 Parent/Teacher Conferences Days April 13 Teacher Work Day May 25 Memorial Day No School May 28 Last Day of School Day*

Role of Teachers Leaders in the classroom Leaders in the school By-laws taken from successful Charter model which grants teachers a real and meaningful role in the Schools decisions related to the students: curriculum, schedule, and even staffing and budget

Role of Parents Respected partners in educating children Supported by long-term relationship with teacher Supported by festivals, education opportunities

Governance model Recognizes the importance of distributing power Decision-making authority granted to those who have the responsibility to carry it out Based on the idea of an inter-dependent and separate three-fold social structure: Economic (financial), Political(legal), and Cultural (educational) A trio working together: Administrative council (board), Administrator/Rights council, College of Teachers

Location/Facility Year 1: Code E facility, 5 classrooms; garden/farm District space/Lamborn Farm Outside financial support may enable purchase in Yr 1 Years 2-3: More classrooms needed, up to 9 Year 4: Financial stability will enable purchase of land or long-term lease, renovations Thoughts on location: Need to be flexible at first. Separate HS and PreK-8? Paonia for Pre-K-8; Central location for HS Please join facility search team if you are interested; goal is to have a firm facility plan by the end of November, 2014

Name ideas Goal: Easy to say/remember, evoke a good image; descriptive of unique school; geographical School of Arts (distingues approach) and Science (way of thinking throughout) Rocky Mountain School of Arts and Science West Elk North Fork Valley. Other ideas? -Lamborn School of. Mount Lamborn School of

Community Wishes, Questions Community members should stand by our Public schools during these difficult times Can more choices help, more than hurt? OR will they hurt, more than help? Carefully evaluate the trade-offs should our Charter be opened; how will this impact schools overall? How will this impact our economy? How will this impact children? Think long-term. What is the right decision?

Next Steps Intent to Enroll Letters of Support Application due Oct 1 Start-up Grant due Oct 16 Community meetings in November Community meeting on this Charter in December Decision by January 1 Funds needed: $2000: $500 for legal counsel, $500 for application production, $500 for facility engineering, $500 for misc costs

Q/A Submit questions or concerns- and thank you!

Documents

Overview of the Application to Open in 2015 Why here? Why now? Discussion