Future of Charter School rests with parents

The future of the West Concord Public Charter School now rests with parents of current and future students.
After a motion to close the school failed on a 3-2 vote, School Board members agreed to make a final attempt to increase the student population and to make a final decision after an informational meeting on May 24.
The board met last Friday for their regular monthly meeting to discuss ways that the school, which has found itself with a serious financial shortfall, could remain viable for the 2016-2017 school year.
At an earlier meeting they had voted to change the focus of the school to a kindergarten through grade five configuration and not to renew the contract of the director and instead go with a director/teacher position.
That resolution also said the board would look at staffing the school next year with a kindergarten through second grade teacher, a third through fifth grade teacher, a special education teacher, two para-professionals, an administrative assistant and a part-time custodian.
At last week’s meeting former board member and retired teacher Paula Finne said there was no way she could support combining the lowest grades under one teacher, especially since the teacher would likely be a first-year teacher.
“As much as I want the school,” she said, “I can’t sell the K-2,” Director Nicole Musolf also said that there is no research that supports having three grade levels together.
Board members were also told that based on confirmed applications, the school would have between 19 and 21 students next year.
Time is running out, said Board Chair Minor “Corky” Buckingham. He had spoken with the school’s authorizer from Friends of Education, he said, and she had expressed concerns about the future viability of the school. The authorizer, he said, has the authority to close the school.
While Buckingham said he had informed the authorizing body that he would notify them by Monday of the decision of the board, he said he did not know the exact time frame for the decision but the budget is due by June 1.
Although none of the board wanted to see the school closed, all agreed that the school could not continue financially unless the numbers were increased.
Froyum said she did not want the school to close but from a business point-of-view she did not see how it could continue without an increase in students.
“We have to turn in a positive budget,” she said. “I think we need to make a decision. But we are not financially viable enough to make a positive.”
“I’ll be the bad guy,” Buckingham said in making the motion to close adding the board was just “kicking the can down the road.”
Froyum seconded the motion to open up discussion.
The motion ultimately failed on a 3-2 vote with Donna Klapperich, Crystal Nielson and Julie Staub voting against.
The discussion continued with the agreement being the board needed to make one last attempt to add students.
The school will need 32 students to break even, board members said.
“I just think we should set a day and see if more people are interested,” said Klapperich.
Board members decided to talk personally with parents who may consider enrolling their children and communicate with