The Charter
Foundation
"... a vision with a task is the hope of the world"
Frequently
Asked Questions
What is the Charter Foundation?
The Charter Foundation is the fundraising organization for the Sebastopol Independent Charter School (SICS). It was formed by the founders of the school. Its mission is to support the establishment of a permanent, Waldorf-inspired Charter school. Since 1996 the Charter Foundation has paid rent on facilities, procured a site for the current school, bolstered teacher salaries, built a school building, and accrued assets toward the acquisition of a unified, permanent school site.
The primary fundraising vehicle of the Foundation is the parent Pledge Program, which is described below. The Foundation also manages the other fund raising activities for the Charter School, including the Rummage Sale, On-line Auction, Mid-Winter Gala, the E-Scrip and Community SMART school programs and other fund raising efforts.
Who comprises the Charter Foundation?
The Charter Foundation is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The current members are all volunteering parents at the school. But in a certain way, the Charter Foundation is YOU! The entire community of parents, teachers and faculty who hold an interest in the school contribute to the Charter Foundation, and the Foundation exists in service to the ideals of this community.
What is the relationship between the Charter School and the Charter Foundation?
The Charter School is a public school created under California State laws that govern the founding and operation of charter schools. The school's sponsoring school district is the Sebastopol Union School District (SUSD), which comprises the K-8 grades at Park Side, Pinecrest and Brookhaven schools. The Charter School maintains an independent relationship with the SUSD and does not have access to any of the district facilities. It receives the same funding per pupil from the state of California as other schools in the district, but the other schools have facilities supplied for them by the SUSD. The Charter Foundation is an organization that owns the assets used by the school. It receives all donations to the school and oversees fundraising activities. Since its inception the Charter Foundation has worked to bridge the gap between the financial needs of a Waldorf-inspired Charter School and the funds provided by the state.
Why do we need a Charter Foundation?
The Charter school movement is a new phenomenon in our country and its legislation is continually changing. Assets that are held by schools do not truly belong to them, but to their district. Without a Charter Foundation, the fickle hand of politics could disband our school, returning any assets it holds to its sponsoring district, which has no commitment to provide a public Waldorf education. By placing our assets in the hands of the Foundation, whose mission IS to support the establishment of public Waldorf education, we insure that even if SICS were disbanded, the assets could still be used to support Waldorf education. Thus, all our hard work to build this school would not be lost if our charter were revoked. The ideal to which we have all devoted our time and resources could continue in another form.
Why do we need a new site?
Currently the school is housed at two sites - the portables at Brookhaven (grades K-2) and the main campus on South Main St. (grades 3-8). Even with two sites, the program is bursting at the seams. There are some subjects we cannot offer for lack of space, and some teachers are struggling to offer their subjects due to limited facilities. The playground space is insufficient. Although the City of Sebastopol recently removed any time limit to our remaining at the downtown site, it is not big enough for our long-term needs.
When will we have a long-term site for the Charter School?
There are many constraints about where our permanent site can be located, involving District rules, zoning laws, neighbor relations, traffic, parking, safety, flooding, etc. We have explored numerous sites over the past 7 years, but none has passed all of the necessary hurdles. In addition, land and constructions costs in Sonoma County continue to rise rapidly. But if we keep saving diligently, we will have enough resources to overcome any development issues that might stand in our way.
Are my monthly donations tax-deductible?
Yes. You will receive an itemized receipt for your calendar-year donations that can be used to document your contribution on your tax return.
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