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2025-2026 Budget Approved

Initial Board Involvement

Board Heard Options

Votes to Add 2nd Kinder
Considered K-5 & K-8 Models

Held Staff Collab Session to Gather Insight

Held Community Meeting for Public Questions

BOD Hears Recommend-

ation, Votes

Phase 3: Initiate Change

How Did We Get Here?

(The highlights version)

Factors At Play/Steps Taken:

Double digit enrollment decrease
Invoked Finance Committee action

Steps Taken:

Trends Analysis
Created & evaluated initial options

Steps to Take:

Communicate decision
Initiate steps to begin project planning

Steps Taken:

Took all talking points into consideration, narrowed down and distilled best options that match community need.
Make official recommendation

Where we started

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Three Primary Options

Category	Scenario 1: As Is	Transition Scenario 2: Double Track K–5	Transition Scenario 3: Dual /Single 2:1
Intention	No change; maintain current K–8 model	Gradually phase out middle school to become dual track K–5.	Expand K–5 while maintaining single 6–8.
Explanation	Every third year a first-grade class becomes dual track	Build on strong kindergarten demand; maintain two-track K–5.	Builds the financial stability through double track K-5. Preserves middle school for students who thrive in smaller, experiential settings.
Enrollment	250–270 students	Builds to ~280 students	Potential up to 350 students
Building	No new classrooms needed	No new classrooms needed	Reconfigure by 2026–27; would need to add two additional classrooms by 2028; shift adult spaces to modular/leased area.
Programming	Current K–8 programming	Ends current K-8 programming. Starts K-5.	Maintains K–5 focus and offers experiential middle school pathway.
Logistics	Contraction of program if enrollment remains flat or decreases.	Requires new scheduling; transition challenges.	Requires new scheduling; transition challenges. Facility development and acquired funding required.
Financials	Limited flexibility. Difficulty ensuring balanced budget with current revenue and expenses.	Manageable with current PPR but adjustments may be needed.	Requires grants/federal funding to expand footprint or lease modulars, but option supports growth & community demand.

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Recommended Path Forward:��Scenario 3: Dual/Single 2:1

Expands K–5 to meet strong early-grade demand
Maintains a single-track 6–8 program for families seeking continuity through middle school
Balances growth opportunity with mission alignment and long-term financial sustainability

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Key Advantages

✅ Enrollment & Financial Growth

Potential to grow total enrollment to ~350 students
Expands PPR revenue to strengthen staffing and programming
Supports financial stability and positions the school for thoughtful, mission-driven growth

✅ Capitalize on Opportunity

Leverage strong community demand for K–5 to enhance long-term financial stability.
Use this period of transition to re-envision and strengthen our already robust middle school program.

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Key Advantages

✅ Program Integrity

Preserves the opportunity for continued Waldorf-inspired education through middle school for those seeking a smaller, experiential setting.

✅ Community Appeal

Offers families an opportunity for a K–8 pathway.
Creates enrollment opportunities in younger grades where interest is strongest.
Strengthens retention by giving students the option to remain in a familiar environment through 8^th grade.

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Key Challenges:

Clear and concise messaging throughout the process to ensure individuals and families can make well-informed decisions as transition progresses.
Facilities development will be required for both reconfiguration as well as additional classrooms. Will need to leverage grants, federal funding, fund-raising to pursue construction expansion or additional modular space to manage growth efficiently and effectively.
Proactively forecast and react to potential changes to the transition as well as other defining factors which may impact the bigger picture (i.e. enrollment counts)
Program will require ongoing development across all grades, as population builds.

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Logistical Timeline

2026-2027

Add additional kindergarten class
Greer & Atkinson classes (separate) graduate 8th grade

2027-2028

No substantial changes
Thomas’ current class graduates 8th grade

2028-2029

K-5 bumps to ten classes (need for classroom), middle school remains at four classes
Hokamp’s current class graduates 8th grade

2029-2030

K-5 bumps to eleven classes (need additional classroom)
Incoming 6^th graders move to a lottery system. **Current 1^stgraders

2029-2030 (cont.)

(25-26) will be the first students to participate in lottery for single track 6^th grade class.

Last year of middle school holding a two-track class
Glaser/Addington’s current classes graduate 8th grade

2030-2031

Student population dips for one year as 5^th grade is last remaining single track in K-5 program.
First year of a single-track middle school.
Wolfe’s current class graduates 8^th grade

2031-2032

Officially transitioned to the 2:1 model.
Bell’s current class graduates 8th grade

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Facilities Timeline