Hamlin Robinson SchoolA Bold Case

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Case History: Mission• Founded in 1983, Hamlin Robinson School (HRS) is the only

non-profit, full-curriculum school in Washington dedicated to serving students with dyslexia.

• 2010 mission: dedicated to meeting the educational, social, and emotional needs specific to students with dyslexia and related language difficulties.

• 2013 mission: to ignite the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

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Case History: Setting• Since 1983, HRS has leased property at four locations –

moving as we’ve grown.

• The most recent move came in 2010 -- to the T.T. Minor Elementary building in Seattle.

• This move was a bold step. The central location and accessibility extended the school’s reach to a more geographically diverse student population. The larger space offered the opportunity to increase enrollment and programs.

• HRS signed a long term (7-10 year) lease with Seattle Public Schools for this property.

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Case History: 2010-11 Stats• Enrollment: 117 (up from 103 in 2009-10)

• Attrition rate: 18% (historically, HRS was viewed as a temporary school with limited year enrollment); over 30% attrition the year of the move

• Revenue composition of a balanced budget: 76% tuition; 12% auxiliary programs; 12% fundraising

• Fundraising: Annual Fund $106K; Auction $122K (up from $72K/$98K in 2009-10)

• Reserves: $706K (up from $578K in 2009-10)

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Case History: Leadership• Joan Beauregard was hired as Interim Head of School for the

2010-11 school year. Her status changed to permanent Head during the fall of 2010. • 4 Heads in previous 11-year period

• HRS had a history of one capital project (funding for a move and furniture) but not a capital campaign.

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Case History: Leadership cont.• At that juncture, the HRS Board of Trustees was incredibly

devoted to the school mission but in an early maturation phase.

• A 2008 PNAIS Accreditation had recommended:• More formalized strategic planning• More long-term financial planning

• The Board was not assembled on the basis of capacity and had little to no experience with significant fundraising.

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Case History: Uncertainty• In early 2012, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced that

enrollment numbers were growing district wide.

• SPS publicly anticipated the need to re-open some closed facilities and take back some leased properties.

• HRS was in year two of its long term lease from SPS.

• HRS received no informal or formal notice from SPS in regard to their leased property.

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Case: What would you do?

• Given these facts…as Head of School and Board Chair, what would you do?

• Please take 20 minutes to organize your response.