A N N U A L R E P O R T

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Creating the Environment for Academic Excellence

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 1

Yuba River Charter School began the 2011-2012 school year by moving 23,000 sq. feet of classroom and office furniture to our new location in downtown Nevada City. The city has welcomed us graciously, from free ice cream to enthusiastic cooperation to the planning department helping hang our school sign. While I miss writing notes to the faculty about looking out for mountain lions and bear cubs on the trails at our old site, I do so appreciate seeing half our students walking to school and being welcomed by an appreciative Victorian neighborhood. At our opening assembly I was lifted high up over the school playground in a hot air balloon and could see the whole town smiling back in early autumn colors.

Our biggest accomplishment of the year was re-chartering through the Nevada County Office of Education for another five years of academic excellence. Because of changes in the law, we took our old charter of 12 pages and turned it into a county-wide benefit charter of over 120 pages. The County Board of Education complimented us on our strong fiscal position with a large reserve and on our diverse student body. 2011-2012 was also our first full year working with our newly founded Joint Powers Authority for special education (NCCSJPA). Five charter schools banded together to form one entity that employs our special education staff, contracts with our nurses, and delivers mental health services. Just as YRCS is a model for public Waldorf education, so is this education, the JPA is a model for how charter schools can work together to provide the best services to all of the children we serve each and every school day.

With our all-star teaching staff, we expanded our homestudy program to include a farming option at Woolman in Grass Valley. Students also had many trips to Woolman to incorporate their classroom lessons with hands-on farming tasks such as surveying fences, mixing compost, and harvesting vegetables. I was grateful to have Shana Maziarz fill in for 21 days as the director while I worked on my dissertation proposal. We also ended the year by expanding our preschool to a new classroom across the street. Overall, we have maintained a waiting list of over 100 families that are pining for a chance to attend Yuba River Charter School. We have sought ways to expand our programs in the face of budget cuts while maintaining all that we love about our little school.

I hope you enjoy this published review of the 2011-2012 school year. It is also our accountability to our donors to let them know how their gifts were used and our budget functions for both the school and the foundation. Your continued support of YRCS is appreciated and I look forward to reporting next year on all the great things that you helped to make possible with your support.

Caleb Buckley DIRECTOR

Letter from the Director

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-122

The most significant change for YRCS in 2011-2012 was the move of our campus to downtown Nevada City. This move regenerated parent volunteerism and duties of the volunteer coordinator and brought increased enrollment with most classes full all year. The new facility handed us challenges as we worked on health and safety issues such as water testing, building of playground gates & fences, installing hot water heaters in the kindergarten classrooms plus the installation of new swing sets, expansion of the playground bark safe zone, and beautification of our playground hard top.

Despite ongoing State of California cuts in revenue and cash deferrals throughout the year, YRCS was able to allocate critical funds to several programmatic priorities – items that enhanced our school, our Waldorf curriculum and our community:

•7th&8thgradeplaydirectors

•Aidesintheclassroom

•HealthSavingsAccountcontributionsforteachers

•MentoringandparenteducationwithEugeneSchwartz

•AreviewofourEarlyChildhoodProgramwithTerryAnnePaquette

As a result of the Early Childhood review, we reassessed our preschool and came to the decision that it was worth expanding the program. This required that we find a new home and move the program over the summer. Moving the preschool created the space needed for the middle school program expansion to happen.

During the year the Board of Directors (formerly the Charter Council) sent out two surveys, one to the entire school and one directed at middle school families. The finance committee received and processed 15 requests for program improvements. The expansion of the middle school program for the 2012-2013 school year came about as a result of these surveys with input from teachers, parents and staff. Our fundraising goal was increased for next year to include the expansion of our offerings to students. This is the beauty of the flexibility of the charter school system and parent involvement. While YRCS focuses on academic excellence, we recognize that this encompasses everything that a child experiences during their school day so the expansion will include cooking classes, advanced Spanish, clay, practical arts and more.

The program expansion and work was accomplished through the generous support of our families and community. Theadministrationandleadershiparegratefulforthesupportwereceive.

Susan Egan BUSINESS MANAGER

S C H O O L F I N A N C E S

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 3

S C H O O L F I N A N C E S 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

Enrollment 302including Little Creek Preschool 314

RevenueGeneral Purpose $880,658In Lieu Property Taxes $569,560 Federal Revenue (SELPA) $30,130Federal Revenue $2,140State Revenue - SELPA $78,165Class Size Reduction $82,437State Lottery $46,194State - Other $133,543Local $230,778Other Financing Sources/Transfers In $5,322TOTAL $2,058,927

Expenditures Certificated Salaries $514,901Classified Salaries $457,408Benefits $292,712Supplies $81,222Services $370,360Other (1% and 5%) $76,082TOTALEXPENDITURES $1,792,686$$perstudent $5,936

NETINCREASE/DECREASE $266,241

BEGINNINGFUNDBALANCE $707,075 ENDINGFUNDBALANCE $973,316

Components of Ending Balance Revolving Fund $2,500Clearing Account $100Prepaid $22,347Econ. Uncertainty – 3% of Exp. $53,780Lease Deposit $11,250YRCS Building Project $86,172JPA Deposit $8,954SE Reserve $35,854MAA Reserve $19,911Undesignated $732,448

TOTALENDINGFUNDBALANCE $973,316

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-124

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O RS

LeilaBarber Faculty Representative

Caleb Buckley Director (Non-Voting Member)

SusanEgan Business Manager (Non-Voting Member)

KathyEldridge Community Representative

DanMartinez Faculty Representative

TorrieMudd Board Chairperson & Parent Representative

MarianaNielsen Parent Representative & Council Secretary

Carrie Reuther Faculty Representative

Robert Wallis Parent Representative & Ed Foundation Liaison

The YRCS Board of Directors (BOD, formerly the Charter Council) is made up of three groups of voting members dedicated to supporting our students’ quest for academic excellence: three parents, three teachers, and up to three community members. We couldn’t be happier to report that for the first time, we have a full group of community members joining us for the 2012-2013 school year. All of them are parents of YRCS alumni. They provide invaluable insight into how our school prepares children for their future high school and college studies. They are so grateful for the education their children received here. These former parents have come back to volunteer significant time and effort to support our current students and faculty. They frequently comment on how well prepared our students are as our students remain engaged, eager, and open to learning.

One principal area of work for the BOD is to ensure that the school is housed in facilities that are able to meet the needs of our programs. Now that we are settled at our new campus, our task is to continue to make improvements

where necessary. A major part of Waldorf education is being outdoors, developing a love and delight of the natural world while learning about its basic scientific principles. Towards that end, we are

developing plans and providing funding to improve the playground. Additionally, we have supported our administration as they skillfully secured additional nearby space for our

preschool and after care programs, freeing space to expand the programs we offer to our middle school.

We have taken an active role in creating a survey to gather families’ wishes to further strengthen the middle school. With this information, faculty and administration have developed plans to provide enhanced electives, some academic enrichment classes in language arts, math and science, opportunity for interaction between the grades, and smaller, more focused language and music programs. You will see these programs starting to take shape in 2012-2013, and grow as we monitor what works best.

The BOD mostly oversees the tremendous effort put forth by administration and faculty to provide the best possible education for the “whole child.” We participate

in evaluations for the teachers and evaluate the director, including developing systems for support where needed. Continuous professional training for our excellent staff is a high

priority. Most teachers take advantage of Waldorf training programs every year. In addition, our business functions are kept current by Charter School Association training. And we set up systems

to support Mr. Buckley as he works to complete his doctorate in education with a dissertation focused on best practices for public charter Waldorf schools.

We now have several tools to use to guide future development for our school. The Strategic Plan was developed by a group of parents, teachers, and administrators and includes detailed goals and visions. We routinely track our progress towards these goals and have already made significant strides. The annual school survey allows us to take a detailed look at areas of interest for our families. The Concern Resolution Policy allows us to log and track responses to specific requests for improvement.

It has been an honor to work with this wonderful group of people who take the education and love of our children so seriously.

Mariana Nielsen BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 5

The goal of academic excellence extends beyond the classroom. School parents

play a pivotal role in YRCS activities, and the Parent Council’s (PC) mission is

to support parents in pursuit of optimizing their child’s education and school

experience. The PC is represented by school parents, administration, and faculty,

all working together as a unit to strengthen the school community.

During the past school year, the PC focused its efforts on three main areas:

facilitating the transition to the new school location in downtown Nevada

City, shoring up the fiscal activities of the council, and enriching the parent

experience.

As the school community acclimated to the new campus, the PC was able to

facilitate dialogue between the parents and administration/faculty, as the school

body sought to optimize the possibilities and potential. Open dialogue has been

key in aligning objectives and ensuring ideas are vetted.

By focusing PC efforts on its fiscal responsibilities and budget, the PC was able

to establish incremental revenue streams that will help extend the council’s

reach for years to come. The additional funds already enabled the council to

appropriate funds for playground enhancements and a class fund treasurer –

areas that have been beyond the reach of the PC until now.

Meanwhile, the Parent Council continues to contribute to various activities that

fortify the YRCS experience for the child and parent. The PC routinely contributes

to the school’s sports programs and festivals, as well as a number of parent

education events, including speaking engagements with renowned Waldorf

advocate, Eugene Schwartz.

I am grateful for the active parent body we have and the great efforts of those

serving on the Parent Council for the past three years. Working together, we

enhance the school experience. Thankyoutoeveryonewhoiscontributingto

our children’s future.

Mark Dahlstrom PARENT COUNCIL CHAIR

PA R E N T C O U N C I L

Caleb BuckleyAdministration Representative

MarkDahlstromChairperson

SuzanneScirpoFaculty Representative

MelissaSeiboldEd Foundation Representative/Development

C L A S S R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S

Joshua SandstromSweet Pea Kindergarten/Technology Committee

Christina RosmarinRose Kindergarten/Parent Ed Committee

DawnPowdrillLavender Kindergarten/Parent Ed Committee

Benjie Wallis1st Grade/Volunteer Committee

Jennifer Sheffield2nd Grade/PC Fundraising Committee

LauraWilson 3rd Grade/Co-PC Fundraising Committee

CarrieMonohan4th Grade/Secretary

LisaGorbet5th Grade/Hospitality Committee

MakioTerrell6th Grade/Sports Program Committee

Catherine Janicke7th Grade/Treasurer

VeronicaMorales 8th Grade/Festivals & Sports Program Committee

& Co-Chairperson

Our school’s spirit was evident in many ways during the 2011-2012 school year.

The Educational Foundation (EF) had agreatpresenceattheNevadaCounty

Fair with a successful Treat Street “slushie booth.” The MoondanceCommunity

Celebration&Auction was a tremendous success, raising over $30,000 to

support our faculty and curriculum priorities. Our Annual Fund Drive received

$100,000 in pledges, allowing us to add and continue many specialty programs

in addition to maintaining our excellent Waldorf curriculum.

The commitment of our school community is exceptional, even in these

economically challenging times.

The Educational Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for YRCS’s needs as

set forth by the YRCS Board of Directors. The EF holds deep gratitude for our

supportive community. Together we continue to strive in keeping the dreams for

our school alive and healthy.

As an instrument for the YRCS community fundraising efforts, the EF endeavors

to inspire each family and community member to contribute to the school

in a mutually sustainable way. The fundraising successes of the Educational

Foundation demonstrate the giving spirit of the Yuba River Charter School

community. Your participation, contributions and support are always welcome.

Please join us in growing our school.

Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportandenthusiasm.

James Robinson EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARD PRESIDENT

E D U C AT I O N A L F O U N D AT I O N

NicholsBaughmanParent Representative

Caleb BuckleyDirector

SusanEganBusiness Manager

AdrianaKellyParent Representative

HeatherPeeryFaculty Representative

DeniseReynoldsChief Financial Officer/Treasurer

James RobinsonChairman/Community Representative

MelissaSeiboldAdministration & Development Representative

TimSmithParent Representative

ElizabethSoderstromParent Representative

Robert WallisBoard of Director Representative

6

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 7

E F F I N A N C E S 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

Income & ExpensesJULY 1, 2011 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2012

Beginning Fund Balance $9,284

Revenue2012-13 Annual Fund Drive $65,8812011-12 Annual Fund Drive $25,350Capital Campaign $2,336Moondance Auction $40,171Cellos, Concerts, Fair Booth, “Vic. X-mas” $26,932Playground Funds $5,268Interest Income $32TOTALREVENUE $165,970

ExpensesMoniesTransferredtoYRCS2012-13 Annual Fund Drive $1,7002011-12 Annual Fund Drive $19,930Moondance Auction (excluding Global Auction) $19,075Other Event Income $8,783Playground Equipment Purchases $4,562Capital Campaign $1,739Computer & Cellos Purchases $4,995

OtherExpensesFund Drive Expenses $2,183Moondance Auction Expenses $11,892Expenses for Other Events $10,639Accounting/Tax Preparation $3,508Video Production & Donor Presentation $4,919General Operating Expenses $1,988TOTALEXPENSES $95,913

NETREVENUE $70,057

ENDINGFUNDBALANCE $79,341

Components of Ending Fund Balance(Less) Pending Transfers to YRCS $71,673(Less) Restricted Funds – Playground Equip, Cellos, Agriculture $4,168Cash on Hand $3,500

TOTALENDINGFUNDBALANCE $79,341

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-128

Hanna Ziesel & Logan EdwardsSandra Saettone-Fleisher & James FleisherSunshine FowlerJulie Franklin & Mark FollansbeePJ Kolackovsky & Letitia CaseyNikiya Schwarz & Kevin PachmanShannon Rojko & Steven SearlsShirlene StewartSuean StewartAlicia Lacoste & Eric SturgeonIndira Basnet & Bishnu SubediErin & Stan Thomas-RoseHeather PeeryRebeca GreenKeith WalleyShannon & Ed WelchOak & Naomi McCannAya & Shahar CaspiHillary Ellis-LavigneAndreea Federspiel-OteleaAmy & Shane FranssenShannon FredericksonPaul FredericksonSarah & Jacob GriscomSteve SchommerKimberly LombardCrispian MuddDenise Reynolds & Brad ReynoldsLaura O’BrienTim SmithCindy Zuelsdorf & Gary UptonShannon & Mark BeckerRoger BlairThea BlairRachel NobelRobyn CaywoodKeri & Mark DahlstromChelsea Deen & Zach BaumSally & Gary GardnerMeg GallantManuela Mulsolf & Philip MasonCarrie & Keith MonohanGrazia & Evangelos MoschovasRebecca & Richard Myers

Alexis BlairCeleste & Bobby DempseyJeffrey Kenney & Amanda NoakesRenee Marshall & David SwansonSusan Perko & Robin MillerAmber HillAnya Tuton & Ian ChildsJessica & Pat DrudingMarisha & Theodore FinklerJoleen & Jason GiulianiJudy & Cam GriffinElizabeth & Barry HusebyKim & Jeff MeesLore & Pascal Ross-GlennElizabeth Soderstrom & Steve RothertDawn Powdrill & Nathan SteinbacherLisa Reinhardt & Shawn BlueCarly BrushSheryl Brown & Gerald DionJennifer & Michael HaneSasha & Trevor HughesKevin IdeCarlyle & Christopher MillerChristina & Seth RosmarinTatiana VaturyKaren Wahl & John InmanAmrita O’LearyRobert GodarMichelle & Scott McIntoshKarin MeadowsMelody & Stanley WojcikJennifer SimpsonTyler & Christine HarrellJessica & Bruce MairsRachel & Dylan McConnellJulia Alperovich & Stefano PetrizzoRion SayAngela & Jeffrey WilliamsMatt WilliamsMeri Knadjian & Estevan AbilaBarbara Lowell & Paul BarbieriKimberley & Mike CarvilleAmy & Bryan CassidyMelissa Seibold & Courtney Cook

Darryl QuinnKatrina Schneider & Gary ReedyAnna & Matthew ReischmanMariana Nielsen & Fred TiltonSarah & Matthew Wilson-DaleyJenny GrayAnnette Fuchs & Sean DugganMark GoehringJulie HunnSavannah HansonCathy & Doug HarmonLisa Gorbet & Joe HashAndi & Graham KrauseJon LeeKim Iverson-LeeCasey & Thomas McCormickLorrie Valvo & Bill ParksMichael RiceKiya & Temoc RiosJulie & Tom TempletonKristin & James WelchTrish McPheeGenevieve & Caleb BuckleyJada Faye & Frank ArmstrongKaren Chabot & Danny AvilaRebecca Bleau & Nicholas CravottaDanelle Hadley & Poyom RilesHeather & Eric JacobsenMark JanzarukBetsey LeachJennifer Scott-LiflandJo & Greg PadenBlue ReidAlma & Adam RoweDenyse & Robert ShawSue Willett & Makio TerrellBenjie & Robert WallisSharon & David YonenakaMatt SweigertAnne & Steve BerremanEve StefaniDavid ClouseCarolien Van Straten & Peter CohenCindy & Mark Cooper

A N N U A L F U N D D R I V E D O N O R L I S T

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 9

TheYubaRiverCharterSchoolcommunityoffamilies,grandparents,teachers, staff and friends generously gave financial gifts to support our

schoolduring2011–2012.

OurAnnualFundDrivegarneredpledgesofover$100,000withparentparticipationofover82%.

ThankyouforyoursupportofyourschoolandpublicWaldorfeducation.

Joiex Duncan & Ingo ZirpinsNatalie & Nichols BaughmanAllison & Todd GjertsenMartha ChungKateri & Chuck HarrisonCorine Laurijsen & Joep JilesenBonnie LangJohn KodySara & Jeromy LaurinMary & Ryan LoveCarolyn CraneAdriana KellySparrow MaskerJo Anna & Mark MortensenRaelynn & Matt NoelSuzan LangChris PrimaSusan FerrierMartee & Doug SuessLouise Renehan & Michael SkoylesAndrea & Scott WeeksCatherine JanickeChad YorkBarbara & James Armstrong Adam ZarookianSaron Rice & Gideon BeinstockBJ Schmitt & David BrownsteinDyann & Frank Castro-WehrLaurie ChamberlinColleen & Myles EricsonLaurence & Mark Fogiel

Jilan & Joe GlorfieldElise & Larry HiermanJean Remley & Chris HoflandMark KeelingKarri KnowlesTorrie & Bill MuddLaura SvobodaNancy & Robbert TriceStephen Van ValkenburgJoAn StikesCara RinglandCeihra & Brandon TrippKetut & Michael TaylorKathryn DahlstromCarol HarrisonGrandma MitchellJen SheffieldKira WestlyJustin NapierNatasha & Alfred CominottoMaria DavariJenny & Brian WellsKristi ShankDorothy & Don KleinThea BlairLaura Wilson & Michael RamirezMelinda Saari & Jamie EdgertonKindergartener Piggy BanksKat & Matty O’ConnellJoe FajenKyle Leach

Claudia & William FrisellaTaitha KillionSusan Schreiber & Jerome VerhassaltSusan EganCatherine ArdaghLeila & Michael BarberJerilee & Dan MartinezMike & Jean CaseyRuth CaldwellDouglas & LaVerne LeachG.E. & Margaret GoehringFred ForsmanKaren GeilserKrissa ConnelleyLeslie & Mark McCartneyShana MaziarzDon & Penny TerrellLouis & Priscilla YablonDonna McGlaughlin & Rodney HaackMichelle Carroll & Robert WolaverMary WolaverGerald & Joyce DionJohana GarrisonPatricia & James RiceLinda & Thomas CoxSi & Shirley ReedyCarrie ReutherDoris RainvilleDoris DunningRonald McGarryMarguerite Vulfs

cooperation

strength

success

505 Main StreetNevada City, CA 95959

PHONE 530.265.6060

FAX 530.265.6070

info@yubariverschool.org

yubariverschool.org