This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Pioneering Novato Charter School Proving It's a Survivor

Despite tough economic times, this school of choice is thriving and nearing an important milestone.

The future looks especially bright for Novato’s only public charter school.

Next month, the board is set to vote to keep in session by renewing its charter for another five years. It will be the school’s third charter renewal since its doors opened in 1996.

“We’re in the crème de la crème category of charter schools because we aren’t a start-up anymore,” said Novato Charter School Director Rachael Bishop. “After 15 years, we are established. We have strong data and strong systems.”

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school, located on C Street in Hamilton, serves kindergarten through eighth grade and admission is lottery-based. The school was founded by a group of parents who were seeking an alternative to the district’s education options.

“Our teaching methods are Waldorf-inspired,” Bishop said. “We have an integrated arts program and we take a developmental approach to meeting the needs of our students.”

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Novato Charter School was a pioneer in California, counted among the state’s first 100 approved charter schools, made possible by legislation passed in 1992. Of those first 100 schools, 68 are still active today, according to the California Department of Education.

Bishop and other school leaders have spent the past several months revising and updating their governing documents to meet current laws and educational practices. It was a painstaking process that resulted in a 1,000-page charter renewal proposal, which Bishop formally presented to the school board last week.

“Our attorneys have already gone back and forth with the district’s attorneys to review the document, and there are no material changes to the charter this time around,” Bishop said. That means the school won’t have to meet any new conditions to maintain its charter.

In all, there are 911 charter schools operating in California today. Bishop said they are judged largely in two areas: fiscal management and student performance.  

“We are exemplary in both. As a whole, our students are performing in the top 10% of all public school students in California, as measured by state standardized tests. Our fiscal systems are stellar and fine-tuned,” Bishop said.

“We are very proud of the work that the Novato Charter School is doing,” said school board trustee Tom Cooper. “It’s one more example of offering Novato's students another opportunity for learning.”

Bishop attributes the school’s success to the faculty and staff, leadership team and parent community. “The big difference here is we’ve built a community and culture based on shared values and a shared vision. That’s what I see as slipping away in public education.”

You can’t overlook Bishop’s role in this successful formula. She is a fixture at the school, having served as director for 14 years.  

“Ms. Bishop guides the ship with professionalism and with the children in mind. I feel so fortunate to have my children there,” said Kristen Addicks, a mom of a first- and fifth-grader.

Addicks raves about the programs offered by the school. “We love the organic gardening, music, knitting, environmental programs and performing opportunities,” she said.

When parent Marny Sumrall toured the school a couple of years ago before enrolling her son, she too was impressed by the well-rounded curriculum. But she didn’t realize the school was pulling it off with less per-student funding than other district schools.

“That puts additional pressure on fundraising and budgeting,” she said.

Novato Charter School is one of the lowest-funded schools in Marin County. Bishop said the only public funding the school receives is $5,200 per student from the state. The rest must come from fundraising efforts of the Novato Charter School Foundation, a nonprofit run by parent volunteers. The fundraising goal for 2010-11 is $350,000.

Despite the severe economic downturn, the school just took a gigantic step toward reaching this year’s goal. The final tally isn’t in yet, but Bishop said the annual Enchanted Garden dinner and auction event grossed more than $130,000, beating the $90,000 goal.  

“It’s the most successful fundraiser to date, and keep in mind this is a school of 243 students," she said. "We far exceeded our expectations."

There will be a public hearing about the charter school's renewal bid at the school board meeting at 7 p.m.  May 3 at the , 1015 7th St. in Novato. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?