Exclusive: Charter School Blames Parents

Yesterday, the Parents' Coalition posted the press release from MCPS announcing that the one and only public charter school in the county would be closing.  Today we bring you the statement that some charter school parents received yesterday.  This statement says that MCPS was involved in the decision to close the school through "a series of informal discussions."   The statement also places much of the blame on the closing of the school on the public school parents. 

The public school parents at this school were never part of the funding model as presented by Crossway's director to the Board of Education or the County Council!  Why are the public school parents now being blamed? 

Note that this statement refers to the Crossway Board.  The public charter school was to be run by its own board, not the Crossway board. From this letter it is confirmed that the public charter school never did have a board as required by its charter agreement with MCPS.

STATEMENT ON COMMUNITY MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL 

After a series of informal discussions with representatives of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the Board of Directors of Crossway Community, Inc. has concluded that Crossway will be unable to continue absorbing the growing operating deficit of the Community Montessori Charter School (CMCS) and, accordingly, has decided to terminate its Charter School Agreement and has adopted a plan of dissolution to close CMCS effective the end of the current 2013-2014 school year, that is, June 13, 2014. 

It is with deep regret that the Board took such action.  However, the Board felt that there was no other choice because the anticipated levels of revenue for CMCS were not achieved, and following a close review, it was determined that there was not a realistic chance of reaching such levels in the near term.  The shortfall was attributable to two factors. First, under the Charter School Agreement, MCPS provided funding for income eligible students who were 4-years-old by September 1 and for students who were 5-years-old by September 1.  CMCS opened last year for 3 and 4- year - olds.  As a result, during the first year of operation (SY 12-13), only those children who reached 4 years of age by September 1, 2012 and met income-eligibility guidelines received public funding for their tuition.  All other enrolled children received a full-tuition scholarship from Crossway Community to attend CMCS.  For SY 2013-2014, CMCS was expanded to include 5-year olds. Although, the school had a mixed-age classroom of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, in keeping with the Montessori educational model, public funding was available only for the income eligible 4-year-olds and those 5-year-olds whose birthdays were on or before September 1.  Such public funding covered only [37%] of CMCS's operating costs.  The remaining [63%] had to be borne by CMCS and its families. 

The second factor was that a greater level of financial support from CMCS families was anticipated.  Despite some efforts to achieve a higher level of voluntary support and the generous response from some families, our operating expenses consistency exceed the revenue of CMCS.  Crossway Community will negotiate with MCPS an arrangement for the repayment of any monies due.  

This has been an agonizing experience for everyone but I want to reassure our families and the general community that all other related Crossway Community operations and functions - Crossway Community Montessori Children's House (CCMCH), the Family Leadership Academy, the Crossway Community Center, and the Intergenerational Learing Center -- will continue uninterrupted.  CCMCH will continue operations as it had for 22 years before the creation of CMCS; as a private, non-profit organization.  The primary source of revenue for CCMCH will be tuition payments from our families.  The tuition schedule for 2014-2015 will remain the same as it was for 2013-2014.  In keeping with the school's long-term plan, a lower elementary class will open for the 2014-2015 school year.  It is the long-term plan to add a grade each year thereafter until third grade. 

I know this announcement may come as an unwelcome surprise to some families.  I will be happy to answer any questions parents might have at an information meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2014, from 6-7 p.m. in our Community Room here at Crossway.  Please call Lauren Cooper at 301-929-2505 to make plans to attend.   

I look forward to working with all of you to plan a successful transition for your family as we continue to work toward "learning, community, and creativity for all families." 

Kathleen Guinan
CEO/President, Crossway Community, Inc.