Putting Down Roots
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A Case for Leelanau Montessori:
A brief overview of the situation today
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy (LMPSA) has been serving elementary and preschool students in Leelanau County for over 30 years. Over that time, countless former students have gone on to various local high schools and achieved Valedictorian and Salutatorian status, and continued on to excel in college, and in life.
But more importantly, and at the other end of the spectrum, some students who were deemed troubled and difficult to teach have also found a home at LMPSA. Ultimately, these students also flourished under the Maria Montessori teaching methodology. Because of the blended ages classroom environment, Montessori has proven to be a very successful technique by engaging children in learning at their own pace, and by using teaching exercises public schools do not offer. And surprisingly, Leelanau Montessori serves a higher percentage of low-income families than almost any other school in the entire area.
Today, Leelanau Montessori finds itself in a unique situation. A long-term Charter School Agreement has recently been awarded to LMPSA by Bay Mills Community College. Also, the opportunity has arisen to purchase our own building, and it is one with plenty of space to grow the school well into the future. A purchase agreement has been signed on the basis that we will be able to raise the necessary funds, and detailed architectural drawings have been produced for the necessary remodeling of the building and grounds. The building is near the village of Lake Leelanau (The Connie Binsfeld Resource Center) and is centrally located within the County to provide convenient access and easy transportation for families to bring students from the entire area.
A 501C(3) Non-profit organization has recently been formed and a Capital Campaign has been initiated in order to provide funding for the building purchase and also the modifications required to meet State public school building specifications. The bottom line is this– $1.2 million will be needed for the new LMPSA home. The plan is to open the new school in the fall of 2018, so the time is now to raise the funding.
Charter schools in Michigan receive no capital funding and we cannot raise mils like school districts to purchase a new facility. All operating resources come from the State of Michigan on a per-student basis. So, we need your help. We are reaching out to the local community and beyond to make our dream a reality. For the first time in the history of the school we can own our space and create a beautiful Montessori learning environment for our students.
The purchase of this property will assure the future of LMPSA. It will also ensure that a tuition-free Montessori elementary education will be open to each and every family who desires one for their children. We are hopeful that everyone who believes Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy is an important educational asset will step up and donate to our cause.
But time is running out. To be able to meet our Fall 2018 completion deadline we need your help today. Please contact Elizabeth Channer at Leelanau Montessori (231-271-8609) to learn more about how your generosity will enable generations of children to benefit from Leelanau Montessori. With your financial support we can make this uniquely amazing public school an educational option for all area children and families for many, many years to come.
Thank you for your generous support!
A brief overview of the situation today
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy (LMPSA) has been serving elementary and preschool students in Leelanau County for over 30 years. Over that time, countless former students have gone on to various local high schools and achieved Valedictorian and Salutatorian status, and continued on to excel in college, and in life.
But more importantly, and at the other end of the spectrum, some students who were deemed troubled and difficult to teach have also found a home at LMPSA. Ultimately, these students also flourished under the Maria Montessori teaching methodology. Because of the blended ages classroom environment, Montessori has proven to be a very successful technique by engaging children in learning at their own pace, and by using teaching exercises public schools do not offer. And surprisingly, Leelanau Montessori serves a higher percentage of low-income families than almost any other school in the entire area.
Today, Leelanau Montessori finds itself in a unique situation. A long-term Charter School Agreement has recently been awarded to LMPSA by Bay Mills Community College. Also, the opportunity has arisen to purchase our own building, and it is one with plenty of space to grow the school well into the future. A purchase agreement has been signed on the basis that we will be able to raise the necessary funds, and detailed architectural drawings have been produced for the necessary remodeling of the building and grounds. The building is near the village of Lake Leelanau (The Connie Binsfeld Resource Center) and is centrally located within the County to provide convenient access and easy transportation for families to bring students from the entire area.
A 501C(3) Non-profit organization has recently been formed and a Capital Campaign has been initiated in order to provide funding for the building purchase and also the modifications required to meet State public school building specifications. The bottom line is this– $1.2 million will be needed for the new LMPSA home. The plan is to open the new school in the fall of 2018, so the time is now to raise the funding.
Charter schools in Michigan receive no capital funding and we cannot raise mils like school districts to purchase a new facility. All operating resources come from the State of Michigan on a per-student basis. So, we need your help. We are reaching out to the local community and beyond to make our dream a reality. For the first time in the history of the school we can own our space and create a beautiful Montessori learning environment for our students.
The purchase of this property will assure the future of LMPSA. It will also ensure that a tuition-free Montessori elementary education will be open to each and every family who desires one for their children. We are hopeful that everyone who believes Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy is an important educational asset will step up and donate to our cause.
But time is running out. To be able to meet our Fall 2018 completion deadline we need your help today. Please contact Elizabeth Channer at Leelanau Montessori (231-271-8609) to learn more about how your generosity will enable generations of children to benefit from Leelanau Montessori. With your financial support we can make this uniquely amazing public school an educational option for all area children and families for many, many years to come.
Thank you for your generous support!
Organiser and beneficiary
Leelanau Montessori
Organiser
Lake Leelanau, MI
Beth Bassett
Beneficiary
