Building Project
Building Our New School ~ Securing Our Future
Important Documents & Links
YRCS Building Project (38 MB .pdf file)
450 Architects Project Outline
Project Updates & Events
* (6/17/08) The State of California Allocation Board approved and apportioned $8.5 million for YRCS to build a new school facility
* (12/20/12) California Department of Water Resources Stormwater Management Grant for $330,000 awarded to YRCS through American Rivers
* (3/13/13) Department of State Architect approved design and construction plan documents.
* (4/10/13) Nevada County Planning Commission Approved Use Permit, Rezoning and Management Plan for Storm Water Retention Facility (unfortunately the County must re-hold the public meeting scheduled for May 23, 2013)
* (5/8/13) EPA Brownsfield Cleanup Grant for $600,000 awarded to YRCS
To continue the pioneering spirit that has been a hallmark of YRCS, our community is building the first publicly financed Waldorf-inspired charter school facility. The State of California awarded YRCS a $4.25 million grant and $4.25 million low-interest loan funded with Proposition 1D bonds. The additional $1.5 in capital campaign funds we are raising is essential for our building needs. Meeting this goal will allow us to reach beyond state standards to build a campus in which the students will thrive.
The limitations of charter school funding have left Yuba River Charter School with a financial burden that other traditional public schools do not face. Charter schools receive less funding per student than traditional public schools and no annual facility reimbursements. A campus of our own will provide YRCS with financial stability and a sustainable future.
In addition, instructors at Rudolf Steiner College consistently recognize the quality of YRCS teachers, and yet our highly trained faculty members are compensated below market. The monthly mortgage payment for a new facility is projected to be up to $40,000 per year less than our current rent, allowing YRCS the flexibility to increase salaries and reinstate many important discontinued programs.
We are now at a crossroads in our development. Our school is embarking on its first-ever capital campaign, aimed at borrowing and raising $10 million to take a giant leap forward and build a permanent home. With $8.7 million of our funding secured, our school must raise $1.3 million over the next three years to achieve our target. Given our commitment to offering tuition-free education, YRCS relies on philanthropic support to create a magical place for children to learn.
With the generous support of the State of California and the additional funds raised through our capital campaign, YRCS has an extraordinary opportunity to build a permanent home free from risk of increasing rent. Equally important, we can create a home that will better serve the teachers and administrators to whom we have entrusted the care, education, and nurturing of our children. Together, our community can establish a very special legacy for future generations of students, families, and teachers.
View our Capital Campaign Case Statement