Annual Report 2011-12
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.
Caleb Buckley, School Director
If you aren’t a current parent—call us to schedule a visit—we’d love to show you our new temporary home in the heart of Nevada City… and our plans for our permanent one just outside of Grass Valley.
Download 2011-12 Annual Report
Download 2010-2011 Annual Report
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