Press Release: Pinnacles Prep Initiates Transformation of the Community Center as New Director of Operations Assumes the Campus Keys
Wenatchee, WA – On January 1st, 2021, Pinnacles Prep began managing the Community Center Campus at 504 S. Mission St. The charter public school entered a lease agreement with the City of Wenatchee to manage the campus for five, six year terms.
According to Dave Erickson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services for the City of Wenatchee, “The Wenatchee Community Center was established in 2006 to unite the community by embracing cultures, families and individuals through collaboration, assistance and support.
“After Chelan Douglas Community Action terminated the management agreement with the City for the Center at the end of 2019, the City undertook six-month long Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. It was emailed directly to a list of 27 CDBG eligible entities provided by the Community Development Department, provided to current lessees, advertised in the Wenatchee World, posted on the City website, announced on radio stations, posted at the Public Services Center and also on social media.
“From this process and a subsequent presentation, Pinnacles Prep was recommended for approval by the Arts, Recreation and Parks Commission and selected by the City Council as the most qualified organization to operate the Center and meet the goals and objectives of the City.
“The City is looking forward to the new life and function Pinnacles will bring to the Center now and into the future.”
Pinnacles Prep is the first charter public school in the area and will open its doors in the fall of 2021 to 6th and 7th graders. As all charter schools in Washington State, Pinnacles is free and open to any age qualifying student in Washington State.
The Pinnacles Prep Leadership Team envisions an educational hub that creates a safe learning space embedded in the South Wenatchee Neighborhood. Partnering with existing efforts, Pinnacles Prep is developing a public charter school option that celebrates teaching and learning and produces curious, creative, and critical thinking students. Addressing persistent achievement gaps, a cornerstone of our charter school is a commitment to ensure all students have an opportunity to benefit from relevant and rigorous coursework. We expect that 100% of students will be prepared to thrive in post-secondary settings.
“We hope that by creating an educational hub in the South Wenatchee neighborhood and business community we’ll be able to bridge cultural gaps and engage a wider community to elevate education as a cornerstone to a healthy economy and inclusive vibrant culture,” states Jill Fineis, Founding Principal. “We are partnering with a myriad of mission aligned organizations to provide authentic place based opportunities both during the school day for our students and the community during non-operating hours.”
Pinnacles is thrilled to have Sean Koester back in the Wenatchee Valley as our Director of Operations. Sean has been living in New York for the past 3 years serving as a project manager in the engineering department of the City of Kingston. Previously, Sean worked for Cascade Fisheries heading up the education department and managing salmon habitat restoration projects. Sean also served on the City of Wenatchee Arts, Recreation, and Parks Commission, the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council, and was very active with Chelan-Douglas CASA.
Sean says, “I am thrilled to be back in the Wenatchee Valley. This is my hometown, and I am excited to be a part of this ambitious effort that will cultivate our community’s future leaders and innovators.”
Renovations to the facility at 504 South Chelan Avenue are expected to begin in early 2021 and will include improvements to the Social Hall, Rectory, and Veterans Hall to create classrooms and administrative offices as well as a cafeteria and kitchen for the school.
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Link for more information on remodel plans for the Community Center Campus.