Pinnacles Newsletter: May 2021
A Note from Jill
Happy May, Everyone!
As some of you may know, we’ve launched our spring fundraising campaign to raise 50K to transform our “Great Hall” into 3 learning studios!
Recently, someone asked me, “If you are a charter public school, why are trying to raise 50K?”
Charter Public schools in WA State don’t have access to any Bond or Levy dollars. The Washington State Charter Schools Association estimates the funding disparity amounts to between $1,000 and $3,000 per student, depending on the school district. While our parents and teachers pay local taxes, our scholars will have no access to this funding.
In exchange for greater autonomy and flexibility, Pinnacles Prep is held to a high standard of accountability. This creates urgency for us to be fully enrolled, hire and pay great teachers that will close gaps for our scholars, and fundraise.
This year, the WA House Appropriations Committee had voted in favor of an amendment that added the full $1,550 per student in levy equalization funding to its version of the state operating budget. However, heading into the final days of the session, any provisions were stripped out of the final version put forward by House and Senate budget negotiators.
We hope in the future that WA state becomes a leader of equitable funding of charter public schools so that we don’t have to run a Gofundme campaign. In the meantime, we will continue to do the work that we said we would do and create an amazing space for our scholars. We will continue to advocate and also ask our amazing community to give at any level, so that we can do the work of re-imagining education in our valley.
With gratitude,
Jill
Upcoming May Events
Click on the event for full information!
Volunteer Opportunities
As you all know, Pinnacles Prep will be opening our doors this Fall! Along the way, we will need help with a variety of activities and jobs such as painting our new classrooms, assembling tables and desks for our students, cleaning up the landscaping around campus, and plenty more!
We welcome volunteers who are excited about our mission and want to contribute their time and skills. As well, once we open there will be many opportunities to get involved in our school community. Just fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to get started.
Spring Fundraising Campaign
This month, we’re stoked to kick-off our Spring fundraising campaign to support our vision of transforming the current social hall space into our Great Hall! Hear Jill Fineis, Principal of Pinnacles Prep, and her passion for our community. Listen to the amazing plans she has for the Pinnacles students. Consider donating to help her reimagine the learning process while remaining a free, public charter school choice for all. Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to our school. Visit our Go Fund Me page for more information.
Community-Based Summer Activities for Scholars
Focal Point services are offering all enrolled Pinnacles Prep students a free assessment valued at $100 dollars. Contact Melisa Tigard for more information at info@focalpointwenatchee.com. You can also find a list of other community summer activities on her website, here.
EPIC Shout Outs
Every week we shout out someone who exemplifies our Core Values- Equity, Perseverance, Inquiry, or Collaboration. Here are the amazing folks we appreciated in May! We love and appreciate all you do for our community!
Miguel and Octavio for COLLABORATION in their hard work helping us paint and transform our buildings! Miguel and Octavio, YOU ROCK!
Jabali Sawicki of nXu Education for INQUIRY-- leading our purpose workshops for students and families. Jabali, you ROCK!