Charter school building fund balance

TOWER—With student numbers trending upwards and with the successful launch of a senior dining program, the financial situation at the Vermilion Country charter school in Tower is stable and growing.

Like many new charter schools, Vermilion Country struggled with cash flow its first two years, but after the school finished its second year with a nearly $45,000 budget surplus, the situation has improved markedly, according to the school’s most recent audit. The improved finances allowed the school to repay its line of credit in its entirety earlier this year and the school’s business manager forecasts continued positive numbers in the current school year.

While student numbers came in lower than expected in September, there’s been a slow but steady increase in numbers ever since, and that’s meant a steady improvement in the school’s projected surplus for the current school year. Enrollment, which began the year at 43 students, is now up to 49.

The school’s outstanding food program, overseen by Cindy Pettinelli, is another bright spot, both with students and with seniors in the Tower-Soudan area. The school launched its senior dining program in October and turnout has been strong nearly from the beginning, with as many as 30 seniors being served on some days.

That’s helped to cover some of the cost of maintaining a full in-school food service program with real home-style cooking. The senior dining program was one of the initiatives that school founders had stressed from the beginning and the program has proved a popular addition, both with students and with seniors. The program is actually open to all adults in the community, with all registered adults 60 and older, or married to someone over 60) receive a modest subsidy through the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.

Robotics fundraisers

The school’s robotics team, gearing up for this winter’s FIRST Robotics Tournament in Duluth, is on track to raise $10,000 for this year’s program. The group has already earned a grant to fund the $5,000 entry fee, and is now raising funds for their other supplies and expenses for the three-day event where students travel to Duluth.

Students organized a “Penny War,” and every staff member at the school agreed to participate. The staff member with the largest amount of donations in their bucket agreed to be duct-taped to a pole. The top three agreed to have whipped cream pies thrown at them (for an additional donation of $2 each), including the staff member still taped to the pole. On Friday, Dec. 18, the last day of school before winter break, students celebrated the successful end to the fundraiser by taping school administrator Kevin Fitton to a pole, and then slathering Fitton, along with staff members Andrew Workman and Mandy Northrup with cream pies. The club also sponsored the Tower Craft Show on Dec. 12, and a pancake breakfast on Dec. 20.