First off I would like to apologize for my absence over the last week.  We went on an unplanned trip to Denver, then went through Vegas and Reno on the way home.  We all had fun but are very happy to be back in our own beds.  With that said I will get on with the business side of things. 

We had our first meeting on Thursday June 28th.  We were lucky enough to have Mary Northern there who is the founder of P.I.E. which runs Sand Ridge and Sweet Home Charter Schools.  She is a great resource for us to have and gave us some very helpful advice. I am hoping that everyone understands what a charter school is and how it works.  If you do not, please feel free to e-mail me.  Our focus for Albany will be to have small class sizes (20 kids per class), lots of staff (1 teacher and 1 assistant per class), have education tailored to each child's needs, strong parental involvement, and a complete balanced education.  These of course are just a few of the core ideas we will build upon. 

So after our meeting, (which you can find the powerpoint to here: www.albanycharterschool.blogspot.com )  We have come up with our plan of action. 

1. Spread the word-tell everyone you know that there is a charter school coming to Albany.  Emphasize that it is a different choice and that it is free of charge.  Encourage them to join the email list. 
2.  Find an established non-profit that would be willing to take us on instead of establishing our own. 
3.  Research locations. 

So my update on the plan of action:
-I have had some flyers printed at a reduced charge from minuteman press that are available to handout at public events.  Please contact me if you would like some. 
-I have begun researching other charter schools to see if one would align with our ideas.  I am still working on Mary Northern to take us on, as that would be the most logical fit. The next best match that I can find is Kings Valley Charter School outside of Philomath. I have left messages for King's Valley but may need to try a different contact.  I am not convinced this is the best idea yet.      
-Marsha and I visited Fir Grove school this morning and were very impressed.  It is a school that has been closed due to budget cuts, and is vacant.  It would be a wonderful fit for us if we can convince the district office to allow us to use it.  There are 9 very large classrooms, as well as some space that could be modified slightly to accommodate a 10th classroom.  The property is large and beautiful and has a country feel.  The negatives are that it is out of town, and the overflow parking may not be ideal. 
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What can you do????
1.  Spread the word!  Pick up flyers from me and pass out at events.  Tell people in your circle of friends, church groups, and jobs about what we are trying to accomplish.  
2.  Fill our a parent survey found here: http://www.filedropper.com/parentsurvey  You can either wait for a meeting to turn it on or you can mail it to me at 530 1st ave e albany oregon 97321
3.  Come to a meeting that I am working on scheduling. :)
4.  Write an intent to enroll letter that we can submit with our proposal to the school board.  You can find a template here: http://www.filedropper.com/intenttoenroll
5.  Learn about charter schools!

PLEASE feel free to contact me with any questions, input, or concerns.  I want this project to be something that we as parents can do together, to make a difference in the lives of kids for a long time to come.

 Jennifer Cummins                       
541-974-1486 call or text
albanykidsfirst@gmail.com
Facebook: Albany Oregon charter school
http://albanycharterschool.blogspot.com

WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED BECAUSE WE'RE CRAZY ENOUGH TO THINK WE CAN!