We are excited to announce that we have officially launched our Annual Campaign for OVWS. This is a thrilling time for the school as we witness our little learners demonstrate what resiliency and optimism looks like despite the new context we all find ourselves in. The children are invigorated to be together, are learning and actively engaged with one another, their teachers and the natural world around them. The dynamics of operating a school with multiple programs and campuses in the time of COVID is forcing us to confront some very challenging realities. Many of those realities are directly impacting the financial health of our organization. Specifically, in order to ensure that all members of our community are as safe as possible, we reduced class sizes and enrollment. This step enables us to provide our students and teachers with enough space to allow for physical distancing inside the buildings and out. We also spent money on modifying our facilities to accommodate outdoor learning (brrrr!) through the construction of semi permanent classrooms.
The compounded result of lower tuition income and increased expense has, as can be expected, forced us to eat heavily into our reserves from the Payroll Protection Loan we obtained during the Spring lockdown. We are forecasting a budget deficit of approximately $240,000 for the school year ending in June. Every year we extend a hand to our community of friends and family to help support OVWS and this year, while the ask is greater, we are doing the same. But we are not stopping there! We are presently seeking financial support from the State of Vermont and are researching grant opportunities from private and public Foundations that support organizations like ours.
Looking forward, the Board believes that if we can overcome this year’s funding shortfall amidst the COVID pandemic, then we will be in a position to move forward with intention and sustainability. The rise in interest in Vermont is very real, as new families move to the state everyday. Orchard Valley is a unique organization amongst the other educational options for families that live in the surrounding counties. We believe our model - of supporting families regardless of financial means, of supporting teachers and staff with a liveable wage and of utilizing our precious campuses to maximize appreciation and knowledge of the land - will differentiate OVWS and attract new families to our community.
It is critical that in this unprecedented time, members of our community come together and support the school by making a donation before the end of the year. We need to secure the present of OVWS, while also developing a sustainable financial model for the future. This model is based on the core tenets of what launched OVWS from the very beginning. At the same time, we also must ensure that we can continue to invest in the programs and services of the future to serve the core needs and values of our growing community. We look forward to doing this with you and with your support, will embark on a path of growth and financial stability for years to come.
With much gratitude and respect,
The Board of Trustees
