HANDOUT #1 05-08-2006
TO: Lori Johnson - Elk River City Administrator
Elk River City Council
Mayqr Stephanie Klinzing
jf~.~ ,5~ft:
MAY 032006 ~
BOYS & GIRLS CWB
FROM: Duane Howard - Executive Director
RE: Charter School information - and request to visit with Council
Date: May 1,2006
Of Elk River Inc.
First, thank you for all your support to the Boys and Girls Club. We are continuing to serve
kids with traditional well received programs and activities at the Club, but are also adding
new curriculum offerings. We are open until 8:00, every other Friday night, and are adding
more curriculum pieces relating to setting goals and workforce career planning. Youth are
learning how to be good future employees in these new programs. We also spoke to Bill
Maertz and presented a proposal in which the Club would give the city free gym for Executive Director
community kids, both during the day and after school into the night. The Club offered to pay
ff ~ tho d k d Mr M if th. . h d taff al . thi Duane Howard
one sta lor IS, an as e . aertz e CIty WIS e to pay one s so III S Executive Director
partnership offree gym space. Our thinking is that if the gym is empty at various times, we Email: howardd@sherbtel.net
would feel good tfthe city wanted this air conditioned. space during the summet~ especially.
Boys & Girls Club
Of Elk River Inc.
905 6th Street
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-5000
Fax: 763-274-2197
The purpose of this update is to give you the latest on a Charter School proposal that would be
located at the Club building. This similar plan was approved by the city council and
department heads about a year and half ago. That plan was presented by a smaller group of
charter school parents at th~t time, and didn't quite take off. A charter school in Rogers, has
now expanded into a high school charter school that wishes to start up in Elk River. Both
their board and the Club board have approved this partnership. It makes a good partnership,
because instead of having our building empty until 2:00 most days, it would be bustling with
activity, and many kids would stay for after school activity as well. We are working on a two
year lease, maybe an option for three years, then they would like to build in Elk River area, as
they would outgrow the Club. They would start with about 68 high school youth, around the
middle of August this year. We may have to create one or two additional classrooms in the
end of the game room with sound proof dividers. The building capacity is rated at 581, but we
believe approximately 120 students would be a maximum capacity for this purpose. Both the
Club and the school carry insurance. The Club would be the renter, receiving about 1200 per
student per year, or around $70,000 in rental for the year. This partnership may also help us
serve more community youth. We would have a state school facilities expert examine the
building also, and ensure that the Club meets public compliance requirements in all aspects.
Attorneys would help us create a specific lease. The charter School would have their food
catered to the Club.
Their school day is the same schedule as Elk River, so at the time their day ends, after school
Club activities would begin on the same schedule as now. The charter school has begun work
with the zoning and planning commission, and their evaluations should be ready. A charter
school is a public school, with a major difference that schools can levy for new buildings, but
charter schools can only receive rent revenue from the state, which would transfer the Club.
Both a charter school representative and myself, would like to come to your council meeting
to give you an update of information, and to be available for questions. We hope this can be~
arranged as soon as possible.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, ~/ _ . /J
~~~
Duane Howard - Execu 've Director ,
The Positive Place For Kids
o A United Way Agen~;