Dear FCCS Families,
As a board, it is our goal to communicate proactively and honestly with our membership. As such, we have important news to share about our future funding. Working with our administrators, FCPS and other county charter schools, we are beginning to understand the impact of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and how it will change (i.e. decrease) the operational funding for charter schools. We are still at the beginning of these conversations, however we are committed to asking difficult, but fair questions; sound financial practices; and operating in a capacity that ensures the longevity of FCCS, Inc.
The BOT believes that working collaboratively with our community stakeholders, including FCPS, will allow us to navigate these next few years. As we learn more, we will share information with our community.
Finally, we believe now is an important time to either educate or remind our families about recent legislation that could have changed the way charter schools receive facility funding and would have greatly benefited our scholars. As a public charter school, we primarily rely on the Per Pupil Allocation (PPA) from FCPS to operate. Unlike traditional public schools, Maryland charter schools do not receive separate funding for facilities, which means that operating expenses related to our facility, maintenance/repairs and capital expenses are derived from the same pool of funds that allow us to employ our staff, purchase educational materials, and support our scholars. While there was some support from legislators, the bill ultimately did not pass. We hope to see local and statewide advocacy efforts bring this bill to life again. If you're interested in advocacy, please email advocacy@frederickclassicalcharterschool.org, and CC bot@frederickclassicalcharterschool.org.
As always, the Griffin Triangle will be what strengthens us. We, your BOT members, are here to answer questions, listen to ideas and hear your concerns. We encourage you to seek out reputable sources when looking for answers. We ask for your patience and grace, as we work hard to strategize.Together, we are confident that we will be able to navigate an uncertain time.
Yours in service,
The Board of Trustees
Frederick Classical Charter School, Inc.