Facilities
10/5/11
October Update
October 2011
Dear Families:
Thank you for helping make the start of the school year so successful. We are proud to be entering our sixth year with two thriving campuses. We wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with important background information to help you understand how EBI will continue to responsibly manage its growth and finances during this exciting period in our school's development.
The Board of Trustees' most important responsibility is to ensure a solid fiscal foundation to support the school's mission, both today and for the future. To this end, the Board takes a very conservative approach to the school's finances, and focuses on careful spending limited to expenditures that clearly result in increased student learning. As a result, EBI was able to retire its start-up deficit very quickly (in the third year of the school's operation), and has generated an operating reserve for the last three years. It is this reserve that allowed us to invest in our new Emeryville campus. It is a testament to EBI's mission, community and careful financial planning that we have accomplished this while attracting and retaining outstanding faculty, providing over $1.5 million in financial aid, and maintaining a tuition that is 20 percent lower than our peer schools in the East Bay.
Today, while we are contemplating significant investments in our new Emeryville campus, EBI's financial picture is strong. The school has over $1 million in cash in the bank and positive cash flow after servicing the loan on our Emeryville property. Additionally, our partner, Oliver & Company, guarantees the bank loan on our Emeryville property and has invested significant equity in our project.
Our plan for developing the Emeryville campus envisions a phased approach in which we will build out additional space incrementally as our student population grows. The modest Phase 1 development we completed over the summer upgraded the structural integrity of the building and provided classroom space in which our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders are currently thriving. Subsequent phases will create outstanding spaces for additional classes of students, and more information about planning for these phases is forthcoming. There will be opportunities for families to participate in this discussion. The phased approach to developing our facilities allows us to respond quickly to changes in enrollment and avoid investing significant money in advance of our need for additional space.
The current economic situation presents many challenges for independent schools, some of which are struggling to attract and retain students. EBI's unique and innovative approach to education, which combines the International Baccalaureate's internationally esteemed academic program with instruction in Spanish, English and Mandarin, positions us well to continue to attract highly qualified applicants and become the internationally-respected Pre-K through 8th grade school our founders envisioned. We had a waitlist for our kindergarten last year and our PreKinder is full. While these are good indicators that EBI's enrollment is strong and growing, it is important to note that we are not counting on increased enrollment to meet our financial obligations.
This is an exciting time in EBI's growth, as we contemplate building the spaces that will serve our students for the future. The Board of Trustees is carefully managing this process to ensure that our facilities can meet our needs while we continue to lay the foundation of financial integrity that will keep EBI viable for generations. If you have specific questions or would like additional information, please contact Jon Fulk.
Best regards,
Jill Malko Greg Schafer
Board Chair Board Treasurer
Written by: Jon Fulk Permalink
4/1/11
April Update
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES:
FINAL BOARD PRESENTATION OF FACILITIES PLAN - THURSDAY, APRIL 7 AT 8:00 A.M. IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE CAFETERIA.
INFORMATION SESSION TO DISCUSS PLANS MOVING FORWARD AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED - TUESDAY, APRIL 19 AT 7:00 P.M.
Dear EBI Families:
EBI is embarking on the next steps in its plan to purchase and develop the site at 4550 San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville, having recently secured a conditional use permit. The Emeryville facility and our existing St. Augustine facility will serve as dual campuses for EBI starting with the 2011-2012 school year.
The EBI Board of Trustees and Head of School selected this site according to search criteria laid out in 2009. The criteria was carefully identified and applied to locate a site within a two-mile radius of EBI's existing St. Augustine campus that could eventually be developed to meet EBI's long-term goal of creating a permanent, single campus home owned entirely by the school. The plan to purchase the Emeryville site, with financing made possible by a philanthropic venture fund of Oliver and Company Construction, represents an exciting development in the life of our five-year-old school. We are eager to share with you the framework we have put in place for moving forward with this exciting next step in EBI's interim development as a dual-campus school.
The Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees will spearhead EBI's interim development as a dual-campus school via four main subcommittees: Facility Planning, Communications, Transition and School Safety. The Board Finance Committee under the leadership of the Board Treasurer is overseeing finances related to the purchase and build out of the Emeryville site, as well as the continued maintenance and improvements at the St. Augustine campus. Additionally, a Capital Campaign Committee will be formed under the leadership of the Board Chair and Advancement Committee to provide EBI with additional financial support.
FACILITY PLANNING
The facility planning subgroup will be responsible for the ongoing diligence process in assessing the Emeryville site prior to purchase closing, as well as the eventual oversight of the architects and contractors hired to plan and execute the necessary construction at the Emeryville site. This group will also assess the facilities needs of the existing St. Augustine campus and develop the appropriate plan of action for the maintenance and further enhancement of this site.
COMMUNICATIONS
The communications subgroup will be responsible for keeping the school community educated about the ongoing dual-campus development efforts and implementing protocols to ensure the timely, consistent and accurate conveyance of information necessary to keep the school community coherent and informed. This work will include the development of EBI's website and online communications, as well as standardization of both electronic and non-electronic correspondence. Additionally, the group will lead the affirmative outreach effort with neighbors and community partners in proximity to both EBI campus locations and work with key stakeholders, prospective families and the media to ensure that EBI maintains its status as a good and responsive neighbor.
TRANSITION
The transition subgroup will be working directly with EBI families, faculty and staff to ensure that the community's questions and concerns are being gathered, addressed and incorporated into the dual-campus development planning and execution. Additionally, this group will support the plan development by creating strategies and direct opportunities for community engagement in the process.
SCHOOL SAFETY
The school safety subgroup is working to review and develop additional policies and procedures for both campuses to address student and community safety, disaster and emergency preparedness, optimal staff training and community education, as well as outreach. This is part of EBI's ongoing efforts to first and foremost, provide a safe learning environment for our students, faculty, staff, families and visitors. The school safety subcommittee will build on the tremendous efforts and accomplishments of existing EBIPA, board, administrative and faculty groups focusing on a range of issues that include: parking, transit and traffic control; shared space and tenant protocols; campus access; neighborhood safety; earthquake and disaster preparedness; first aid training, as well as health and environmental safety, response and education.
As a school situated in the East Bay, EBI has access to a wide array of cultural, social and natural resources that enhance the educational experience for our students. This also means that EBI must address the environmental challenges common to all schools located in an urban setting, as well as challenges unique to EBI's Northern California location. This includes a range of safety concerns from disaster preparedness to crime prevention. Fortunately, we have historically had the benefit of being able to call upon the area's rich host of resources to tackle these issues. Identifying professionals from inside and outside of the EBI community with the expertise to do this important work is an essential part of the educational philosophy of EBI as an IB school. As EBI moves forward in its growth planning and development, we will continue to draw on these resources to ensure that we are addressing challenges as effectively as possible. Additionally, we ask that you assist in this process by lending your time and talents to the efforts.
The transition subgroup is currently in the process of speaking individually with current second, third and fourth grade parents who will be occupying the Emeryville campus this fall. We will soon be offering an opportunity for PreKinder through First grade parents to also give us feedback.
We would like to invite you to hear more about the plans and learn how you can participate by attending an informational session on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00 P.M. in the St. Augustine cafeteria. There will be childcare available. In the meantime, remember to direct your questions, concerns or comments to Jon. Thank you for your ongoing support of this work, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Jon Fulk Jill Malko
Head of School Chair of the Board of Trustees
Written by: Jon Fulk Permalink
3/10/11
March Facilities Update Letter
Dear Prospective EBI Families:
In January, the Board of Trustees presented an update to EBI's facilities plan, which includes an exciting opportunity to purchase a property that will allow for the long-term expansion of our school. An important part of this process is keeping the community informed as plans solidify and additional information can be made available.
Currently, we continue to perform the appropriate diligence and expect to be able to present more information about the property by April 1. Consistent with the goals identified by the Board, the property is centrally located and within 2 miles of our St. Augustine campus.
While we can't share additional information about the location of the property yet, we are pleased to update you on some of the planning work for our relocation, particularly related to the 2011-12 school year. Assuming that our diligence proceeds as we expect, the plan is to accommodate 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at the new site for the 2011-12 school year. Our initial occupancy of the property will provide outstanding classroom and outdoor play space for these groups. Other students (Pre-K through 2nd grade) would remain at St. Augustine.
You may recall that we are also proceeding with a Plan B to locate modular classrooms at the St. Augustine campus if we are unable to complete the purchase of the new property in time for school to start in the fall. These classrooms, to be located in the existing West parking lot of the St. Augustine campus, would accommodate 3rd through 5th graders, and possibly 2nd graders depending upon final enrollment for this grade.
These facilities developments are exciting for EBI, and we're pleased to be able to share these recent updates with the community. In keeping with our stated plan, we will continue to update you in the coming weeks as plans become more solid. You can expect future updates to be sent to you through e-mail with the subject line of “EBI FACILITIES UPDATE”. We are also in the process of creating a webpage to archive all communications. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jon Fulk.
Sincerely,
Jon Fulk
Head of School
Jill Malko, Chair
EBI Board of Trustees
Written by: Jon Fulk Permalink
1/25/11
January Facilities Plan Letter
Dear EBI Families and Prospective Families:
This is an exciting time at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional! The 2010-2011 academic year is in full swing and demand for our outstanding program is on the rise with almost twice as many applicants this year as last. Since EBI opened its doors only five years ago, we have more than doubled enrollment, and we began this school year with a waiting list for our kindergarten classes.
As the demand for language immersion programs grows, EBI is continuing to position itself as the leading learning community to meet the needs of families seeking the highest caliber, bilingual education for their children. This commitment is most recently evidenced by EBI’s expedited candidacy for full accreditation as an IB (International Baccalaureate) school offering the PYP (Primary Years Program) – a full two years ahead of schedule.
To meet the needs of our current and future students, EBI has created a facilities plan that allows the school to develop the space needed to support and deliver its unique program. While the Board of Trustees continues to refine the plan based on the school’s growth and available properties, we are pleased to share further details with you now.
The plan, as introduced to the community last spring, called for moving our pre-kinder program to a new location for the fall of 2011. We are happy to announce that we are in the final stages of negotiation to acquire a property that, along with our St. Augustine location, can provide space for years of growth. The acquisition would be a partnership between the school and a philanthropic fund administered by Oliver & Company, an East Bay construction firm with extensive experience working with independent schools. The opportunity is tremendous, as it allows us to invest in a long-term campus solution, as well as to build out classroom and other spaces as we continue to meet the growing needs of our program.
While we are unable to share specific details about the property at this time due to the ongoing negotiations, we are excited to let you know that it is centrally located and within two miles of our St. Augustine campus. We hope to be able to release additional details about this unique opportunity in the coming weeks as the purchase plan is solidified. Part of the planning process that is currently underway will also map our transition to the new facility, and we will share the details of this aspect of the plan in the near future as well.
EBI’s future occupancy of this new potential space will be phased, and the plan calls for a large portion of the school to remain on the St. Augustine campus for at least five years. Timelines surrounding the acquisition and build out of new facilities can be uncertain, so our plan also contemplates the addition of modular classroom buildings on the St. Augustine’s campus for the start of the 2011-2012 school year if needed. The St. Augustine building project would allow us to accommodate the entire student body – pre-kinder through sixth grade – on one campus for the next two years. In preparation for this possible scenario, we submitted a building permit application to the City of Oakland in early January 2011 for this expansion, and could complete installation of the modular buildings over the summer. The project would also include significant improvements to the Alcatraz Avenue streetscape, which would result in a more welcoming entrance to our campus. We will continue to provide you more information about this possible project as we have it.
This type of bold and thoughtful planning is part of an EBI tradition that began with its auspicious founding. The school opened a full year ahead of schedule because its founders were prepared and recognized the need to capitalize on the availability of the spacious, well-situated and affordable building offered by St. Augustine, which has allowed EBI to also call this site home. Careful stewardship in the few short years that have followed have allowed EBI to retire the start-up debt associated with securing our current location, just three years after the school opened. It is this pioneering spirit and deep commitment on the part of EBI’s founders, families, faculty, students and supporters that have led to our success to date and which will sustain our future growth.
A rapidly growing community presents a number of challenges and opportunities related to facilities. The Administration and Board of Trustees, along with a dedicated team of parents and professionals, have been working tirelessly to ensure that EBI will have the very best facilities to support the education of our students. We are excited to share these updates with you, and look forward to sharing additional details in the coming weeks.
Please join us at the EBIPA meeting on Thursday, January 27 at 7 PM for the Board of Trustees’ annual State of the School presentation, along with an opportunity to hear more about the facilities plan. If you have questions about the plan, please don’t hesitate to contact Jon Fulk.
Sincerely,
Jon Fulk
Head of School
Jill Malko
Chair, EBI Board of Trustees
Written by: Jon Fulk Permalink