MSCS Site Update
Dear Mountain Song Community,

I hope the summer is being kind to you, providing some days of relaxation, outdoor time, and fun family time. There is still a lot going on behind the scenes at Mountain Song, and I want to update you on what we’ve accomplished and where we’re going regarding ownership of our own school site.  

We have contracted with Michelle Fisher of M Fisher Collaborative Works as our Owner’s Representative and Advocate, and she is helping us assess and strategically plan for development opportunities. She also will develop grant applications for the site so that we can leverage our current funding to secure more to do more. Here’s what’s been happening and where we’re going.

Where We’ve Been
After leasing the Whittier Building from District 11 since the school began in 2013, and after years of being informed by them that our lease would end soon with increasing urgency, we explored properties and specifically pursued the Garden Ranch YMCA as a new home with a plan for expanding enrollment. We went under contract on that property, but during the due diligence period, we discovered enough challenges that we decided to keep exploring other properties.  

During this time, D11 conducted their Facilities Master Planning process, and based on their final report, we approached them again and asked if we could purchase the Whittier building instead of continuing to lease it. We negotiated a favorable sale price, terminated our contract with the YMCA, and on April 29th, we closed on the purchase of our own building – a happy day!

The idea of expansion was still with us, and so when a lovely property across town became available, we pursued it briefly last winter. However, we found ourselves struggling with staff illnesses during the omicron wave of the pandemic and just trying to keep classes in session through January. Given the covid stresses, we decided not to pursue the purchase of an extra property and instead focus fully on managing the school year and procuring the Whittier building.  

Where We Are
We love settling into owning the only home Mountain Song has ever known. Yet, we are still crowded in the building, and the grounds have been minimally maintained over the nine years we have been here. So we have some work to do, and this is where Michelle Fisher comes in.  

Michelle, as an owner’s representative, provides oversight for building and site assessments, works strategically to optimize improvements, and will orchestrate any necessary zoning or permitting. Michelle is a licensed architect with 28 years experience in design and construction. She is uniquely positioned to help us, as she has spent the last 5 years working with Colorado Early Colleges, another CSI school for which she helped open several new campuses across the state. She advises other CSI schools and has experience with other charter schools. Her expertise in understanding how major capital grants with the state work informs how she plans, and we have some opportunities to pursue these grants.  

Electra Johnson, a current MSCS parent and architect, has also worked with stakeholders, including our own teachers and students, to design options for playground improvements. You may have seen her at the May Faire collecting ideas from families and community members. She also will be designing a parent survey to gather information about family resources and talents you are willing to share for site improvements. Please stay tuned. 

What We’re Doing and Where We’re Going
Playground Improvements
You have heard our appeals to help improve our playground, and we have a natural playground in mind. We expect playground improvements can be funded through grants with matching funds we have raised (thank you!). So this summer is a time of planning and investigation for playground upgrades. The playground conceptual design produced by Electra Johnson will be reviewed and refined so as to inform cost estimates. Michelle is developing a grant proposal this summer to submit in November to support major playground improvements. This means that we will not see many changes to the playground this fall, but big changes should be coming in Summer 2023!

Farm Improvements
What are we doing this summer? Focusing on farm improvements! We already had a major clean-up day on May 27th to remove debris and dead trees, and to clear an area to store tools and supplies. The chicken compost crates were removed for an improved compost area. Later in the summer, a second clean-up day will be held when pea gravel will be spread over the ground and pathways. Each Tuesday, interns from Flying Pig Farm work with Mr. Adam to further beautify the garden, and it’s starting to really show! We deeply appreciate our partnership with Flying Pig Farm!

We are in the process of receiving quotes from contractors to install water service directly to the farm, which we plan to complete this summer. Quotes are also coming in to install electrical power when a permanent shade structure is planned for outdoor instruction in the farm area, in the next one to two years, depending on grant cycles. In the meantime, we plan to purchase a steel shade structure that is sturdy enough to use throughout the year and that can be repurposed to a playground spot once the farm has a permanent shade structure. The permanent structure is planned to create a multi-purpose location for outdoor instruction as well as cooking instruction with an outdoor kitchen, wash station, cooking pit, and prep tables at different heights for students. This area could also be perfect for community gatherings and events.

We are evaluating adding a second larger dome to the garden to accommodate instruction during inclement weather. The dome would be self-sustainable with solar powered heating and ventilation.  

Grants are being explored and developed to help us stretch our dollars for these farm projects beyond this summer.

Whittier Building
Now that we are owners, our beautiful yet very old building needs to be thoroughly assessed to understand the building systems, code requirements, and opportunities for possible expansion. An application for the state’s BEST grant will be developed to address improvements and possible additions to the Whittier building for a commercial kitchen, cafeteria, and classrooms. If the BEST grant is awarded, Mountain Song will be required to provide matching funds for improvements, which is why planning and preparation are so important.

Off Site Development
This summer and next year, we will also explore other potential properties for expansion. Off site possibilities will be evaluated against on-site expansion opportunities in developing a Mountain Song Master Development Plan. This plan will include stakeholder input and review, and will provide preliminary cost estimates, milestone schedules, and risk/benefit analysis for all options.  

In Other News
There is obviously a lot going on at Mountain Song this summer regarding the site. We are also closing out this year’s finances as the fiscal year ends June 30, and starting the new one July 1st. We are busy with hiring, enrollment, supplies ordering, cleaning, reorganizing, and many other tasks. We have numerous state compliance reports to submit and meetings with our authorizer. Our Special Education team is providing extended year services for qualified students, and all teachers are preparing for the new year and attending trainings.  

We have been awarded grants that we’re processing and reporting on. For instance, we are wrapping up Year 1 of the CDE K-5 Social-Emotional Health grant, and we will start in the new fiscal year offering more stipends and mentoring to teachers due to being awarded a CDE Educator Workforce Program grant.  

We hope you and your family are enjoying the summer with healthy activities and rejuvenation! We know that the public often thinks educators only work when school is in session, and we feel fortunate to have a community that knows better. We are dedicated to your children and carry them in our hearts as we prepare all summer. We smile as we look toward our goal of opening the new school year in August! Thank you for all you do to support Mountain Song!

Warmly,
Teresa M. Woods, Ph.D.
Executive Director

P.S. Our Linden trees in front of the building are nearly in full flower. Once they are (within a week or so), please feel free to come harvest the flowers along with the light-colored sepals. They make an incredibly soothing tea.