FOCUS Minutes of GRCS Annual Meeting

LOCATION

The meeting was held at the Grand Rapids Christian High School DeVos Center for Arts & Worship.

NEXT MEETING DATE:

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Creston and Evergreen Christian Elementary Schools located at 1031 Page NE, Grand Rapids.

REPORTS

1. Tom DeJonge noticed the 2008 retirees.
   • High School – Mary Ellen Miner (CLC)
   • Millbrook – Judy Meyer (1st grade)
   • Oakdale – Sharon Slager (CLC) and Sharon Pegman (1st/2nd grade)
2. Tom DeJonge relayed the Points of Pride reported by respective principal for each GRCS school.
   • Creston/Evergreen – Grand Rapids Community Foundation Grant (Fast Forward Program) – early intervention and support for kids especially at the kindergarten and 1st grade level.
   • Millbrook – hopeful to receive Meijer Good Schools Grant (through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation) – this would offer resources to enhance learning.
   • Oakdale – student recognitions, multiple children in Honors choirs, child in Civic Theatre, art on display in Lansing.
   • Rockford – environmental focus, hopeful to receive first Green School Award from Kent ISD.
   • GRCMS – James Project/Faith in Action, 8th grade bible program to go out into the community and find out where services are needed.
   • GRCHS – Students in Service, 3rd annual John Zoerhoff senior service project.
3. Tom DeJonge reported on current staffing adjustments in place for 2008-2009.
   • Administrative staff (GRCS office) .5 FTE (full time equivalent)
   • Teaching staff 2.0 FTE at the elementary level and 1.0 FTE at the middle school level
   • Support staff 2.0 FTE (classroom aides)
4. Lon Swartzentruber reported on the foundation.
   • 55% growth in total endowment held since 2005
   • 52% growth in total number of funds under the endowment since 2005
   • 38% growth in bequest society (estate plan, wills) since 2005
   • 50 individual funds make up the endowment
   • 15% of families pay full cost of tuition to provide support for others
   • Circle of Friends fund raising effort has a goal to raise $70,000.00 a year for educational support services (inclusion, tutoring etc.)
5. Gayle VanGessel recognized two at-large members that had been appointed by the Board of Trustees and were recommended to the members of the Association for endorsement.
   • Cynthia Gladyness 2008-2009 (one year to complete the third year of Jim Schipper's three-year term)
   • Amy Smith 2008-2011 (three year term)
6. Dave Tiesenga gave the Treasurer's Report. Tom DeJonge provided explanation.
   1. A copy of 2006-2007 school year audit report can be obtained from Jay at GRCS
   2. Operating fund cash flow

      2003	(1.2) million
      2004	(300,000)
      2005	(500,000)
      2006	$17,000 (due to the Get Healthy campaign)

   3. Refinancing debt – looking to drop the principal by 3 million. Looking at paying off taxable bonds and re-biding banking terms. $140,000 can go to paying principle down.
   4. 2006-2007 budget year in review – enrolled same amount of kids as projection but the distribution of students was different that projected providing an unexpected increase in teacher expenses. Still positive cash flow due to the Get Healthy campaign.

   5. 2007-2008 – not as many students as projected but didn't have as much impact as the year before. A positive cash flow is expected operating whole year without needing to borrow money.

      Enrollment – 3.5% less in K-12 is projected for 2008. Preschool is too complicated to mix into the numbers due to all the different options being offered.

      Grades	Projected (2008)	Actual (2007)
      K = (4)%	124	129
      1-5 = (3.5)%	687	712
      6-8 = (9.5)%	429	474
      9-12=(0.6)%	1000	1006

   6. Highlights for 2008-2009
      • Increases budget by 1%
      • Projects enrollment at 2240 students
      • $2,389,830 or 16% of total revenue comes from other sources (non-tuition)
      • 2.7% wage increase
      • 10% increase in health insurance
      • Staff obligation is 13% of health premiums
      • Nearly eliminates employee retirement expenses
      • Increases textbook and instrumental materials budget
      • Includes resources for a spiritual retreat for incoming freshman into GRCHS
      • Includes a partnership with CLC for grades K-8 and GRCS employing these teachers independently in 9-12
   7. Tuition Rates & Fees
      • Flat rate increase of $335.00 across the board (reflects a 4-6% increase). $550 for busing.
7. Tom DeJonge talked about GRCS Partners or supporting organizations.
   • 3.3 million in 2007-2008 came from 55 churches and other organizations
   • TRIP – 3 million in annual sales totaling an average of $500 a year for participating families
   • New2You - $315,000 in 2008-2009 = $140 per child credit
   • Foundation will provide $360,000 in 2008-2009 resulting in a credit of $125 per child
   • Charitable community (Eagle's Fund) 1.2 million in 2008-2009

Time of Question & Answer

Custodian line item showed a great increase – this is due to new facilities requiring additional expenses.

When does Tom DeJonge see enrollment stabilizing or even increasing? It takes 13 years to get a group of students through the school system. 10-12 years ago GRCS enrolled its smallest group of students. This was around the same time the charter schools started up. Within the next couple of years we will have moved that group through the system. Project less of a swing and more stable enrollment in about 2-3 years.

Tom DeJonge touched on the School Programming task force. The sub-committees meet almost weekly. Operations task force has 13 scenarios on the table right now. They are narrowing it down to present to the board.

Votes

The proposed budget was passed and the two at-large members were endorsed.