Hi I am not sure about your part of the country, but spring is finally coming around here in
For you Canuck hockey fans (there are a few), we have 12 games left and have the final playoff spot, and yet we are also only 2 points from leading the North West Division. That is either parity or mediocrity. I think it will come right down to the wire this year whether they make the playoffs. It would be nice to see them get in, but they would probably get bounced out in the 1st round by Detroit Red Wings.
The majority of my clients are focused on my firm helping them to start their own private K-12 school or college. Most of them are non profit, but a few are for profit. Right now we are working with clients in Maui,
Most prospective clients want to know what they need to do first to start their own school.
Last week I talked about public and private schools finding their niche in starting their private school or a public school-within-a-school. Today in my eNewsletter I am going to talk about the steps you should consider when starting your own school.
Enjoy the eNewsletter,
Doug Halladay
Halladay Education Group Inc.
www.HalladayEducationGroup.com
================================
In This Issue
================================
1. In The News
2. Services That Your School Needs
3. Time-Tested Rules For Starting A School
4. Products To Invest In To Start And Manage Your School
==================================
1. In The News
==================================
The board also claims that the courts "tossed out" the option of public and private school independent study programs to help home schoolers. Not so! ...
Private Christian School Seeks Students For Fall
Craig Daily Press -
Enter Eagle’s
Population Shift Sends Universities Scrambling
Schools in more remote areas, with fewer resources and no particular academic focus, could struggle, said Steven Roy Goodman, an educational consultant
==================================
2. Services That Your School Needs
==================================
>>> (A) STARTING YOUR OWN SCHOOL
Starting a private school can be very challenging and you never have a 2nd chance to make a first impression. This is why you need a firm that has experience starting schools in
1. One-Day Comprehensive Overview Session
2. Formal Feasibility Study
3. Detailed Business Plan Development
4.
6. Ongoing Consulting Services
7. Ongoing Management and Operations Services
If you would like more information about my services and range of fees related to help start your school, please call me at 1-604-868-0002, email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com, or click on the following link to download my brochure outlining our services and fees:
http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/File/Overview_School_Formation_Fees_Services.pdf
>>> (B) Strategic Planning
Do you want a plan to improve your school? Then your School needs a Strategic Plan. I can facilitate the development of your comprehensive Plan that will build consensus and motivate support and define critical priorities and strategic for your Board and Administration to improve your school.
Click on the following link to download my brochure on our Strategic Planning process, or call me at 1-604-868-0002, or email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com Click on the following link to download my firm’s brochure outlining Strategic Planning services:
http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/File/heg_strategic_planning_services-1.pdf
>>> (C) BOARD GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS
Do you want your private school or non-profit to be more successful in board governance? If so, my full-day governance workshop and online survey helps your trustees to fine-tune their performance and refocus their mandate. Please email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com or call us at 604-868-0002 to find out more about how we can help you. Click on the following link to download my brochure
==================================
3. Time-Tested Rules For Starting A School
==================================
Are your School Founders up for the challenge? The mechanics of starting a school can be challenging. In today’s environment, the need to work smarter and be ready for the day-one of school opening is critical. With proper planning, founders can be prepared to start the school of their dreams, and manage costs and project development effectively, establishing a school for generations to come. Here are our time-tested rules for starting a school:
Rule 1: Clear Vision. Create your vision and mission statement, core values, and educational philosophy for your school. This will drive your decision making and be your lighthouse. Identify the kind of school your market needs and will support, as well as what you want as parents. Ask parents and community leaders for their opinions. If possible, perform a feasibility study to support the process of identifying demand and market.
RULE 2: Steering Committee & Governance System. Form a small working committee of capable peers to do the initial work, including parents and highly regarded stakeholders with financial, legal, leadership, and building experience. It’s critical to ensure that each member is on the same page in reference to the vision, publicly and privately. Eventually these same members will likely become your board, so follow effective board governance process. Utilize the strategic plan you’ll develop later to set up supporting committees.
RULE 3: Incorporation & Tax Exemption. File incorporation/society papers with appropriate Province or State agency. The lawyer on your Steering Committee will deal with this. Establishing incorporation will limit liability in the case of lawsuits, create a stable image, extend the life of the school beyond the founders, and provide an insurable entity. A 3rd party lawyer should be consulted. Submit as early in the process your tax exemption application with appropriate authorities to obtain your non-profit status. You can then begin to solicit tax deductible donations.
RULE 4: Strategic Plan. Develop your strategic plan at the start, culminating in the later development of the business, financial, and marketing plans. This will be your blue print of how the school is going to start and operate over the next 5 years. Don’t try to do everything in the first 5 years unless you have been fortunate enough to find a donor to fund the entire project. This is your chance to lay out, step-by-step, the process for the development of the school. You will determine the enrollment and financial projections, prioritize staffing, programs, facilities, in a methodical, measurable way. You’ll also keep your Steering Committee on track and focused.
RULE 5: Budget-FINANCIAL PLAN. Develop your formation and 5 year budget based on the goals of the Strategic Plan. The financial person on your Steering Committee should take responsibility for this. As always project your assumptions conservatively. You should also map out the school’s accounting procedures: record keeping, check signing, disbursements, petty cash, bank accounts, record keeping, reconciling bank accounts, and audit committee.
RULE 6: Fundraise. You need to plan your fundraising campaign carefully. Resist the urge to jump in. Develop your capital campaign and case statement methodically and then implement systematically. Let your Development Committee lead this. They say that you should raise at least 50% of the funds before you even announce the campaign. Your strategic plan is important at this stage as it provides potential donors concrete evidence of your vision and where the donor can fit it, and your financial priorities.
RULE 7: Location & Facilities. Find your interim/permanent school facility and either purchase or rent/lease, or develop your building plans if you’re building your own facility from scratch. The Building Committee will lead this assignment. Check requirements of building zoning, class size, fire - building codes, and teacher-student ratios, etc. You should also take into account your mission-vision-philosophy and the learning resources. Rental space for the classroom can be obtained from unused schools, churches, park buildings, community centers, apartment complexes, and estates. When renting, consider the availability of additional space for expansion, and obtaining a lease with at least one year's notice for cancellation, with opportunity for alteration of the building and some protection against major capital expenses and a long-term arrangement with specified rent levels.
RULE 8: Staffing. Through a search process defined by a detailed position profile based on your mission-vision, select your Head of School and other senior staff. Conduct your search as widely as possible (don’t just hire someone you know). Write job descriptions, personal files, benefits, and pay scales for your staff and faculty and administration. Your Head will drive the enrollment campaign and marketing, and the initial decisions for resources and staffing. When hiring staff, make sure they understand the mission and how much work it takes to start a school. It’s invaluable to attract great faculty; in the end it’s the staff that’ll make or break the school. To attract great staff you need to ensure that you have a competitive compensation package.
RULE 9: Marketing and Recruiting. You’ll need to market for students, that’s your lifeblood. Members of the Marketing Committee and Head need to develop a Marketing-Enrollment Plan to promote the school. This includes: public meetings, newspaper ads - inserts, mail drops, radio, community TV, and coffee sessions. You’ll need to you’re your message based on your mission-vision. You’ll need to design your own brochure, communication materials, web site, and set up a mailing list to keep interested parents and donors in touch with progress. Open your school office and phones, and have the Head of School begin admissions interviews and tours.
RULE 10: Infrastructure. Your Head of School and senior staff will put together the critical internal elements of a successful school: insurance, educational and extra-curricular programs, uniforms, timetable, handbooks, contracts, student management systems, reporting, policy, traditions, etc. Do not leave the important things until the last minute. Set your structure on day 1.
Now it’s opening day. Welcome your new parents and students and begin your traditions. Start off with a something memorable, bringing in dignitaries, or having a family BBQ. Start to set up memberships in national, provincial, and state private school associations.
We can help YOU start your own school and make it happen! In our free resource, 13 Steps to Starting Your Own School, we provide TIPS and ADVICE on how you can set the foundation to start your own school. To claim your free copy of this incredible resource or order our 15-part mini eCourse on How To Start a School, visit our site right now: http://www.HalladayEducationGroup.com or email us at info@halladayeducationgroup.com
If you would like to comment on this eNewsletter, scroll to the bottom of this article and click on "comment."
================================
4. Products To Invest In To Start And Manage Your School
================================
Do you want effective tools to help start and manage your school? These 2 products can help.
(A). STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLKIT (#1 BEST SELLER)
Learn How To Develop Your Own Strategic Plan Like The Pro
http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/stratgic_planning_toolkit.php
(B). WEBINAR SERIES – DISCOVER FROM EXPERTS HOW TO START A SCHOOL (#2 BEST SELLER)
Are you still struggling with starting your own for- or non-profit K-12 School, College, University, or Institute? You
1.
2. 9 Secrets To Starting A
3. 8 Golden Rules of Starting a
4. Starting a Successful
5. 10 Steps To A Winning Strategic Plan
6. The Whole Enchilada - All 5 Webinars at 40% Off
Get all the details here:
http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/webinaroverview.php
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To your success,
President and Founder
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
P.S. Do not forget to check out our secure Online Store for ways to invest in improving or starting your own school or non-profit. Here is the link:
--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/products.php
=======================================================
