Grow Smart, Grow Strong: Florida Charter Strategies for Facilities, Finance and Community Impact

About the Webinar:

This comprehensive session provided charter school leaders with strategic insights on sustainable growth, focusing on the critical intersection of facilities planning, financial management, and community engagement. Wes Olson from Raymond James, Lauren Allen and Dru Damico from Building Hope, and Shannon Treece from Babcock Neighborhood Schools shared their expertise on navigating the complex landscape of charter school expansion. The presenters emphasized that successful growth requires careful planning that balances enrollment demand with financial capacity, facility needs, and community readiness. They discussed various financing options available to charter schools, including tax-exempt bonds, direct loans, and capital campaign strategies, while highlighting the importance of understanding borrowing capacity, debt service coverage requirements, and long-term financial sustainability. The panel also explored different facility acquisition models—from ground-up construction and existing building purchases to lease arrangements—helping attendees understand the pros, cons, and financial implications of each approach.

Shannon Treece shared Babcock Neighborhood Schools’ inspiring real-world case study, demonstrating how intentional community engagement and strategic facility planning enabled their successful expansion from a single campus to a multi-school network. The presenters emphasized that growth must be mission-driven rather than opportunistic, with careful consideration of market demand, demographic trends, and the school’s capacity to maintain quality while scaling. They provided practical guidance on assembling the right team of advisors—including financial consultants, legal counsel, architects, and community partners—and outlined critical due diligence steps for evaluating sites and structuring deals. The session also addressed risk management, governance considerations during expansion, and strategies for maintaining strong school culture across multiple campuses. Attendees left with actionable frameworks for assessing their readiness to grow, understanding financing mechanisms, evaluating facility options, and engaging stakeholders throughout the expansion process to ensure their growth is both smart and sustainable.