About the Webinar:
This presentation provided essential knowledge for building a school, guiding participants on how to prepare leadership and board members for financing and constructing a new facility. Attendees gained an understanding of operational planning, site selection criteria, facility process challenges, and how to create a timeline and finance plan for their target opening date.
Blueprint for Success: Strategies to Support Your Facility Plan
Presenter:
- Lauren Allen, Director of Business Development, Building Hope
- Richard Moreno, President of Services, Building Hope
- Michelle Nunez, Principal, CEO, Building Hope
Date/Time: November 20, 2024
Conference: 2024 FL Charter School Conference
View The Recording:
Handouts / Slides:
Download File
Session Summary
This presentation, "Blueprint for Success: Strategies to Support Your Facility Plan," features Lauren Allen, Richard Moreno, and Michelle Nunez from Building Hope, who share their expertise on navigating the complexities of building a school facility. The session begins with an overview of Building Hope's services, including lending, real estate development, and back-office support. The presenters emphasize the importance of assessing readiness for a facility by evaluating demand, financial health, academic results, charter strength, leadership, and school community.
The presentation then delves into the financial aspects of facility planning, discussing the different financing options available to charter schools, including lease-to-purchase, loans from CDFIs and banks, and long-term financing. The presenters highlight the importance of understanding the school's financial capacity and creating a realistic budget.
The session also includes a school leader's perspective on the facility planning process, with Michelle Nunez sharing her experiences and lessons learned from building two campuses for Galileo School for Super Gifted Learning. She emphasizes the importance of a strong board, clear priorities, and a dedicated project manager.
The presentation also addresses common challenges in the facility planning process, such as navigating zoning regulations, managing construction timelines, and dealing with unexpected costs. The presenters offer strategies for overcoming these challenges, including partnering with experienced professionals and maintaining flexibility.
The session concludes with a Q&A session, where the presenters answer questions from the audience on topics such as the differences between building charter schools and district schools, creative options for finding space, and the importance of energy efficiency.
Key takeaways for attendees include the importance of:
- Assessing readiness for a facility.
- Understanding financial options.
- Having a strong board and clear priorities.
- Partnering with experienced professionals.
- Being creative and flexible in finding solutions.