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Charter school one step closer to opening its doors
Written by Maggie Canty-Shafer
Photos courtesy of Liv Helmericks
Sunday, 26 December, 2010
“A healthy social life is found only when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living.” - Steiner
R udolf Steiner, founder and developer of Waldorf education, was an Austrian philosopher who believed deeply that every child has a unique destiny and calling. In a Waldorf school, it is the job of the teachers and parents to assist the children in discovering themselves, all the while exploring the world around them through traditional subjects integrated with arts, music and movement.
The idea may sound unrealistic, even to the Fort Collins families who can afford private schooling. But a group of passionate parents refusing to settle for less than the best education—regardless of one’s economic standing—are fighting for a change.
And they just may succeed.
Fueled by their application approval from the PSD Board of Education in October, Mountain Sage Community School—a Waldorf inspired charter school—is quickly moving toward the conditions that, if met, will allow their dream to become reality Fall 2011.
“The approval is causing people to look more seriously at the school,” said Liv Helmericks, founding director of Mountain Sage. “The momentum is now.”
And momentum is just what they’re going to need to satisfy the board’s requirements: 100 full-time enrolled students by May 11, 2011, and a facility secured by August.
Helmericks said the school’s seven member charter council is spending its energy largely on meeting these parameters, and thus far, is making progress.
Since the official approval, they’ve jumped from 54 to 80 full time enrolled students, written several grant requests and have submitted a letter of intention for a five acre lot and building in town.
“It’s on us to prove to the district that we can do it,” said Helmericks. “Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it.”
Skeptics—including PSD board member Patrick Albright—feel the school’s financial plan is lacking, and encouraged the council to resubmit a proposal for the 2012 school year.
Albright said the school’s estimated building budget isn’t realistic, according to realtors, and that statistically only a third of students enrolled follow through with attendance in a school’s first year—leaving MSCS with too few students to generate sufficient funding for the school.
If they were unable to raise and maintain support, the district would then be responsible for funding the school for the remainder of the year, or transferring the students to other schools—a process that can be time consuming, expensive and detrimental to the child’s overall education.
Other Waldorf critics oppose the method itself, largely based on the unique structure and pace of the school, which they claim can make transferring into a more traditional school difficult.
Statistics are hard to come by as traditional Waldorf schools don’t participate in standardized testing, or any testing at all. A state-aided Waldorf-inspired school like MSCS, however, must meet different requirements.
Steiner’s eduction model in a public school combines traditional state-wide curriculum with the Waldorf method—teaching based on the process of human development and integrating the arts, movement and the outdoors into every subject. MSCS will still be subject to Colorado Public School standards and CSAP testing. If the school does not score satisfactorily, they could lose their charter.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Jody Swigris, an MSCS council member and masters student at CSU. “It’s an excellent alternative. When you move while you’re learning you’re building more brain tissue, and the message becomes more deeply rooted. Some students can’t learn sitting down eight hours a day.”
Swigris, who will graduate with a masters in Nutrition in May, is especially passionate about the inclusion of gardening in the curriculum and school food system. What the student’s plant, harvest and study will eventually be part of their lunches—which they’ll prepare themselves.
Through Swigris’ thesis project combining math with wellness and nutrition, she’s personally seen the positive impact this integration can have.
Helmericks agrees.
 “The food that we eat is our daily connection to the earth,” said Helmericks. “We have a chance to make big changes in the food system if these things are taught and implemented early.”
Helmericks became interested in the Waldorf method two and a half years ago when her oldest reached school-age, and after comparing local pre-school options, wasn’t satisfied. She joined a Waldorf homeschool group and has since become extremely committed to the model.
“Waldorf truly incorporates the head, heart and hands,” she said. “The more I learn and experience with it, the more I fall in love with it.”
According to the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, there are roughly 160 Waldorf schools on the continent, and over 30 publicly funded Waldorf-inspired institutions. MSCS will be able to model their curriculum after those that have gone before, adapting to Colorado and Fort Collins specific resources.
“Many people can’t afford to send their children to a private Waldorf school,” said Helmericks. “It’s about social equity and justice, and making this system available for everyone in the community.”
MSCS will host a panel of Waldorf school graduates December 28 at Matter Bookstore to answer questions and share stories. It is free and open to the public.
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