Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Private School to be Funded Completely by Crowdfunding

Just the facts please....

  • non public education for students ages 3 years - 8th grade
  • classes with approximately 6 students
  • serving lower income/underprivileged kids
  • teaching kids at whatever level they are
  • intense academics in the morning and enrichment in the afternoons
  • hot breakfast and lunch provided daily
  • allowing teachers to teach
  • less testing, more learning
  • providing our students with unlimited technological experiences
  • preparing kids to be on a level playing field with their public school peers by the time they enter their local high school
  • giving these kids unique experiences and opportunities to equip them to be able to participate in extracurricular activities once they reach high school
  • quality pay for quality teachers
  • each teacher will have a teaching assistant
  • small schoolhouse located on lots of land in rural Walland, Tennessee
  • cat and dogs in the school to love on the kids
  • adult education room for the moms of our students to learn parenting skills, to further their own education, and to access programs that will help their family
Want to know more? Please read on.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Indiegogo Campaign Preview

Not the final draft, but getting there.

Just the facts please....

  • non puplic education for students ages 3 years - 8th grade
  • classes with approximately 6 students
  • serving lower income/underprivileged kids
  • teaching kids at whatever level they are
  • intense academics in the morning and enrichment in the afternoons
  • hot breakfast and lunch provided daily
  • allowing teachers to teach
  • less testing, more learning
  • providing our students with unlimited technological experiences
  • preparing kids to be on a level playing field with their public school peers by the time they enter their local high school
  • giving these kids unique experiences and opportunities to equip them to be able to participate in extracurricular activities once they reach high school
  • quality pay for quality teachers
  • each teacher will have a teaching assistant
  • small schoolhouse located on lots of land in rural Walland, Tennessee
  • cat and dogs in the school to love on the kids
  • adult education room for the moms of our students to learn parenting skills, to further their own education, and to access programs that will help their family
Want to know more? Please read on.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Think back to your elementary school days...

What did you love about them? What did you hate? What made it great? What could have made it better?

Now imagine a day as a student at The Little Red Schoolhouse.....

You arrive at The Little Red Schoolhouse by bus at 8:00 in the morning.  Upon arrival, you head into the cafeteria to eat a hot breakfast that was made for you by a loving cafeteria lady.  Once you are finished with breakfast, you head down to your classroom.  There in your classroom is your teacher and 3-5 other students ready to learn.  You and your classmates spend the morning learning math, science, social studies, and reading.  You love school and you love learning because you are learning at your own level and at your own pace.  You aren't as good at reading so you are using an iPad to practice some important reading skills you missed from previous grades.  Your classmate is an excellent reader so she is in the reading loft reading a book from her favorite series while petting the classroom cat.  You are above grade level in math so during math class you are working with the teacher to learn skills that are two grade levels ahead.  Some of your classmates are just learning their multiplication facts, but you mastered those over a year ago so you practice 3 digit times 3 digit multiplication.  Before you know it, it's lunchtime!  After your lunch with your teacher and friends, your afternoon at "school" is filled with play time and enrichment activities. You can take lessons in dance, piano, karate, violin, cheer, banjo, singing, etc. During recess, you learn how to get along with others while playing.  While participating in an organized sports activity, you learn the rules of the game along with good sportsmanship.  Now your school day is over and it's time to go home.  You can't wait to come back again tomorrow.

Ages 3-4 years...

Our 3-4 year old preschool program will have no more than 5 kids in it.  The young kids in this class will explore learning thru play, exposure to books and nursery rhymes, and learning games.  We believe if we can create these experiences early on, these lower income kids will start kindergarten ready to go.

Kindergarten...

Our kindergarten students will continue to learn thru play.  They will learn their letters and numbers and begin to learn to read and do math.  If they need more than a school year to master kindergarten skills, they may spend more than a year there.  They will not be pushed on just because the school year is up. Our kindergarten class will have approximately 5 students in it.

Grades 1-8...

These grades will be multiage grades 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8.  Each multiage classroom would have about 6 students. Teachers in these grades will give students individualized instruction according to what skill level they are on.  As necessary, students may advance or remain in a grade level.  This will be determined based on the child's ability level. 

Beyond 8th Grade....

Our goal at The Little Red Schoolhouse is to help underprivileged/lower income students have an individualized school experience that will enable them to have a successful future.  We aim to prepare and equip our students to be on a level playing field with their peers by the time they enter their local high school.

Adult/Parent Education and Support Classroom....

We feel that the parent to our kids here is the most influential person in their child's life.  Therefore, we understand how important it is to equip those parents with beneficial skills.  At The Little Red Schoolhouse, we will offer help to the parent with an adult classroom.  This classroom will be equipped with a teacher that will provide educational help so the parent can become more able to help their own child. We will offer parenting classes

This IS a focused private school for select underprivileged/lower income kids.

I plan to open a very small school for ages 3 years to 8th grade that will focus on educating underprivileged kids in my local area. Every year I see those students at my school who need a little more individualized help.  Students who may not get support at home because mom and dad just don't have enough education of their own to feel confident to help. Most of these kids don't have someone who can home school them and no one is going to send them to private school, or pay for a tutor. Students will attend without having to pay tuition.

This IS NOT anti public school.

 I love my job and the school district in which I work. I am frustrated with federal and state government control over programs, teacher evaluations, and testing requirements. These decisions are made by many who have never taught in the classroom or who have been out of the classroom for a long time.  There are many great things that happen in public schools and many fabulous teachers there making it happen.  All 3 of my kids attend their local public school and are thriving there.

The Impact

With your help, we can make a difference in a child's life.
  • Giving these kids an advantage like this is priceless.  
  • Helping our little school focus on these handful of kids will change their lives forever.
  • Wouldn't you have loved attending a school like this as a child?

Other Ways You Can Help

  • Please help us spread the word about The Little Red Schoolhouse on social media.
  • Don't forget to use the Indiegogo share tools!
  • Pray for our project.

Non Profit Status

We have begun the process of applying to become a 501 3 c non profit.  This may take anywhere from 2-8 months to complete and get approved.  Plus it costs $850 to file the paperwork. They suggest paying to have someone knowledgeable of the process to help you fill out the 50-100 pages of paperwork.  Money raised from this campaign will be put toward those fees. Therefore, we are not listed here as a non profit.  Once approved, the status becomes retroactive.  

Flexible Funding

This is a flexible funding campaign.  This dream of mine will become a reality.  IF it is not fully funded from this first campaign, additional campaigns will be conducted.  Whatever is raised in this campaign will be used to start the process.  The first move will be to purchase the land. If you contribute, you will be able to get updates about the progress of The Little Red Schoolhouse. I will continue until I have raised enough money.  This is going to happen.  These kids deserve it.

Funding by the Numbers

 Below is a breakdown of how every single dollar will be used.  Figures include the cost to build and furnish The Little Red Schoolhouse plus the operating costs for the first 4 years of operation.  In order to hire quality teachers, they must get competitive pay and benefits. They also need to be assured they will continue to have a job for more than just one year.
DirectorY1 $75,000 Y2 $76,000 Y3 $77,000 Y4 $78,000
3-4 TeacherY1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
K TeacherY1 $50,000 Y2 $51,000 Y3 $52,000 Y4 $53,000
Gr. 1-2 TeacherY1 $50,000 Y2 $51,000 Y3 $52,000 Y4 $53,000
Gr. 3-4 TeacherY1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
Gr. 5-6 Teacher Y1 $45,000 Y2 $47,000 Y3 $48,000 Y4 $49,000
Gr. 7-8 TeacherY1 N/A Y2 $40,000 Y3 $41,000 Y4 42,000
Total $1,362,000

3-4 TAY1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
K TAY1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 1-2 TAY1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 3-4 TAY1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 5-6 TAY1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 7-8 TAY1 N/A Y2 $10,000 Y3 10,250 Y4 $10,500
Total $293,250
Secretary/bookkeeper Y1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
CookY1 $30,000 Y2 $31,000 Y3 $32,000 Y4 $33,000
Adult EducationY1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
Substitutes (180 days@ $80/day) Y1 $14,400 Y2 $14,400 Y3 $14,400 Y4 $14,400
Total $515,600
*Insurance Coverage for Full Time Employees (10 employees @ $9,000/year) $90,000 x 4 years = $360,000
*Retirement Benefits for Full Time Employees $40,000 x 5% = $2,000 x 10 employees =
$20,000 x 4 years = $80,000
Total Employment 4 Years $2,610,850
Land$350,000
Unfurnished Building $1,200,000
iPads (30 students, 8 teachers)  38 x $600 = $22,800
Horseshoe table per classroom 6 x $250 = $1,500
Teacher desk per classroom 7 x $500 =3,500
Teacher chair per classroom 7 x $100 = $700
Student chairs $150 x 30 students = $4,500
Student desks $325 x 30 students = $9,750
Teacher and Support Staff Chromebooks 10 x $400 = $4,000
Teacher and Support Staff color printers 10 x $100 = $1,000
Couch per classroom 8 x $500 = $4,000
Smartboard per classroom (plus common area) 9 x $2,500 = $22,500
Playground $25,000
Books for classrooms $1,000 x 7 = $7,000
Fridge $2,000
Freezer $2,000
Stoves 2 x $1,500 = $3,000
Plates $200
Silverware $100
Kitchen hardware (pots, pans, etc.)  $2,000
Copy Machine $1,500
Initial Opening Cost to Build and Furnish School $1,667,050
  • Food Costs $5 per student per day ($5 x 30) = $150 per day x 180 school days = $27,000 per year x 4 years = $108,000
  • Transportation (bus) $150 per day x 180 days = $27,000 per year x 4 years = $108,000
  • Field Trip Expenses $4,500 per year x 4 years = $18,000
  • Classroom supplies Y1 $1,000 x 8 teachers = $8,000 Y2 $500 x 8 teachers= $4,000
Y3 $500 x 8 teachers  = $4,000 Y4 $500 x 8 teachers = $4,000 Total for 4 years = $20,000
  • Testing grades 2-6 ACT Aspire (includes periodic assessment) 15 students x $30 =
$450 x 4 years = $1,800
grades 7-8 ACT Aspire (includes periodic assessment) 6 students x $30=
$180 x 3 years = $540
  • Facilities Insurance coverage $450 per month x 12 months = $5,400 x 4 years = $21,600
  • Reflex Math $35 x 24 students = $840 x 4 years = $3,360
  • iReady Math $30 x $24 students = $720 x 4 years = $2,880
  • iReady Reading $30 x $24 students = $720 x 4 years = $2,880
  • Reading Eggs $269 per year x 4 years = $1,076
  • Toiletry Supplies $1,000 x 4 years = $4,000
  • Cleaning supplies $1,800 x 4 years = $7,200
  • Internet $50 per month x 12 months = $600 x 4 years = $2,400
  • Utilities $1,500 per month x 12 months = $18,000 x 4 years = $72,000
  • Water $180 per month x 12 months = $2,160 x 4 years =$8,640
  • Grounds maintenance  $500 per month x 12 months = $6,000 x 4 years = $24,000
Operating Costs First 4 years $406,376

Total $4,684,276

Friday, May 6, 2016

Working on Proposed Budget

*Note this is not the final budget yet.  It will be finalized within a couple of weeks and submitted to Indiegogo.  I'm going to need your help to make this a reality.

Director Y1 $75,000 Y2 $76,000 Y3 $77,000 Y4 $78,000
3-4 Teacher Y1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
K Teacher Y1 $50,000 Y2 $51,000 Y3 $52,000 Y4 $53,000
Gr. 1-2 Teacher Y1 $50,000 Y2 $51,000 Y3 $52,000 Y4 $53,000
Gr. 3-4 Teacher Y1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
Gr. 5-6 Teacher Y1 $45,000 Y2 $47,000 Y3 $48,000 Y4 $49,000
Gr. 7-8 Teacher Y1 N/A Y2 $40,000 Y3 $41,000 Y4 42,000
Total $1,362,000

3-4 TA Y1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
K TA Y1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 1-2 TA Y1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 3-4 TA Y1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 5-6 TA Y1 $10,000 Y2 $10,250 Y2 $10,500 Y3 $10,750 Y4 $11,000
Gr. 7-8 TA Y1 N/A Y2 $10,000 Y3 10,250 Y4 $10,500
Total $293,250

Secretary/bookkeeper Y1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
Cook Y1 $30,000 Y2 $31,000 Y3 $32,000 Y4 $33,000
Adult Education Y1 $40,000 Y2 $41,000 Y3 $42,000 Y4 $43,000
Substitutes (180 days@ $80/day) Y1 $14,400 Y2 $14,400 Y3 $14,400 Y4 $14,400
Total $515,600

*Insurance Coverage for Full Time Employees (10 employees @ $9,000/year) $90,000 x 4 years = $360,000
*Retirement Benefits for Full Time Employees $40,000 x 5% = $2,000 x 10 employees =
$20,000 x 4 years = $80,000


Total Employment 4 Years $2,610,850











Land $350,000
Unfurnished Building $1,200,000
iPads (30 students, 8 teachers)  38 x $600 = $22,800
Horseshoe table per classroom 6 x $250 = $1,500
Teacher desk per classroom 7 x $500 =3,500
Teacher chair per classroom 7 x $100 = $700
Student chairs $150 x 30 students = $4,500
Student desks $325 x 30 students = $9,750
Teacher and Support Staff Chromebooks 10 x $400 = $4,000
Teacher and Support Staff color printers 10 x $100 = $1,000
Couch per classroom 8 x $500 = $4,000
Smartboard per classroom (plus common area) 9 x $2,500 = $22,500
Playground $25,000
Books for classrooms $1,000 x 7 = $7,000
Fridge $2,000
Freezer $2,000
Stoves 2 x $1,500 = $3,000
Plates $200
Silverware $100
Kitchen hardware (pots, pans, etc.)  $2,000
Copy Machine $1,500

Initial Opening Cost to Build and Furnish School $1,667,050    



  • Food Costs $5 per student per day ($5 x 30) = $150 per day x 180 school days = $27,000 per year x 4 years = $108,000
  • Transportation (bus) $150 per day x 180 days = $27,000 per year x 4 years = $108,000
  • Field Trip Expenses $4,500 per year x 4 years = $18,000
  • Classroom supplies Y1 $1,000 x 8 teachers = $8,000 Y2 $500 x 8 teachers= $4,000
Y3 $500 x 8 teachers  = $4,000 Y4 $500 x 8 teachers = $4,000 Total for 4 years = $20,000
  • Testing grades 2-6 ACT Aspire (includes periodic assessment) 15 students x $30 =
$450 x 4 years = $1,800
grades 7-8 ACT Aspire (includes periodic assessment) 6 students x $30=
$180 x 3 years = $540
  • Facilities Insurance coverage $450 per month x 12 months = $5,400 x 4 years = $21,600
  • Reflex Math $35 x 24 students = $840 x 4 years = $3,360
  • iReady Math $30 x $24 students = $720 x 4 years = $2,880
  • iReady Reading $30 x $24 students = $720 x 4 years = $2,880
  • Reading Eggs $269 per year x 4 years = $1,076
  • Toiletry Supplies $1,000 x 4 years = $4,000
  • Cleaning supplies $1,800 x 4 years = $7,200
  • Internet $50 per month x 12 months = $600 x 4 years = $2,400
  • Utilities $1,500 per month x 12 months = $18,000 x 4 years = $72,000
  • Water $180 per month x 12 months = $2,160 x 4 years =$8,640
  • Grounds maintenance  $500 per month x 12 months = $6,000 x 4 years = $24,000

Operating Costs First 4 years $406,376




Total $4,684,276

Monday, May 2, 2016

Indiegogo Selected as Crowdfunding Source

After much investigation, I have selected Indiegogo as the crowdfunding source to collect donations for The Little Red Schoolhouse.  I will be posting our fundraising campaign soon so you can donate. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Paperwork Filed for Nonprofit Status

I just filed the paperwork today for The Little Red Schoolhouse to become a nonprofit corporation.  Things are moving right along.  I am continuing to work on the budget for the costs to open The Little Red Schoolhouse and to operate it for the first 4 years.  I will post that in the coming days and plan to launch the crowdfunding campaign on May 21. 

Non Public School Categories in Tennessee

As I have been looking into opening my own school, I have looked into how do I actually do that.  I will include several links to the places I have found relevant information below.  For Tennessee I have found that my school would best fit under Category 5 Acknowledged for Operation. Her are the basics for Category 5 Private Schools in Tennessee...
  • Accreditation is optional.
  • No requirement for Registration.
  • No requirement for Licensing. 
  • Approval is optional.
  • Teachers must hold a baccalaureate degree, but are not required to have a teaching certificate (teachers at The Little Red Schoolhouse in grades k-8 will be required to have a teaching certificate).
  • Tennessee Code Annotated does not address the length of school year or days for Category 5 schools.
  • No requirements for curriculum.
  • Name, grade, and address of all students must be reported to local superintendent.
  • Attendance records much be kept and reported to the local education agency.
  • Cumulative records must be kept on all students.
  • Children must be immunized prior to attendance. 
  • Fire drills must be held twice a month. 
  • Annual inspections by the Fire Marshal and Health Department are required.
  • Non public schools are not reuuired to provide transportation (The Little Red Schoolhouse plans on providing transportation for our students).
  • Must administer a nationally standardized achievement test covering the basic academic areas in grades 2 through 8.
  • No requirements for professional development.


Tennessee Department Of Education Non Public School Categories

U. S. Department of Education State Regulation of Private Schools (Includes all 50 states)

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Some Ideas That New York Tiny Schools and The Little Red Schoolhouse Share

New York Tiny Schools Have Some Ideas Like Mine

Welcome to The Little Red Schoolhouse

Welcome to The Little Red Schoolhouse. This is the beginning of a journey that I believe God has laid on my heart. I plan to open a school in rural East Tennessee for underprivileged kids. This school will be for approximately 30 kids from 3 years old to 8th grade. It will provide unique experiences and opportunities along with focusing on meeting each child's educational needs wherever they are currently. It will be 100% funded by individuals thru the crowdfunding site RocketHub. I am currently finalizing a budget for startup costs plus the first 4 years of operation costs. Like our page for continued updates and to find out when you too can make a small donation. I would very much like this crowdfunding model to be repeated in the future by other educators like yourself. Help me make this venture a reality so I can in turn help you and others do the same.