The Committee has identified that $80,000 could be raised over the next two years, half of that amount within each year, to pay the debt. The Board of Trustees has approved this proposal.

The next step is to identify how to raise these funds. The Committee brought recommendations to the Board last night.

The Committee will be proposed two approaches to the fundraising.

“To assume that everyone wants to be approached in the same way is a mistake,” says Allan Hill, chair of the committee.

One intended approach is to invite longstanding supporters into the school for a confab which could include a meal and reacquainting with the school and people. “We’ll then lay out the financial picture, which is one of stability, as well as tell of the school’s need to handle $80,000 in order to pay the line of credit we have.”

“This [approach] is in particular for those who know Ray [Hendriks] well, who see him as much as a friend as well as a principal,” says Allan, pointing out that Ray has a large network of friends and acquaintances in the community.

A second line of approach is to meet one-on-one with people who are relatively new to the school. These could be community or business leaders who have demonstrated an affection for the school, either by being involved in it physically or financially, says Allan. The financial status of the school and request for help will be presented in a one-to-one session.

“The plan is not to sit down and arm-twist someone to sign a cheque,” Allan adds. “We’ll explain the situation, where we have been, where we see ourselves going.” A package of information will then be given to the supporters, so that they can review the stats and think over their decision.

“We want them to make a wise choice for their place in life and how they see themselves addressing the need of the school, if they do at all.”

This project to pay off the school’s line of credit is to be called the Fresh Start campaign.

Allan points out that this is “simply a case of starting a long-term process for addressing finances for the school.”

First, “we have this financial monkey on our back that we want to get rid of,” he says.

The next steps are to look forward and identify what people are passionate about. “What people are passionate about is where they tend to put their time, their energy, their money,” he says. He notes some might be interested in new playground equipment while others might eventually like to see additions to the school building.

The eventual plan to is to work towards goals related to those passions, perhaps using the same approaches as those intended for the Fresh Start campaign.