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POSTED: Sunday, Feb. 01, 2009

Whatcom County private schools faring better than public ones

Public schools are increasing class sizes, cutting programs and bracing for more as the state's budget ax hacks away at a multibillion-dollar shortfall.

But for the 17 private schools in Whatcom County, the state budget is not the threat it is for their public counterparts.

Private schools are funded mostly by student tuition. Despite the increasingly rough economy, many local private schools, including Whatcom Day Academy, Bellingham Christian School and St. Paul's Academy, have seen enrollment increase.

Stephanie Sadler, head of the approximately 260-student St. Paul's Academy, said she has more tours scheduled than ever in her five years at the school.

"We know we're doing something right," Sadler said, noting some of those inquiring about St. Paul's have said they're concerned about public school budget cuts. "Parents want quality education with rigor and small class sizes."

BENEFITS OF PRIVATE

Part of the reason Whatcom County's private schools are thriving may be the effort to provide scholarships to students who need them. Tuition at the schools ranges from about $2,500 to $7,000 each year, depending on grade level.

Principal Bob Sampson credits the enrollment increase at Bellingham Christian School to the fact $125,000 came in during its first Building a Foundation Fund Raising event last school year. The foundation has additional pledges for $350,000 over the next four years.

The school, which has about 165 students, plans to give away 50 scholarships totaling $170,000 next academic year as part of its 50th anniversary.

While most schools have reported an increase in the number of students asking about financial aid and scholarships requests for this year or next, so far they have been able to work with families on ways to keep kids in private school.

At St. Paul's Academy, administrators have altered the tuition payment schedule if needed. At Assumption Catholic School, donations have kept up with increasing financial aid requests. At Lynden Christian School, the tuition assistance funds have so far taken care of any family shortfalls.

"We are hearing personal stories of families who have lost their jobs, might be losing their jobs, downturns in business ... and we're attempting to be sensitive to those needs and working with families as they contact us to bridge the tuition gap," said Don Kok, superintendent of Lynden Christian Schools. "Those tuition assistance funds are limited, but our board wants to do everything they can to keep kids here."

One way Lynden Christian School brings in money is through its thrift store, which generates about $30,000 in sales each month for the 1,200-student private school. The net profit is much less, but it still helps the school cover budget shortfalls and scholarships.

But fundraising hasn't been as easy for the non-religious private schools in Whatcom County, making it harder for them to cover budget shortfalls and help families that need tuition assistance.

At Whatcom Day Academy, tuition covers about 80 percent of operating costs, which keeps tuition low but makes it harder to stretch the budget.

"The rest is fundraising, and like with all nonprofits right now, that is a little more difficult," said Susan Donnelly, head of the school that has more than 100 students in preschool through grade 8.

Daniel Kirkpatrick, director of Explorations Academy, said many of his 19 students are on "substantial scholarships," but donations are needed to offer those scholarships.

"Because of what's happened in the markets, I'm contacting donors who might normally send a substantial gift and they're saying they can't send as much because they've lost money," Kirkpatrick said.

Instead of being frustrated, Kirkpatrick sees the fundraising challenges as an opportunity to make sure people know about the small high school for "bright and bored teens" and possibly find new donors.

ADVANTAGE OF FAITH

Ties to religion may give seven of the county's private schools an advantage when the economy sours.

"I think many people think the parents at Lynden Christian and other faith-based schools have tons of money and are able to pay tuition and that's not true," Kok said. "They defer the purchases of other items to put their children in school."

In all, about 2,200 students from preschool through high school are in religious-based private schools in Whatcom County, according to the Washington Education Directory.

"The families that have stayed have had to make personal sacrifices to maintain their selection of our school," said Rose Goeres, principal of the approximately 350-student Assumption Catholic School. "In Catholic schools, we often do not lose as many families during tough economic times. Catholic families believe that Catholic education is a more important investment that keeping the expensive car or having lattes every day."

STILL SOME PROBLEMS

Even though private schools are faring well as a whole, individual ones have been caught in the downfall of the stock and loan markets.

St. Paul's Episcopal School had to delay the construction of its new $13 million middle and high school building due to the loan market drying up.

Lynden Christian Schools have delayed a $3 million health and athletic center construction and renovation project.

Assumption Catholic School Foundation's endowment and investments have declined.

Fairhaven Girls' School had to rely on private donations to keep the school open after the loan market dried up during its opening.

And a few schools have seen enrollment stay flat or decline.

Assumption Catholic School lost about 30 students over the summer due to financial reasons, Goeres said. She had been hopeful that since the school budget is not tied to the state budget, the school would escape unscathed. But once people started losing jobs, she knew students would be leaving.

"I cannot expect families to choose Catholic education over groceries or paying the heat bill," she said.

Rising utility and insurance costs are also causing some budget tightening, but not major cuts.

"We have trimmed some non-essential costs to our budget wish list, but we have not had to cut any current programs," said Sampson, principal of Bellingham Christian School.

FUTURE CLOUDY

While the economic landslide hasn't yet swept them up, school officials are being cautious about planning for next year.

"At this point, we're concerned," Kok said. "We're concerned about the uncertainty of the economy. We're being very cautious as we plan next year's budget."

At St. Paul's Academy, Sadler isn't sure the recession's impact has hit bottom.

"We're kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop," she said, adding that all private schools should know more once enrollment for the next school year starts.

Until then, the private schools in Whatcom County will watch what the public schools cut and plan for the worst. Kok said administrators and board members are expecting to have to follow public schools in making staffing reductions and other cuts next year, but nothing has been decided yet.

"The board and administrators, like at all the public schools, are looking at all the options," he said. "We hope and pray for the best, but we have to be prepared for whatever may come."