Since its inception The Children's Reading Center has received tremendous community support. Years ago when we passed beyond 500 individuals and organizations who had contributed money and time we stopped counting. This support was important for the success of a wide range of CRC activities, but it became essential for the creation of the CRC Charter School.
Once established, the continued operation of the Charter School always will depend on the public per student support mandated by the State of Florida Charter School Statutes. Although this funding included no money for capital purchases, or facility lease or purchase during the first 4 years, the school has been able to remain in the black. The school is constantly on the look out for grants and contributions. Where once many CRC supporters made contributions to the CRC, now many of these contributions go directly to the school. To get the most out of these funds the CRC tries to help the school limit administrative costs and to find synergy between CRC organizational activity and the Charter School function.
Often this effort has been directed at long term needs that we believe should not be considered part of the yearly operating budget of the school. This has included work on the facility construction project. This has been a strain on the CRC finances both due to direct expenses, and because it has limited the ability of the CRC to pursue other income producing activities ---but again and again we have seen the value of planning ahead. The reward has been worth the focus. The progress of the students has been gratifying, to say the least.
As mentioned above, a major problem faced by most charter schools is finding suitable facilities at a low cost. Early on the CRC board realized that without a long term solution to this problem the school program would always be in jeopardy from inflationary costs of leased facilities and even the possible loss of a lease. The CRC board made achieving a long term solution to the facility problem a major focus. To read of the success of these efforts go to the Facility Pages.
Although it is not practical to recognize all the contributors and supporters including cooperative government agencies on this page we would like to mention a few businesses who have helped recently. It should be noted that some of these contributions have gone directly to the CRC Charter School.
B and M Firestone, Charles Wellborn, owner --has provided all maintenance and repair of the CRC bookmobile truck over the last 5 years.
Big Chief Farm Supply, Inc , Herb Wilson and Mary Morris -- have given yearly support the CRC Charter School chicken egg hatching project. 2300 Reid Street. 3286047
Walton Foundation
First Books, Inc, again supplied us with free books we could give to our students.
Andrea's Book Store has continued to donate library reading books
Baldwin Piano
Dr. M. Goul --Science lab furniture and equipment
Dr. E. Jump --Science lab furniture and equipment