Great Bay Charter School Launches Sponsorship Program

EXETER__Great Bay Charter School has launched a community sponsorship program to support programming, school lunch, and general operating expenses at the school.

“While this is a sponsorship program, it is really part of a bigger goal of ours to form partnerships in the community with businesses, organizations and individuals,” said Cheryl York McDonough, a member of the Board of Trustees for the non-profit school in Exeter. “The reality is that in the state of New Hampshire unfortunately charter schools are not funded like public schools, even though we are a public school, and as a result, we need to work to make up the difference in funds for our kids.”

Sponsors can be individuals, businesses, or school districts and all will receive recognition for their contributions as well as invitations to graduation, exhibition, and other school events. To completely fund the gap between what the state allocates per student for charter schools and the actual cost of educating a student at GBCS costs $3,500.

Dan Nadeau, a graduate of the school who owns Seacoast Coin and Jewelry in Hampton, was the first to contribute at the $3,500 sponsorship level.

“I wouldn't be where I am today without this school,” Nadeau said. “I’m happy to be in a position to be able to help and that my love for what I do was pushed and supported at this school.”

Great Bay Charter School serves students in grades 6 through 12 who are looking for a smaller and more hands-on experience than they can find in a larger school.

“We really serve a purpose for a small percentage of kids but with a huge payback in terms of helping kids that might not otherwise have flourished in school find their place,” York McDonough said. “The reality is that your contribution might be saving a kid.”

Other levels of sponsorship include the $2,500 Guarantor which maintains funding that is just and fair for students and is the roughly the same as the stipend the Exeter Region Cooperative District provides for students from the district who attend the school. Those who would like to supplement the cost for student lunches can support the school at the $850 Lunch Buddy level. The $100 Benefactor level helps fund student activities like field trips, visiting speakers, class trips, yearbooks, graduation exercises, clubs, co-curriculars and ensures every student can participate. The $50 Patron level helps fund the day-to-day supply needs of students and teachers in our classrooms, while the $25 Donor level helps sustain the school’s academic programs.

Great Bay Charter School is a project-based school in Exeter that serves students in grades 6-12. As a public charter school, GBCS is a tuition-free alternative to larger, traditional public schools, and is open to students from throughout New Hampshire. To inquire about sponsorships, contact Cheryl York McDonough at 603 303 5857 or cea.cheryl@gmail.com.

For more information, visit www.gbecs.org