Parents, Students and Friends of MSA:

The Math and Science Academy is conducting a Capital Improvement Campaign to install new carpeting, paint the interior of the building, repair the front entryway, and reconfigure classrooms in our school building. Our goal is to have 100% of MSA families contribute to raise $50,000 for our school in ONE DAY. Funds raised will be utilized to enhance the existing MSA school building and to afford important additions to our new building needs. MN Give to the Max Day will be the ONLY administrative fundraiser for the 2012-2013 school year if the $50,000 goal is met.

WHY DO WE NEED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS? MSA is a charter school that receives funding from the State of MN for educational purposes. For the past few years, the MN legislature has employed the practice of holding back public school funds to balance the state budget. Our status as a charter school does not afford us the same low borrowing rates that regular public schools are offered when seeking dollars to fill the gap left by the holdback. Additionally, charter schools are not eligible to request levy increases, and therefore do not benefit from levy dollars. Consequently, our Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility to make cuts and/or raise funds to meet our own budget requirements. Often the choice has been made to seek technology funds from the MSA community and to hold off on needed improvements for the building and academic programming.

WHAT ABOUT FUNDRAISING FOR THE NEW BUILDING? As the school plans for a new building, the need to repair and improve our existing building has become even more important. Potential funders and community representatives will be invited to tour our school in the near future. MSA should be able to confidently show off our talented student body and teachers. Eleven years of wear and tear on our hallways and classrooms overshadows the excellence in education MSA displays. Any funds remaining after the changes to the existing building are made will be budgeted to provide needed items in the new building.

I ALREADY MADE A DONATION AT THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR. Donations made to the Parent Team and through the back-to-school supply list are all important ways to help our students have the best education available in MN. The Math and Science Academy has consistently been rated as one of the top schools in MN based on SAT and MN standardized tests. To continue the tradition of excellent education at MSA, there is also need to look to our community to update our current building and provide necessary equipment in our new building for our students. ALL of our MSA families are encouraged to contribute to the Capital Improvement Campaign on November 15, 2012 – MN Give to the Max Day. Some of our families may not be able to contribute a monetary donation. Parents are able to contact the MSA Director, Bob Kreischer, to confidentially discuss alternatives to financial gifts. Together, we can ensure that the Math and Science Academy remains the best school in MN.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Howe

Chair – Board of Directors

Robert Kreischer

Director