Philosophy of Cooperative Community
Community building is essential to Azalea Mountain Cooperative’s approach to enrollment. We have spent the last three years collaborating on festivals and gatherings as we build a community in Asheville that shares a love of Waldorf education. Now we are ready to enroll children in our learning cooperative! The approach of Azalea Mountain Cooperative is based on that of the first Waldorf school: open to all who are interested.
How will we accomplish this? Each family will contribute “the most they are able to contribute.” Our contributions are in programs fees, donations and volunteer support to enjoy being in community and to keep costs down. This is a different approach from paying tuition as the purchase of a commodity for “my child.” Rather, each family’s contribution assures a stable learning environment for all the children.
Cost of Providing a Stable Environment for Learning
The Azalea Mountain Board has spent the winter researching the costs of providing quality Waldorf programs for our community. We have received the input from other Waldorf schools, local business people and our CPA. The summary of our $196,500 budget for the first year:
Personnel Costs: $115,000 Provides teachers for Kindergarten, First-Second Grade, and Third-Fourth Grade, Eurythmy, Handwork, Music, Foreign language, Nature Immersion Day, and a part time office manager.
Facilities: $18,000 Provides our rent and utilities for three classrooms, an office, use of church play yard and fellowship hall at Trinity United Methodist Church in West Asheville, our Cooperative home for the 2011-2012 year.
Classroom and Playground Preparation: $15,500 Provides furniture and classroom materials to outfit the classrooms for the children; provides outside play equipment and garden. Labor will be provided by parents and community for classroom preparation and play equipment. Many classroom materials can be provided by donations from the community. This amount will be a primary target for fundraising.
General and administration: $28,000 Provides insurance necessary for operation, office expenses, advertising our new program, fundraising expenses and contingencies recommended by our experts
Financial Aid: $20,000 Provides tuition aid, and will be a primary target for fundraising.
Azalea Mountain Fees and Fundraising
Azalea Mountain announces its program fees for the 2011-2012 year. These fees are lower than other private schools in our area yet they provide quality programming thanks to strong volunteer support.
Any family who chooses to do so can apply for financial aid through our on line admissions and enrollment service: TADS.
TADS has a thorough and proven system of evaluating family income, expenses, assets and liabilities to determine each family’s contribution to private education. TADS is used by 21 other Waldorf schools in North America, including Emerson Waldorf in Chapel Hill. We have chosen this assessment service for its proven track record for fairness in evaluating family ability to contribute to education. Each family will pay “the most they are able to contribute,” which will be confidentially calculated by TADS and discussed with the family by a confidential representative of Azalea Mountain Cooperative. Our contributions are in fees paid, our contributions to fundraising, and our volunteer support to co-create the school.
“It is only healing when In the mirror of the human soul
The whole community forms itself, And in the community lives
The strength of the single soul.” Rudolph Steiner
2011-2012 Program Fees:
Kindergarten: $6,500 First-Second Grade: $7,250 Third-fourth Grade: $7,500
For all new students, the application fee is $75 and once accepted, the supply fee is $225 per year. A deposit of $500 toward program fees is required 15 days after acceptance.
Azalea Mountain Application and Enrollment Process:
Step 1: Complete Admissions Application on line with TADS
Step 3: Family and Students Visits with Teacher
Step 4: Student Acceptance
Step 5: Complete Enrollment Agreement and Pay Deposit through TADS
Families who choose to apply for financial aid will fill out the Financial Aid forms on line with TADS.
For questions about the enrollment process please contact Ashley Masters, amdambrosi@gmail.com or Azalea Mountain Cooperative at (828)329-2649.
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