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News & Announcements

Dear Friends, 

Where were you in the fall of 1995? 

I was a sophomore in high school in rural New Jersey, surrounded by farms and the local Air Force base. I was curious and eager to understand the world around me. That year was a year of exploration and growth for me. As I moved into honors level courses, I began to experience rigor and challenge in a way I hadn’t previously. Outside of the classroom, I explored a variety of interests; I was on the soccer team, I served a short stint as a pianist in the jazz band, and I joined the debate team, where I discovered a passion for understanding differing perspectives. These experiences inspired me to begin imagining my future beyond high school, to begin dreaming of who I might become and what I could achieve.

At the same time, a group of pioneering, visionary leaders were opening the first charter public schools to exist in Massachusetts. These leaders believed deeply that every child deserved an education that would not only inspire them to imagine a future of possibility, but that would equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve their dreams, allowing them to turn the future they imagined for themselves into a reality. 

In response to widespread concern about student educational outcomes and success, Massachusetts had passed the Education Reform Act two years prior. The act created a new type of public school in Massachusetts: charter public schools. These new schools would be free, public schools, open to all children, and they would allow for greater autonomy and flexibility, while also being held to higher standards of accountability. 

 

These trailblazing leaders saw, in this new model, the opportunity to reimagine public education – to embrace an approach rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to a high-quality public education. These leaders worked tirelessly. They gained approval from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to open their schools. They recruited faculty who shared their drive to create something incredible from the ground up. They found available buildings where they could turn their dreams into reality. And most importantly, they persuaded families to take a leap of faith and enroll their children in these new schools.

The doors of the state’s first charter public schools opened in the fall of 1995. This year, the following schools each celebrate their thirtieth year of providing quality public education options for the students and families of the Commonwealth:

Over the past thirty years, Massachusetts charter public schools have evolved and grown. Today, we have 68 charter public schools across the state serving 46,000 students, who represent some of the state’s most historically underserved young people. While much has changed, our schools’ educators continue to be innovative and pioneering, willing to adapt as needed in order to meet their students’ needs. 

Throughout this school year, we will celebrate all the ways in which MA charter public schools have been thriving for thirty years and all the ways in which we are together laying the foundation to ensure an equally strong future – for our schools, for our students, and for our communities. Please join us as we celebrate! In addition to sharing powerful stories here in our newsletter, we’ll also be sharing content regularly on our social media channels. To ensure you don’t miss anything, be sure to follow us now.

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Whether you’ve been part of the charter public school community for three years or 30 years, we’re glad you’re here. Whether you are an educator, a parent, an alum, or a friend to our schools, thank you for being an important part of our story. We look forward to celebrating all the ways in which our schools and their students have thrived – and continue to thrive – over the course of this year!  

With gratitude,

 

Tim Nicolette
Executive Director, Massachusetts Charter Public School Association

Board Rebirth

The Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the rebirth of the Foundation and the formation of an active board.

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The Foundation met October 2024 to thank and give well wishes to Ted Basile, to vote in two new members, Chandra Juncker and Susan Keays, to vote to have Beth O'Toole serve as Treasurer, and to update the bylaws.

Foundation Website

The Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the creating of a new website! 

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The Foundation's website will be a place to learn more about the Foundatoin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, and ways to be involved.

Foundation Recruitment

The Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation voted on new bylaws which indicate that the board can consist of a minimum of five directos and maximum of 15. We are now recruiting new members!

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If you are interested, please send your cover letter and resume to info@bfefoundation.org. We will be in touch for an interview.

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Please see more details in this Board Recruitment overview:

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Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation

Board of Directors

 

For over 20 years, the Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation (BFEF) has been supporting the expansion and capital improvements of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS). Today, the mission has been expanded to include support of all the school’s desired enhancements that are not otherwise supported by tuition such as capital needs, staffing infrastructure improvements, additional academic enrichment programming, and parent education forums. BFEF exists to diversify the school’s funding streams, with an aim to continuously secure the future of the school.

We are seeking diverse candidates to join our board which has fiduciary responsibility over this 501(c)3 organization. Terms are two years with the option to renew two times. In looking at board composition, we are looking for individuals with knowledge and skills in event planning, fundraising, major gifts, appeals, grant writing, corporate solicitation, volunteer management, communications, marketing, alumni relations, donor cultivation, emerging leader cultivation, community organizing, or graphic design.

 

It is critical to the success of BFEF, and it is the expectation that 100% of the Board make a financial contribution to the organization. All Directors of the Board pursue an annual contribution of $1,000 through “give or get” models. This amount is likely to increase over the years with the success of the foundation.

 

BFEF is in an important moment of change with renewed enthusiasm and energy to raise the funds needed for BFCCPS to reach all its quality goals. It is also the 30th anniversary of our school which is great momentum for our efforts. We need you to help us make it happen and to start right away!

 

The benefits:

  • Volunteer time, talent, and treasure to an organization that has been around for over 20 years and is making an impact on 900 students, faculty, and families

  • Interact with various members of the larger BFCCPS community through volunteering and fundraising

  • Engage with the school’s Executive Director and Head of School and hear about impactful stories and positive school/student outcomes

  • Learn more about nonprofit fundraising, governance, and charter financing

  • Gain skills in networking, fundraising, public relations, event planning, marketing, and more

  • Network with other professionals who also have a passion for the school
     

 Responsibilities and Expectations:

  • Hold fiduciary responsibility (read meeting materials in advance, actively participate in at least 75% of board meetings annually, remain informed, and fundraise)

  • Serve two-year term with option for two renewals 

  • Volunteer on average three hours per month via board meetings, task forces, soliciting donations, being an ambassador, and more

  • Attend fundraising events

  • Serve as an ambassador for the organization

    • Tell your friends, update your social media, invite others to join, recruit new donors, host a parlor event, connect to your Corporate, Foundation, and Community contacts, recruit future board members with a diverse background

 

Qualifications:

  • It is required that Directors have a passion for our mission and desire to be part of our vision and path forward

  • It is required that all Directors are focused on the singular most important part of the mission – raising money for the school

  • Must be comfortable with “making an ask”

  • Must be eager to solicit sponsorships from businesses

  • Must be able to speak with great enthusiasm and positivity about BFEF, BFCCPS, and the events/initiatives of BFEF

  • Have diversity of talents and background

  • Be free from any conflicts of interest

  • Savvy, diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals

  • Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of students and staff of BFCCPS
     

The process:

  • Be nominated, nominate another, or self-nominate

  • Board will review resume

  • Board will set up introductory and exploratory conversation

  • There is a discussion and vote at board mtg

  • Invitation to join or to reapply later

  • If chosen, sign commitment letter and conflict of interest statement

  • Attend one-hour orientation and review board onboarding manual

 

Current Board Members:

  • Chandra Juncker  

  • Susan Keays

  • Beth O’Toole

  • Joseph Perna

  • Heather Zolnowski

 

Please contact info@bfefoundation.org for more information, to request consideration for a board position for yourself, or to nominate another candidate.

 

Thank you!

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