KINGSTON – Faced with either closure or relocation after an eight-year lease was not renewed, the state’s longest-running charter school has met its first fundraising deadline as backers try to save the school.

Seacoast Charter School raised $125,000 in 15 days to fund a move to a new
facility by fall.

“I’m deeply moved by the outpouring of support by and for the (Seacoast Charter School) community,” said Peter Durso, Head of School at Seacoast Charter School, a K-8 arts-integrated public charter school in Kingston.

While $125,000 is a substantial amount to raise in barely two weeks, it’s only half of what the school needs to stay afloat. The school needs another $125,000 by September to cover the lease at the new location at the former Great Bay Community College building in Stratham. “Everyone has worked so hard to achieve this first goal,” Durso said in a statement from the school.

Assuming the second goal is met, the school needs new student recruits, and $250,000 each year for the lease to continue operating.

“We need our numbers to grow to meet the demands of the new location,” said Durso. “Some families have said that they will not make the trip to Stratham, so we’ll need to compensate for that loss, too.”

The school currently serves 248 students, and is the longest running charter school in New Hampshire. Operating for more than a decade, the school has leased space at the former Sanborn Regional High School facility for nearly a decade.

Citing health and safety concerns of the present facility, the Sanborn Regional District School Board, which owns the building, voted not to renew the charter school’s lease in early May.

According to Seacoast Charter School Board treasurer Marc Wood, the school needed $125,000 by June 1, and needs the second $125,000 by
September 1.

The first fundraising goal was met by a community-wide effort from staff, parents and students. Kindergarten teacher Jessica Lindsay produced videos with her students that replaced song lyrics with an appeal for school funds.

Seventh and eighth-grade musicians performed at events to help raise money, and a “YouCaring” page was set up to raise funds at www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/seacoast-
charter-school-sos-save-our-school-/349337.

“We need to let people know how special this school is in order to keep it going,” said Durso.

Seacoast Charter School students have five hours of visual art and music a week, and all students learned a stringed instrument starting in third grade.

In the middle school years, students in seventh grade choose art electives such as rock band, jazz and drama, and visual arts like drawing and sculpture.

Durso said the school’s longevity so far is a credit to dedicated staff, parents and students.

“I’m grateful to our donors and everyone involved in our school for their time, energy, donations and prayers,” he said.

Parent Kiki Bolle Evans said she feels cautiously optimistic, especially in light of recent support from the community.

“I hope that we can sustain that momentum and reach the next goal, but we also need to boost our enrollment in order to make this work and remain open,” she said.

The next round of fundraising will cover the rest of the 2015/2016 school year. Donations are tax deductible, (Tax ID 20-0645885). Anyone interested in donating can send a check to the Seacoast Charter School at 13 Church Street, Kingston, NH 03848.

If the school does not raise enough funds and closes, all contributions will be returned to donors. Regardless, the school is operating normally through the last day of classes June 18.

For more information, call 642-8400, or visit www.seacoastcharterschool.org.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402, tforbes@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_TinaF.

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