Dear Parents:

The School Board would like to thank you again for making First Presbyterian Christian
Academy your choice for educating your children.  FPCA strives to offer the best
educational opportunities for all of its students with a college preparatory education, safe
environment with a family atmosphere, opportunities to participate and excel in
extracurricular activities and promote Christian values.

In 2009, FPCA’s commitment to excellence has been evident in GISA academic and
athletic competitions.  In 2009, FPCA received the following awards: Academic: 2009
Literary Regional Champions (a student on this team also received a National Merit
Scholarship); 2009 State Champions for Girls' Argumentative Essay and Spelling.
Athletics: 2009 Boys' Soccer Regional Champions; 2009 Boys' Soccer State Runner-Up;
2009 Boys' Basketball Regional Champions; and 2009 Boys' Basketball State Champions.
The School Board, administration, faculty, and staff are committed to enhancing the
quality of education that FPCA students enjoy.  In order to maintain FPCA’s level of
educational excellence, the School Board has carefully managed the budgetary needs of
the school.  Due to the economic changes and the increasing costs of educating our
students, it is vital and necessary to increase our revenues for the next school year (2010-
2011).

Tuition is the primary source of revenue for the school.  Based on current budget
projections for the coming school year, an increase in tuition is required.  The School
Board realizes that any increase in tuition may cause families to consider withdrawing
their student(s) from our school based on the current economic climate.  The Board
wishes not to lose a single student due to our need to increase revenues.  To that end, the
School Board has voted on and approved the following two-part plan:

Head of School
Amy Swindell
Assistant Principal
Shannon Hickey
Preschool Director
Dede Splitt

Part 1 – Tuition Increase of Five Percent (5.0%)

• PK T Th: Increase of $7.50 per month for 12 month payment plan
• PK MWF: Increase of $10.00 per month for 12 month payment plan
• PK 3-4 ½ day: Increase of $12.50 per month for 12 month payment plan
• PK 3-4 Full day: Increase of $15.83 per month for 12 month payment plan
• K-5th: Increase of $19.42 per month for 12 month payment plan
• 6th – 8th: Increase of $20.33 per month for 12 month payment plan
• 9th – 12th: Increase of $21.42 per month for 12 month payment plan

Note: There will not be an increase in the registration fee.

Outlined above you can see how a five percent (5.0%) increase in tuition will affect your
family’s budget.  As you can see, an FPCA family’s monthly budget will be impacted
anywhere from $7.50 per month to $21.42 per month depending upon the student’s grade
level.

Part 2 – Establishment of an Annual Sustaining Fee

The 5 percent increase in tuition does not completely satisfy the projected budget
shortfall for FPCA.  To satisfy the remaining shortfall - while attempting to reduce the
budget impact for FPCA families - the School Board has approved the establishment of
an Annual Sustaining Fee.  The sustaining fee will be part of the FPCA fundraising
program.  FPCA fundraising is an essential element of our business plan and accounts for
approximately twenty percent (20%) of our budgeted revenues.  As envisioned, the
fundraising program is a method for the school to raise revenue without affecting family
budgets.  However, the fact is that for the last three (3) years we have failed to raise
sufficient revenues in fundraising to satisfy annual budget projections.  In an effort to
correct this shortfall, without further increasing annual tuition, the School Board has
approved an annual Sustaining Fee of $475 per family.  The fee would work as follows:
• The School Board will require each FPCA family to pay $475.00 per family in the
form of an annual Sustaining Fee; however, some families can afford to give more.
If you can afford more than the minimum, then we appeal to your generous
nature to give as much as you reasonably can to help your school family meet its
financial needs as it seeks to provide a high quality education to your children.
Note: To be clear, $475.00 per family means one (1) $475.00 fee per family
regardless of how many children in a family attend FPCA.  This is not a $475.00
per student fee.

Question - How will the school help prevent the annual Sustaining Fee of $475.00 or
more from affecting my family’s budget?

Answer - The School will give each family a credit toward their School account up
to the amount of the minimum annual Sustaining Fee ($475.00) for the
following:

1.  Any tickets sold by a family for the Chili Cook-Off, the Gala or the Gas
Raffle will be credited back to the family’s FPCA account for the face
value of the ticket.  There may be other opportunities for FPCA families to
sell tickets other than the above listed.

2.  If a family secures a donation from a charitable giver and brings it to the
School office for deposit, then the FPCA family will have their FPCA
account credited for the entire amount of the charitable gift.

Example:  Assume that the tickets for this year’s Gala will be $60.00.  If a
family sells a ticket to the Gala and brings the money for the ticket into the
School office for deposit, then this family’s FPCA account will be credited
the entire $60.00.  Each family’s account will be eligible for credit of
every ticket they sell up to the amount of the minimum annual Sustaining
Fee of $475.00.

Question - How will payment of my annual Sustaining Fee be made?
Answer - Each family’s annual Sustaining Fee will be made consistent with their
financial contract.

Example:  If a family is on the twelve month payment plan, then they will
make twelve (12) equal payments of $39.58 per month which total
$475.00 per year.  If a family sells tickets to fundraising events or secures
charitable donations, then the family’s account will be credited back those
amounts at the time they are presented to the school office for deposit.
It is the School Board’s desire that the above plan will help bring the FPCA family
together in a concerted effort to increase fundraising, thereby increasing school revenue
without imposing any further on FPCA family budgets.

Conclusion

It is the School Board’s goal to re-enroll all current students at FPCA.  The School Board
understands that the current economic status of our country has negatively affected
everyone.  The School Board is examining every avenue for keeping tuition and fees as
low as possible.  Before you make a decision to not re-enroll due to financial reasons,
please contact the Head of School to discuss your financial situation or complete a
Financial Assistance Application.  The School Board is willing to work with all currently
enrolled families during these hard times as it is the School Board’s desire not to lose one
single member of the FPCA family.

It is anticipated that some FPCA parents will have questions regarding the issues outlined
in this correspondence to include questions specifically about the budget.  A meeting is
scheduled for January 26, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Church Sanctuary where the Finance
Committee will be present to answer any questions or concerns of the FPCA parents with
regards to the budget.

Enclosed are the Re-Enrollment Application, Financial Contract, and the Fee Schedule.
Please complete the attached forms and return them to the school by January 29, 2010 to
ensure that your child has a space for next year.  The required non-refundable
registration fee must be paid in full no later than March 15, 2010.  The registration fee
may be paid in three installments: one by January 29th, one by February 15th, and one by
March 15th.  If parents do not have their child registered, the Financial Contract signed
and returned, and two installments of the registration fee completed on or by February
15th, it will be assumed by FPCA that you do not intend to enroll your child for the
following year.  After February 15th, enrollment for FPCA will be opened to prospective
new students and openings will be filled accordingly.

The School Board would like to thank you in advance for your positive commitment to
First Presbyterian Christian Academy.  You are making the right investment in your
child’s future.

Respectfully, on behalf of the School Board,

//////////ss////////////
David C. Sapp
Chairman, FPCA School Board

 

Click here to download the Enrollment packet as a PDF document

Download the Fee Sheet

Download this letter