For the second year in a row, New Century Charter School has been recognized for fiscal success by the Department of Education. New Discoveries Montessori Academy received the same honor for their first year of operation when both schools were awarded the Minnesota School Finance Award for the fiscal year 2007.

“Last year 48 districts received the award,” Administrative Director Dave Conrad said. “This year there were 73, and I don’t think there has ever been that many.”

More than 500 districts and schools are eligible for the award, and Conrad said he thought many more could receive the recognition if they applied for it.

“We say it’s not all about the money, but it’s all about the money,” Conrad said. “Most of us are only in this to service the education of our students, but we can’t do that without the proper funding and being fiscally responsible.”

The recognition doesn’t come with any grants or additional funding, but Conrad jokingly said that would be great.

“It’s a pat on the back,” he said. “It’s a nice plaque on the school wall.”

Reputations of some charter schools across the state misappropriating funds and going financially bankrupt have pushed Hutchinson’s charter schools to achieve high financial standards.

“It’s nice to have some acknowledgment for doing it right,” he said. “I would attribute our success to our board who has been serious about being responsible with funds. It’s a team effort.”

(Lesley Christianson is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader.)
christianson@hutchinsonleader.com