By Megan Wehring
WIMBERLEY— The Katherine Anne Porter School (KAPS) community has been fighting for months to secure its financial stability.
Founded in 1998, KAPS is a tuition-free public charter school, with diversity at the forefront of its mission, located in Wimberley serving the Hays County area along with surrounding cities.
On Jan. 31, the Board of Trustees considered a merger with ResponsiveEd, a charter school operator, for a Premier High School — which would ultimately change the environment of the school that many students have become accustomed to. That decision was postponed for 90 days to allow for a reassessment of the school’s finances and enrollment figures.
But, with some new members in place, the Board recently decided to not vote on merging with ResponsiveEd.
“It doesn’t take anything off the table,” said Cynthia Milonzi, Board President. “It just says that particular vote and that whole scenario is done.”
Now, the strategic committees led by Milonzi are working to raise enough funds to keep the school’s doors open through the summer and for the upcoming school year.
Milonzi explained that they are currently sitting at approximately $18,000 raised, excluding what was raised last weekend at Wimberley Market Days. She set a goal of $500,000 back in January, when the postponement was still on the table. This included approximately $270,000 (rounded to $300,000) to cover the budget shortfall for this year only; a mortgage balance of approximately $76,000 (rounded to $100,000); and an additional $100,000 as a buffer that could take care of some building maintenance.
“Our finance committee and consultant have been hard at work looking at our finances,” Milonzi explained. “We were just briefed at last Monday’s Board meeting that we will make it through the [current] school year if all assumptions stay in place and any fundraising efforts will just make that easier.”
Milonzi added that it may not seem like KAPS is not getting close to reaching their goal of $500,000, which is set to roughly end around late August or September, but upcoming fundraising efforts will make a difference.
“I won’t say that we are out of trouble, because we are not,” Milonzi told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. “But, it’s not as dire as it was on Jan. 31.”
Fundraising & events
While KAPS is eligible to receive grants from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) this summer dependent on enrollment numbers, it still has a full calendar of events to help with fundraising.
The community was invited to attend the KAPS ArtsFest on Thursday, March 31, where students sell arts and crafts that they created at the school.
“It’s just a really good way to promote the kids,” said Alisha Berber, PTSO President. “Also, to [show them] how to price their art, go through the entire process and learn how to make a living out of it.”
Other events include:
• Chef’s Dinner Fundraiser will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at the Wimberley VFW Post 6441. Jay Bachman (Wimberley Cafe), Chef Robert (Longleaf Craft Kitchen + Bar), and James Francis and Mark Grimes (Wimberley Supper Club) will prepare Cajun dining options and all proceeds will benefit KAPS. Tickets are $35 in advance and space is limited.
• Flavor & Fire Chili Cook-Off & Cupcake Wars will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 at KAPS. Entry fee for the cook-off is $25; individual tastings are $10 and family pack is $25.
• A Barn Dance featuring Big Cedar Fever will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at Montesino Ranch.
• The Fall Open House will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6 at KAPS, styled as a grand reopening.
For more information about KAPS fundraising, events and enrollment opportunities, please visit https://www.kapschool.org/.
