Our Story - Building a Waldorf School in Lawrence, Kansas
In the 1990's, Rick Mitchell moved back to Lawrence, KS, after having been an integral part of the Princeton Waldorf School, in Princeton, NJ. He had a vision to create a Waldorf school in Lawrence, KS. He was involved in helping to bring several anthroposophical events to the Lawrence community.
Fast forward to 2001.....
Marty and Juliana Haught moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lawrence, Kansas. With their then 2 year old daughter in mind, they chose to live close to family at the sacrifice of Waldorf education, which had been just 10 minutes from their home in South Minneapolis. After a few months of pondering the situation, Marty decided he would be willing to start a dialog with the community of Lawrence to see if there was interest in starting a Waldorf school. After two months of planning and asking some assistance from Alexander Cameron of the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Program, the community of Lawrence responded.
May 26th, 2001 was the first public meeting of the then named Lawrence Waldorf Study Group. Over 30 people attended the first meeting, which Marty listed for free in their local co-op's newspaper and posting up flyers around town. Several people came forward as part of that meeting. Just recently moved from San Francisco Elizabeth Benner called Marty before the meeting to talk about his plans. She in turn introduced him to Rick Mitchell, whom had been involved with the Princeton Waldorf School back in the 80s. Rick has also assisted another group in Gardner, Kansas get their organization started and had briefly started an effort in Lawrence a few years back. Circumstances back then had kept the effort from continuing until the Haughts unknowingly resurrected it. Rick also had another surprise for Marty in that he had purchased a 160-acre farm a few years ago with the purpose that it would someday become a Waldorf school. The farm was beautiful and perfect for a school location. Additionally, Monika Eichler had at the last minute been guided to the meeting and immediately knew it was the way to go. Monika and her husband David then contacted Marty and became involved in helping the effort forward.
Over the next two months the group slowly grew as several other individuals that had been touched by Waldorf education came forth. Sarah Visos-Ely and Heidi Benham both attended the second meeting and enlisted to assist the effort. A 'core group' was formed and started meeting regularly to guide the school building process. Marty also started a monthly email newsletter that kept up all the interested individuals on the progress of the group.
In August 2001, the group has its first seasonal festival. With no traditional festival in August they chose to call it Summerfest and focused on a theme of celebrating the sun and wind of summer. Mother nature provided a perfect summer day for Kansas with a light breeze, full sun and a comfortable 80s. Over 60 people attended the festival, which has an array of events throughout the day starting with a nature walk, storytelling, craft making and ending with a potluck BBQ.
In their efforts to increase awareness Marty had contacted Lawrence's local newspaper, the Lawrence Journal-World, about covering the event in the weekend edition. Education writer Tim Carpenter interviewed Marty and Rick about the school effort and Waldorf education in general. While the article did not make the press in time for Summerfest it did come out the Monday after as the feature article in the Lawrence & State section, the main section for local news. As a result the group got several phone calls and emails from interested families.
In September, the group held its first Anthroposophy Study Group meeting out at Rick's farm. A small but dedicate group turned out and attended the meetings regularly as they started to explore Rudolf Steiner's works. Stuart Easton's Man and World in the Light of Anthroposophy was chosen for the study group's first book as it offered a good overview of Anthroposophy for the beginning group.
Fueled by the growing community support, the core group started the incorporation process in the state of Kansas. By October 10th, the group was now registered as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Kansas. The Waldorf Association of Lawrence now had formed a Board of Directors and started discussing their by-laws. Marty Haught, Juliana Haught, Monika Eichler, David Eichler, and Rick Mitchell drafted the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. Additionally Sarah Visos-Ely, Erika Bessey, Jonathan Benham, Heidi Benham and Ali Mangan were also named to serve on the Board of Directors.
For November the newly formed board planned their first fall fair. Chipping in together the group purchased books, Stockmar products, musical instruments, wooden toys and other Waldorf items to sell at the mid-November fair. Additionally the group mustered some baked goods, a Waldorf education video, and some various children's activities to draw in the public for the all-day Saturday event. Turn out was steady and strong. By this point the group's email newsletter list had over 70 addresses on it. With the coming holiday season the board decided to enter into a holiday hibernation until mid-January.
2002
With the new year, the board scheduled additional meetings and started planning for a Fall 2002 opening of their kindergarten program. After a discussion in the Anthroposophy Study Group some months back Marty asked Rick more about his experiences with starting a Waldorf school. From that conversation Marty mulled over the Pioneering Families concept. The dilemma was how do you hire a teacher and secure a classroom with any prospective students? Additionally, how do you get families to commit to paying tuition for a teacher and school that does not exist? This was the problem that the Pioneering Families initiative would address. By presenting the concept of creating a social contract and building a community of families that would commit to a first year, the board could comfortably pursuit hiring a teacher and leasing school property. In the February email newsletter, the association sent out the Pioneering Families initiative to its members. Within a few weeks five families had signed up with 9 children as part of that first group. After sending out the Pioneering Families initiative the board then posted job offers to www.waldorfworld.net and a Waldorf Early Childhood Conference in Spring Valley, NY.
Another monumental step occurred in February for the association. The board approved the IRS form 1023 which is required to determine your non-profit status with the federal government. On March 4th, the paperwork was mailed allowing the group to focus all energies on building the base of Pioneering Families and finding their first teacher. In little over seven months the IRS approved our request to be acknowledged as a non-profit corporation.
We received a small response to our search for a kindergarten teacher. However, a strong candidate from India, Dipti Lakdawala, won the hearts of the initiative and we agreed to bring her over to the U.S. on an H-1B work visa. Having a lifelong dream of relocating to the United States, Dipti planned to move here with her family and lead Prairie Moon's early childhood program. The board sent off the INS paperwork in May and we waited for a response. Meanwhile, the pioneering families had swelled to over 9 families and everything seemed to be going well.
In July, the board shifted with the beginning of our new year. Sakhi MacMillan, Kenji Zweygardt and Barb Thompson joined the board as new directors. David and Monika Eichler decided to share a seat on the board with the anticipated arrival of their first child in August. Monika also stepped down as treasurer, a role which Sakhi assumed. Rick Mitchell accepted the vice-presidency and Juliana Haught become the new secretary. Marty Haught remained as the president of the board. Erika Bessey, Jonathan Benham, Heidi Benham and Ali Mangan had left the board from the previous year.
The final major piece of the school puzzle was the 2002's school location. On a tip from one of our Anthroposophy study group member, Marty contacted the Unity Church of Lawrence and inquired about sharing space for the coming school year. The church supportive of our goals, agreed to explore the option. They were soon to be moving into larger building in July. As the school year approached a surprise awaited us. In Kansas, property tax laws were structured to penalize churches for using their grounds beyond church activities, which included allowing a preschool or private school to use their facilities. After the Unity Church board explored the issue it seemed clear that there was no way around the issue without paying taxes, which would have surpassed the proposed lease amount.
While the school community wrestled with how to handle the last minute surprise, Dipti's visa failed to return by August. With the school year starting for all the surrounding schools, Prairie Moon's families continued the waiting game. In September the INS replied with a request for more information on Dipti's visa. The school scrambled to compile the needed information and submitted it back to the INS. However, the fall came and pass without word from the INS. With the new year approaching Dipti announced that she would not be able to come to the U.S. until summer, even if her visa was approved in early winter.
So the bid for starting Prairie Moon's first class in 2002 ended. The core of pioneering families stuck together and we began the planning process for the 2003-4 school year. It was tough for many of the families to realize that their children would miss this year in a Waldorf school. However, we all agreed that we need to start this school on a strong note so that it will last well beyond our children's class.
2003
During the January 2003 Board retreat it was determined that we needed to step back and evaluate the events from the previous two years and not rush into beginning the school - rather to nurture its foundation more deeply. During the summer of 2003, a new president for the association was elected. With changing leadership and a new vision, the movement in Lawrence continued. We continued our seasonal fairs, and in the summer of 2004, a Waldorf playgroup began in the home of Monika and David Eichler. At first only 4 families attended, but by the last monthly playgroup in May 2005, over 20 families had participated.
2004
In September 2004, the Grant Township board approached us to see if we wanted to use their empty school's building for our school. We were excited to hear about this possibility. Over time, it became apparent that it was a good fit for all. With a growing interest, a location, we were now ready to hire our first teacher.
2005
Our search led us to Barbara Shields, a teacher from the Steiner School in NYC. She accepted the offer to help us begin our initiative and moved to Lawrence in July 2005. With assistants, Pat Stangl and Rachel Rolfs, and a program assistant, we were ready. In Sept. 2005, Ms. Barbara resigned for personal reasons, and mentored Ms. Pat until her departure at the end of October. During the 2005-2006 school year, Ms. Pat beautifully took the lead along with Ms. Rachel as her assistant. Ms. Pat received mentoring (in person as well as phone) by Betsy Gimenez, an AWSNA regional representative. Ms. Elizabeth Rowley joined the school as the after-care teacher to help with afternoon rest, snack and outdoor time.
2006
For the 2006-2007, Ms. Monika Eichler, began her training as an early childhood Waldorf teacher, and took the lead position for the early childhood program. Assisted by Ms. Katherine Dessert, and Ms. Tisha Cullen, and with Ms. Elizabeth Rowley (for the afternoon), the school settled into a well-run early childhood program.
At the same time, the beginning of the grades program was led by Mr. Bret Schacht. He joined Prairie Moon School for the 2006-2007 school year, and began a combined grades program for children in 1st and 2nd grade.
Mrs. Simberg also joined the school and became the first handwork and German teacher.
By now, the school had 25 families, and the volunteer efforts by many were growing.
2007
For the 2007-2008 school year, there were new developments, as Mr. Mark Lajiness joined the school from Wisconsin, and began a combined 5th and 6th grade class. Mrs. Kathy Farwell, who won the Teacher of the Year award for Lawrence in 2007, joined Prairie Moon School as the 1st grade teacher.
Ms. Katherine Dessert began her own training in early childhood Waldorf education and has taken the lead, along with assistance from Ms. Michelle Wolf.
Another exciting development for Prairie Moon School, is the the Association for Waldorf Schools of North America approved Prairie Moon's 3-year plan in its development towards becoming a Waldorf school. This allows Prairie Moon School to describe itself as a "developing Waldorf school".
More to come....