May 2026 Board Meeting Minutes

May 14, 2026  Time: 8:00 PM

1.  Financials

  • Richard shared a financial update, including current-year modeling and projections for 2026 and 2027, highlighting areas such as materials fee collection.

  • Richard noted that he has been working with Devini on financial modeling over the past several months.

  • Richard shared updated financial projections for 2025, 2026, and 2027, emphasizing the need to increase enrollment to meet revenue targets and ensure sustainable operations.

  • Richard reduced processing fees in QuickBooks, resulting in savings of $5,000 to $6,000 for the school.

2.  Enrollment targets

  • Richard highlighted that current enrollment numbers are below targets, with 10 students in the toddler house and 18 in the children's house, and stressed the importance of reaching 12 and 22, respectively.

  • Pam confirmed that there have been no recent tour requests, indicating a need for increased marketing efforts to attract new families.

  • Madelyn shared that their physical therapist is interested in enrolling their daughter in Toddler House, providing a potential lead for enrollment.

3.  Fundraising

  • Cori noted successful fundraising events, including Earth Week and Culver's, and incorporated their proceeds into the financial forecast for the next school year.

  • The Culver's Night fundraiser raised $810, and the Earth Week fundraiser raised $7,565, as reported by Madelyn and Cori.

4. Merchandise

  • Annie presented the new merchandise storefront featuring student self-portrait designs on shirts and sweatshirts for both adults and children.

  • Annie shared that the new merchandise storefront features student self-portrait designs and offers various apparel options for adults and children.

  • Annie explained that the merchandise vendor will add the school logo or custom lettering in crayon style at no extra charge, and participants can submit lettering samples for inclusion.

  • Annie confirmed that the merchandise can be rolled out as a fundraiser, with $5 added per shirt, and suggested introducing the shirts at the mother-child breakfast and school picnic.

  • Annie mentioned that a t-shirt will be made for them for Saturday to showcase the product.

  • Annie explained the plan to attach a link to their website for parents to order shirts directly, with orders sent to the shirt company in Oconomowoc.

Follow-up Tasks

  • Student Enrollment Campaign: Initiate an advertisement or campaign to attract two additional students for Children's House and two additional students for Toddler House for the next school year. (All)

  • Potential Student Outreach: Contact Jessica to follow up on potential families she has in mind for enrollment and coordinate outreach efforts. (Madelyn)

  • Fundraising Event Scheduling: Investigate and book future Culver's fundraising nights at the Heartland location, aiming for summer or advance dates, and set up a sign-up for volunteers. (Annie/Devini)

  • Merchandise Rollout Preparation: Pick up the collaborative t-shirt, wear it at the mother-child breakfast, and prepare to explain and roll out the merchandise to parents before the end of the school year. (Annie)

  • Merchandise Branding Enhancement: Obtain handwritten "Lake Country Montessori" lettering from Grant or the girls and provide it to the merchandise vendor to add to the collaborative shirt design. (Annie)

  • Picnic Logistics Coordination: Check if St. Charles is holding their event on the same day as the school picnic, and arrive early to reserve tables for the group. (Madelyn)

  • Teacher Arrival and Cleanup Support: Determine what tasks keep teachers at school longer on picnic day and coordinate with Pam to facilitate earlier arrival and support for setup and cleanup. (Annie, Molly Alimondi)

  • Student Pickup Adjustment for Picnic: Assess if picking up students earlier on picnic day would help teachers arrive sooner and communicate any changes to parents. (Annie, Molly Alimondi)