Brooke Charter Schools 2020-2021 Annual Report

Living Our Mission ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021

We lived our mission by…

Dear friends, The 2020–2021 school year is behind us. Thankfully.

Most of our students learned remotely all year long. The rest learned mostly remotely, as we didn’t offer a full in-person option until April. We worked hard to make the best of it. Our teachers and principals came together over the summer for a month of professional development to learn how to plan curriculum and teach well in a remote setting. Our operations team made sure every one of our

Listening & Innovating | pages 4–5

students had a computer and internet access at home. And, in partnership with parents and families, we did everything we knew how to keep our kids engaged and learning throughout the year.

But remote learning is a very constricted format. Our kids learned less than they would have otherwise. Isolation took a toll on the mental health of so many of our kids and grown-ups too. And although coming back to in-person learning has been challenging, there hasn’t been a moment where we’ve wished for the good old days of remote learning.

We believe the experience of the last year will make us stronger in the long run.

It affirmed who we are and what we need to thrive. It affirmed the importance of strong interpersonal relationships, fortified by in-person contact. It affirmed how

Supporting & Adapting | pages 6–7

much we need structure and routine. And it affirmed the importance of being together to build thriving and fulfilling cultures of achievement in our schools.

There is A LOT of work ahead. We’re incredibly thankful to return to it. Thank you for all of the support you provided to our school communities during these difficult days. Here’s to many, many bright days ahead.

Sincerely,

Jon Clark Co-Director Celebrating | pages 8–9

About Brooke Founded in 2002, Brooke Charter Schools is a network of high-performing charter public schools in Boston. Named after the late Senator Edward W. Brooke III, the first African American popularly elected to the U.S. Senate, our mission is to provide an academically rigorous public education to students from the cities of Boston and Chelsea that will ensure that they are prepared to attend and succeed in college and beyond.

IN THE 2020–2021 SCHOOL YEAR… We educated 2,049 students across grades K–12

We served families in six primary neighborhoods

We operated five schools across four campuses

CHELSEA BROOKE

EAST BOSTON

ATHLETICS

Brooke Mattapan

Brooke East Boston

Brooke Roslindale

Brooke High School & Eighth Grade Academy

ROXBURY DORCHESTER MATTAPAN HYDE PARK

WE SPENT OUR YEAR…

LISTENING After the abrupt transition to remote learning in Spring 2020, we spent the summer designing a plan to provide the best possible education for our scholars while keeping our community safe in the 2020–2021 school year.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Expert guidance

American Academy of Pediatrics

Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Expert guidance

Expert guidance

We ultimately decided to begin the school year with a remote learning model for all grade levels, with the exception of a small number of students who require in-person support.

“The administrators took a lot of

parent feedback. They were clearly open to it, because it was obvious that they incorporated our feedback into planning this year. We felt heard as parents, and I can see how teachers are still challenging my kids with their lessons this fall.”

Families Surveys and conversations

School leadership considered data on COVID-19 transmission, guidance from experts, and input from Brooke community members

–Gretchen M., November 2020 Parent of scholars in Brooke Roslindale, Eighth Grade Academy, and Brooke High School

Decision to start the 2020–2021 school year remotely

Brooke staff and teachers Surveys and conversations

Structured learning We required attendance and credited students for participation just as we would for in-person school.

Data-informed support Teachers used standards-based assessments to inform regular oneon-one meetings between teachers, students, and parents.

Packages of learning supplies Students received packages from their school every month —including technology, books, instruments, exercise equipment, and so much more.

In-person services A limited number of students were invited to learn in person, especially those with significant and complex needs or who were struggling to learn remotely.

WE SPENT OUR YEAR…

INNOVATING

Innovating Once we decided on a remote model for the fall, we knew we needed to innovate and improve upon the experience of remote learning from the previous spring.

We delayed the start of school until September to create space for our teachers to spend six weeks in professional development toward entering the new school year prepared, rather than reactive, to the challenges presented by remote learning in a pandemic.

We were determined to provide a highquality, rigorous curriculum to our scholars as they learned from home.

WE SPENT OUR YEAR…

SUPPORTING Immediately following the initial COVID-19 shutdown, we realized our scholars’ families, many of whom are low-income and Black or Latinx, faced the brunt of both the health and economic crises. In response, we created the Brooke Community Relief Fund to provide them with direct support.

We executed the fund’s first round in the spring of 2020 for families experiencing joblessness, reduction of work hours, and/or COVID-19 illness.

As the crisis escalated, we organized another push in time for the holidays to alleviate families’ continued struggles.

Gratitude and urgency are two of our core values, both of which were clearly on display.

269 grants

227 grants

190 grants

to families at

to families at

to families at

Brooke East Boston

Brooke Mattapan

Brooke Roslindale

50 grants

88 grants

to families at

to families at

Brooke Eighth Grade Academy

Brooke High School

The Brooke Community Relief Fund awarded 755* grants of $500 or $1,000 to families totaling

$378,000 from 537 donors

A few of the messages of gratitude from our recipients “We are a family of 6 and your generous donation helped with two weeks’ worth of groceries, which was amazing and so helpful during these unprecedented times.

I wish you and your family lots of blessings in return and good health. Thank you so much.”

“I might have to put my phone in rice later because of the tears falling on my phone. Lol! I appreciate you guys so much you have no idea! This year has been super tough on my family.

God bless you!”

“We received your help and you do not know how relieved we are to know that we can bring food for our family and in addition to that with your support we will be able to give our children a Christmas gift. We are unemployed and without your contribution all this would not be possible. Thank you very much.”

*Families with multiple children who attend different Brooke campuses and/or received multiple grants are represented twice

WE SPENT OUR YEAR…

Innovating ADAPTING Universal Mask Wearing

Strong Building Ventilation

Based on family feedback in the fall, we knew many of our families were interested in returning to in-person learning when we could do so safely.

We began preparations to return to inperson learning in the winter of 2020 with a staff working group, which:

▪ Read extensive research on safety protocols and community transition ▪ Engaged families and staff to give input on return to school ▪ Mapped out the logistics to bring more students in the building

Social Distancing

Cohort Approach

▪ Provided vaccination information and booked appointments for staff, and hosted vaccine clinics.

Ultimately, Brooke reopened for all grades in the spring, beginning with elementary school in early April and high school by early May. Many of our families chose to remain in our remote learning program, however, so by the end of the school year, 42% of our scholars were back in their classrooms for in-person instruction.

Hand Hygiene

Weekly COVID-19 Testing

WE ENDED OUR YEAR…

CELEBRATING The Class of 2021 reunited one more time, surrounded by the love and support of their teachers and families, for an outdoor graduation ceremony.

It was a proud moment to see this group of scholars maintain their optimism, having persevered through a challenging senior year on the way to college.

Thirty-two members of this small but mighty class graduated with plans to attend colleges such as Amherst College, College of the Holy Cross, Northeastern University, and the UMASS campuses.

“Let the fact that you are

standing here today in your cap and gowns be a reminder that you are resilient, hardworking, and not afraid to overcome any challenge that heads your way.”

–Joseph Mendoza, Class of 2021 Salutatorian

Financials GENERAL FINANCIALS Commonwealth Per Pupil Tuition

$38,596,110

Program Restricted Grants

-

$25K or More

Laurie Berlin and Edward Deicke

Nancy and Lawrence Coolidge

Amy Factor-Oyer and Jay Oyer

Anonymous Donor (2)

Kenneth Bettenhauser

Rebecca Corso

Laurel and Ken Ferretti

Baldwin Politi Family

Josh Biber and Meredith Boak*

Amber Cossette

Jon Finelli

Eileen Coughlin

Joan Fitzgerald

William and Judith Cowin

Heather Flaherty

Danielle Blair

Kyle Crossley

Marie Flaherty

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Isabella Cucchi

Alexander Forrest

David Cullen

Tom and Carla Fortmann

Daniel Bonomo

Barb and Dekkers Davidson

Elizabeth Freedman

Ann S. Borne

Andrea Davis

Paul and Allison Friedmann

Boston Private Bank

Heidi Deck

Jonathan Garland*

Mallory Bram and Clinton Pong

Tricia and Mark Deck

Veronica Gentile

Mattie Deed

Lindsay Giammarino

Mary Dennis

Richard Gilbody

Sophie Dennis

Annie Gordiano

Felicia Depina

Gary Gottlieb

Carla DeSantis

Angela Grandinetti

Andrew Dicks

Jennifer Grandinetti

Jacqueline Disch

Nicole Grandinetti and Joshua Bolduc

Charles Hayden Foundation Charter School Growth Fund

Interagency Grants—Operating

$431,837

Government Grants

$3,839,623

Network/Central Office Income

-

City of Boston Community Preservation Act

In-Kind Transportation & Pension

$9,035,411

Dell

Program Fees & Other Income

$368,495

TOTAL

$47,966,796

Lewis Family Foundation Linde Family Foundation Local Initiatives Support Corporation

OPERATING EXPENSES Personnel—Salaries & Benefits

$34,033,306

Direct Student Costs

$3,984,486

Facility Expenses

$6,096,331

Other Operating Costs

$1,510,864

Depreciation

$2,341,809

TOTAL

$46,533,710

GENERAL REVENUES (EXPENSES)

One8 Foundation Jennifer Toll Van Otterloo Family Foundation

Anonymous Donor (3)

Emily Burke

Queenstar Akrong

Emily Burnor

Brett and Kate Alessi

Bart Bussink and Ann Jenkins

$285,076

Grants & Contributions (Unrestricted)

$297,748

Grants & Contributions (Capital)

$-

Forgiveness of Debt

$-

Other Income

$340,186

Kate Wright Apfelbaum

Financing Costs

$(515,437)

Henry and Diana Asher

Intercompany Grants—Capital

$585,682

Chanel Badgett

Losses on Interest Rate Swap Agreements

$(1,324,337)

Katherine Barnes

$3,674,456

Jaclyn Bryson James and Lin Buck

Interest Income

Change in Unrestricted Net Position

Nicole Brooks

Under $25K

$(299,142)

($630,224)

Ethan Bronsnick

Charlotte Buck

Unwind Activities

TOTAL

Christopher Bizzacco and Victoria Criado

Hilary and Brad Allinson Amazon Smile Coralyn Andres-Taylor

Baupost Group Vivian Beard Katie Belle Jacqueline Benevides Hilary Berkman Ronda and Evan F. Berkman

Mairead and Bob Doherty Lawanda Donald

Nicole Greene William Greer

Marianne Byrne

Molly Donovan

Levin and Eleanor Campbell

Thomas and Ellen Draper

Brian Carey

Chris Duggan

Susan Carroll

Emily and Evan Dvorin

Christopher Chiocco

Imran Eba

Kathy Choi and John J-H Kim

ECMC Foundation

Bob and Michelle Christman

Nicole Efron and Simon Helmore

Jesse Clark

Lisa Ehrich

Dan Harris

Dr. Joel P. Clark

Catherine Ehrlich

Tom and Emily Haslett

Jon Clark and Kimberly Steadman

Shaleea Ezedi

Sarah Holden

Nneka Edwards-Burgess

Alex Grodd Jacob and Liz Grossman Louis Grossman Lauren Haist Greg and Katty Halloran Barbara Hammond Sarah Hammond Dionne Harden

Jen Holleran

Betty Horne Meghan Hurley Frank and Nada Isler Kristi Jobson

Charles and Susie Longfield Colleen and Mark Magleby Sanyika Malcolm Joseph

Allison Scharfstein

Allyson Taylor

Jordan Warshaw

Katie Ouellette

Michael, Sara, and Sally Schnitzer

Brittany Taylor

Skylar Washburn

Alexis Teevens

Haydee Watkins

Jody Teevens

Sean and Gogi Welch

Barbara Tharp

Benjamin Whipple and Carol Gladstone

Melissa Oyer-Klein Alan Paret

Rachel Shack

Emily Paret

Shack Charitable Foundation Trust

Machine Science Inc.

Meghan Parquette

Doug Shaughnessy

Michael and Nancy Tooke

Avery Margerum

Lena Parvex

Matt Shaver

Anne Nancy Traiser

Emily Marsh

Miriam and Alan Pemberton

Sadie Shea

Robin Tucker

Thomas Shively

Meg and Peter Valine

Molly Pomroy

Corey Shtasel-Gottlieb and Derri Shtasel

David and Janice Vaughn

Elza Mathieu

Susan McClain Powell

Anna Sikorsky

Charlotte Kelly

Devita McConnell*

Ellen Powers

Mathilde Silverstein

Rodger Von Kries and Carol Lincoln

Meryl Kessler and Scott Oran

Cristie McGrath

David and Joan Preston

Denise Simmons

Abby Waldman

Lynn Worthy

Darragh McLaughlin

Sandhya Rao

Don Waldman

Matthew Zehr

Ryan McSweeney

Anitra Reed

Jennifer and Terrance Smith

Greg Waldman

Rosette Zihalirwa

Gretchen Medina

Jodi Remington

Helen Snodgrass

Katie and Ben Megrian

Jill Reynolds and Rich Frost

Bert and Elizabeth Snyder

Jane Walker (Thornton) and Wayne Walker

*Member of the Brooke Board of Directors

Johnson Family Charitable Fund Darlande Joseney Jayson Joyce Kari Kaalstadand and Daniel Carr Michael and Wendy Kail Telia Kapteyn and Corey Gottlieb

Rona Kiley M. Scott Knox Rachel Kohn Hannah and Jeffrey Krafchick

Divya Mani and Vicente Piedrahita

Office of Naval Research

Gregory and Leanne Martin Massachusetts Cultural Council

Charliana Mendez

Barbara Kraus-Blackney and Kevin Blackney

Jessie Merritt

Kroikdas & Bluestein Attorneys

Jonathan Moldover

Lauren Kushman* Nick LaRocque Charles and Rebecca Ledley

Dorice Moise David Morgenstern Jack Morrison Peter Munkenbeck Laura Murphy

Jay Perlman

Duncan and Liz Richardson

Susan Snyder and Paul Giragos

Cherie and Ivan Robbins

Jim Sorenson

Don and Virginia Robinson

Jon Spack and Hagar Berlin

Jaydah Robinson

Ruth Spack

Sarah Rocha

Ann and Steve Sparkes

Melissa Rozenweig

Carrie Sparkes

Trevor Rozier-Byrd*

Wilson St. Pierre

Susan and Grant Rudnicki

Reid Starr

Elvira and Jimmy Ruggeri

John and Sharilyn Steadman

Katie Lee

Sherif and Mary Nada

Daniel Leist

Brandon Naranjo

Wing Leung

Ralph Neas

Annette and Gary J. Lewis

Ali Neugebauer

Johanna Littlewood

Khuyen Nguyen

Andrew Locke

Juliet Norvig

Carolyn Locke

Elisabeth O’Donnell

LaTasha* and Thaddieus Sarpy

Janet and David Offensend

Carolyn and Paul Sax

Jamie Ruggeri Markie Ruggeri Lorraine Ruiz Matthew Salisbury

Geoff and April Stein Pamela Stevens David Stolow Mary Sutton-Smith Richard and Elizabeth Swartz Samantha Tan

Christine Vincenti

Danya Wallace Theresa Walsh

Kevin White Calvin Willett Hannah Williams Natasha Williams* Sally and Dudley Willis Mary Wissemann Hamilton Wood

Brooke East Boston | Brooke Mattapan | Brooke Roslindale Brooke High School | Brooke Eighth Grade Academy