WESTMINSTER-After completing its 25th school year of operation, The Compass School recently and abruptly announced that it will be permanently closing.
Though it had planned on operating for at least another year, financial difficulties the school had been facing for some time proved worse than expected.
Those lingering problems, combined with what its board president termed a "domino effect" of circumstances, prompted the school's board of directors to unanimously vote to close the school immediately.
Debts of $250,000, declining enrollment, and the long-term impact of the Covid pandemic were cited as the combination of reasons for the board's decision.
Compass was founded in 1999 with the purpose of providing the region with an alternative to traditional education, particularly for middle-school-age children. As the years progressed, it added more grades until it served students in grades 7 to 12.
In an email sent June 9, Board Chair Christine Armiger and Co-heads of School Gabe Allen-Fahlander and Louise Hodson told families that "on Friday, June 6th, we learned that a key piece of our financial plan for next year has fallen through. Without it, there is no way for us to open the school for the 2025-26 school year."
With "a heavy heart and deepest admiration for everyone at the Compass School," Armiger, Allen-Fahlander, and Hodson informed the community of the board's decision.
The letter was sent out after the school year had wrapped up, with staff and students expecting the school to be operating for at least another full year ahead.
The building, at 7892 US-5, has been closed up since, and the school's website has been scrubbed of almost all content and states, "Founded in 1999 by dedicated educators and parents, Compass has closed its doors after 26 years of innovative education."
A domino effect
In its letter, the directors explained that throughout the last three months the board, staff, and community came together and "worked incredibly hard to save the school, raising extensive funds and expanding board membership, as well as bringing in outside expertise as consultants and advisors."
But the board said that "ultimately, these efforts could not overcome a financial deficit that made it impossible to offer another year of programming."
Armiger spoke to The Commons on June 23, prefacing her remarks with her intention of being "respectful to parents, teachers, students, and alumni who worked overtime to do what they could to propel us forward" in their attempts to keep the Compass School alive.
She said the school had been struggling with a number of forces, including an overall decline of the population of school-age children of more than 25% between 2000 and today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In its annual 990 form filed with the IRS - analogous to a tax return for the nonprofit world - the school posted healthy yearly surpluses from 2011 to 2015. Starting in 2016, the filings show a number of years of losses even before the pandemic hit in 2020.
Meanwhile, the school "that thrived on its smallness" and not long ago had more than 70 students ended with approximately 50 students in its final year.
The school went public with its financial problems this past winter, sparking a series of fundraising efforts that raised at least $68,000 toward the $250,000 budget deficit, the Brattleboro Reformer reported in April.
Armiger said that between those fundraising successes and the school community envisioning a smaller and more sustainable program, things were looking up. In April, the school announced on an Instagram post that it would open for the next year.
Then came what she called "the domino effect."
First, a new "wonderful and significant" donor, excited for a long-term relationship with the school, could not commit to a significant donation immediately, Armiger said.
"We still felt confident that a bridge loan we applied for could still get us through [in conjunction with] another outreach campaign to bring in support we'd need until the other money came in," she said.
But then the bridge loan was denied, which Armiger called "the nail in the coffin."
Looking back, she said that the overall environment for independent schools is "another tough reality."
Armiger, a science instructor and director of environmental programs and sustainability at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, said that "another tough reality is that it's hard even for schools with significant endowments." As a young school, Compass never had the opportunity to build wealth and resources, and the community itself is not a place where "you can wrangle up a few hundred thousand in a pinch."
Instead, she said, the school "absolutely overextended itself with financial aid."
Two other factors stressed the vulnerable school, Armiger noted. The first was the "declining ability for private-pay families to pay tuition" based on the skyrocketing costs that have hit every family budget hard in the years since the pandemic.
The second was the school's reliance on tuition funds for students from towns that offer that option. Presuming that Gov. Phil Scott will sign into law the state education reform bill, passed by both the House and the Senate, new reforms and restrictions will curtail which towns can offer that option to its youth.
Heavy hearts
Compass held what has become its last graduation ceremony, for 14 students, on May 31. It ended the year with approximately 50 students and 12 staff.
The school, once described on its website as "the perfect place to get inspired, take risks, learn from mistakes, get invested in your education, and be surprised by what you can do," prided itself in "developing strong thinkers, problem solvers, communicators, and collaborative workers with the ability to adapt to changing conditions."
Westminster resident Charmion Handy, parent of a former Compass student, said the announcement was unexpected and came a shock and that she was "saddened to hear of its closing."
"Compass School taught our children how to be lifelong learners," she said. "They provided a learning environment that was rich and diverse, balancing traditional studies with hands-on opportunities to explore topics of interest."
Rick Gordon, one of the school's founders, called Compass "a model for what is possible in education."
Gordon served as the school's longtime director and retired in 2020 after more than 20 years there.
"We were honored to attract extraordinary educators who had undying belief in every child and unparalleled dedication to supporting every student in their academic and personal growth," he said. "It was the highlight of my career to be part of this incredible community."
Molly Bruce Patterson, a board member, alum, and Bellows Falls resident, said, "It is hard to express how much Compass has shaped my life since graduating in 2004."
Gus Shepard, an executive board member and a member of the first graduating class, said that "students often share how their lives were transformed by their Compass experience, and parents frequently express that Compass saved their child."
Handy agreed. "Whether it was through Community Service Week, Project Week, or the various class trips throughout New England and abroad, students were exposed to a world beyond," she said.
She noted that in addition to educating the students, Compass "had a unique way of including parents and families, by encouraging community service at the school, sharing knowledge to students in the classroom or at afterschool activities or for the many parent-focused workshops."
"I am so incredibly grateful that my children experienced this educational opportunity and have grown to be good people as a result of their Compass School experience," she said.
Shepard said that many students who faced challenges in more traditional educational settings went on to achieve great success in college, careers, and communities. "Unfortunately, demographic shifts in the region led to a significant decline in student enrollment compared to when the school began," he added.
Hodson, the co-head of school, was also the longest-serving teacher at Compass.
"I am heartbroken to close our doors," she said. "I am saddened for the future students who will miss the opportunity to participate in our community. Thank you to all the teachers, students, and families who have worked to keep our doors open. We take immense pride in the educational experiences we have provided to so many learners."
What's next
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent Andy Haas said that the closing of Compass "came as a shock to us."
"Compass has been part of our community for many years, meeting the needs of students and families," he said. "WNESU has enjoyed our relationship with Compass."
He said that the district looks forward "to welcoming students to Bellows Falls Middle School and Bellows Falls Union High School. We have been communicating with families since the announcement and will continue to ensure the transition to our schools is as seamless as possible."
Haas said that approximately 22 WNESU families are affected by the closing. Two of the students are middle schoolers, the rest are high schoolers.
Haas said he knows of three who have requested to attend Green Mountain Union High School in Chester, or Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend.
As for BFUHS, Haas said that "we have already registered several students."
As to what will happen with the school building and its 8.8-acre parcel if the school's corporate entity dissolves, it must turn over remaining assets to another nonprofit once it has resolved its financial obligations.
The school's bylaws stipulate that its assets must be directed towards meaningful educational endeavors. According to data from the town listers, the total assessed value of the land and building is $2,181,700.
A June 9 news release from the Compass board noted that, "proceeds from the sale of the building are expected to establish a foundation to support personalized learning and continue the kinds of educational experiences that have defined [the school]."
That degree of finality is tough for those who loved the school and worked to keep it alive.
"I love my work on the board at the Compass School - a school that's so deeply embedded in the community," Armiger said. "I love its origin story and think that against our better judgment we kept it going as long as we possibly could for the sheer love of it."
Faculty, she said, "loved working at that school and couldn't imagine working at another school because they loved working there so much."
"I think there are still some of us who hold out hope or dream that a sustainable version of school could emerge," Armiger said. "But it's hard to imagine right now in this moment."
Additional reporting by Jeff Potter.
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.