Riverside School, Inc. - PDF Free Download

Riverside School, Inc. General Information Contact Information Nonprofit Riverside School, Inc. Address 2110 McRae Road North Chesterfield, VA 23235 Phone 804 320-3465 106 Fax 804 320-6146 Web Site www.riversideschool.org Facebook facebook.com/riverside School-Richmond Twitter @Riversidemoves At A Glance Year of Incorporation 1975 Organization's type of tax exempt status Public Supported Charity 1

Statements & Search Criteria Mission Riverside School's mission is to provide remediation of language skills for students with dyslexia and similar language-based learning differences in grades K-8, so that they can return to mainstream education fully prepared to realize their highest potential. Background Riverside School has a long tradition of academic excellence in educating students with dyslexia. In 1974, Patricia W. DeOrio saw a need. Smart students were falling through the cracks. They were labeled as lazy and told that they just needed to try harder. Pat, or Mrs. D as she is affectionately called by the students, was a teacher and mentor who had risen above dyslexia herself, and understood what it took to unlock the potential of children with learning differences. In 1978, the late Ruth Harris joined with Riverside and brought with her our hallmark program of one-on-one instruction utilizing the Orton-Gillingham Approach. Since our founding, we have emphasized a multisensory, hands-on reading program, personalized instruction, and a nurturing environment. Riverside School has grown to a multi-building campus including a library, gymnasium, seven classrooms, a language fundamentals department, and administrative offices. Riverside is the only day school on the East Coast to offer one-on-one language skill instruction to all students and the only school in Virginia accredited by the highly prestigious Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators as both an educational facility and a certified teacher training program. Impact At Riverside, I learned that education was not a hurdle for someone with dyslexia, but rather an achievable objective. Riverside gave me the tools at a young age to learn that hard work and determination can overcome any academic challenge. Alumnus Learning differences like dyslexia affect 20% of the student population. These students struggle to gain gradelevel literacy and often fall behind in traditional academic settings. Nationwide, only 68% of students with learning disabilities graduate on time with a regular diploma (National Center for Learning Disabilities). Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin, and is characterized by difficulties with accurate word recognition, poor spelling and decoding abilities. Research shows that a hands-on, multisensory, individualized approach to reading instruction is critical to help put these bright students who learn differently on a path to success. For over 40 years, Riverside School has provided an approach and learning environment specifically designed to meet the unique learning needs of students with dyslexia and similar language-based learning differences. Recent Accomplishments: Riverside is the only school in VA accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators as both an educational facility and a certified teacher training program. Over 90% of students showed improvement on math and reading assessments from the previous year. The average length of stay is 3 years before students transition back to mainstream education or to specialized schools at higher grade levels. Goals: Riverside hopes to continue to expand our Annual Fund to over $225,000 and provide increased financial aid to our students. In addition, we plan to expand our teacher training program, improve our assessment program to best meet each child s unique learning needs, renovate the School s outdoor play space, and increase community outreach and education about dyslexia. 2

Needs Financial Aid: Children with learning differences and their families face enormous difficulties as they work to overcome educational challenges and rebuild self-esteem. The ability to afford the intervention they need should not be one of them. Financial Aid support enables Riverside to provide our program to a more diverse group of students that need a hands-on, multisensory approach to learning. Faculty Support: Our highly trained and dedicated teachers are critical to the success of our students. All instructors receive extensive training in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and continuous professional development. In addition, Riverside provides a certified Teacher Training Course in the Orton-Gillingham Approach that is open to all area public and private school teachers. Technology: Riverside School hopes to increase cross-curricular use of technology such as laptops, SmartBoard, ipads, and educational applications in each classroom to engage young learners and improve our multisensory instruction. Enrichment Programs: For children with learning differences, art can be an unparalleled, dynamic tool for learning. We have expanded our arts program to include instruction for music as well as studio arts. Board Chair Statement Areas Of Service Areas Served Areas Metro Richmond Richmond, City Ashland Chester Chesterfield County Goochland County Hanover County Henrico County Charles City County Powhatan County Riverside School has a broad community impact and serves a diverse geographic region. Children enrolled in the 2015-2016 school year represent 12 different counties and cities in Central Virginia. Students hail from 45 schools, including 22 public schools, 23 private schools, and 1 homeschool student. Some students come from as far as Williamsburg, Alexandria, and Annapolis. Service Categories Special Education Primary & Elementary Schools Remedial Reading & Encouragement 3

Programs Programs Language Fundamentals Description Riverside's Language Fundamentals (LF) Program is the keystone of our transformative approach to education. Our LF Program includes highlyspecialized, one-on-one, multisensory instruction that is provided to every student as part of the curriculum. All students receive 45 minutes of oneon-one reading instruction 4 days a week. Students with dyslexia are bright kids who just learn differently. They need more help in sorting, recognizing, and organizing the raw materials of language. LF uses the Orton-Gillingham Approach, which capitalizes on students strengths to help remediate their weaknesses. Each teacher designs specialized teaching strategies for every child based on their abilities, and the program includes direct instruction in elements of language and reading, including phonemic awareness, syllable patterns, sound-symbol relationships, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Our highly skilled teachers receive extensive training in the Orton-Gillingham Approach. Budget $250,000.00 Strategy Long term Success Research shows that the O-G Approach is successful for students with dyslexia. Our mission is to provide remediation of the language skills of each of the at-risk students, so that they can return to mainstream education fully prepared to realize their highest potential. Riverside succeeds at this mission, with 100% of the children matriculating at local high schools or progressing to specialized schools for children with learning differences at higher grade levels, usually within 3 years or less. Short Term Success The goal of our LF program is to serve each student and his or her unique learning differences through an individualized curriculum. Students are assessed throughout the school year using a variety of standardized and/or nationally normed assessments. Assessments include phonological awareness, reading fluency, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling, along with mathematical concepts such as math fluency, calculation, and applied math. Using this testing data, teachers evaluate the progress of each student to track yearly progress. Over 90% of students showed improvement in reading scores over the course of the year, with over 40% of students demonstrating growth greater than that which might be expected in a single school year 4

Art and Music Description Riverside s Art and Music Programs are unique avenues for self-discovery and self-expression, and help students foster an increased understanding of the world around them. The program includes a studio art class led by an art therapist and the music discovery program. Students have the opportunity to manipulate materials and the environment in the studio, and symbolically explore, organize, and assimilate meaning from a complex world of ideas and experience. The music program introduces students to basic components of music such as rhythm and pitch, and includes instruction on instruments such a Orff instruments and percussion. Budget $20,000.00 Strategy Long term Success Short Term Success In a special education environment, art is a proven tool to assist young people with learning differences learn how to solve problems in new and creative ways. Participation in art has many benefits including helping students with learning differences such as dyslexia comprehend figurative language, remember abstract concepts, and untap thinking potential. Additionally it has many emotional and social benefits that are especially valuable for our students, many of whom are struggling to achieve gradelevel literacy and are preparing to transition to mainstream schools. Among the many benefits of the art and music programs are: increased social skills; improved ability to communicate effectively, make eye contact and creatively problem-solve; practice with enunciation and articulation; and increased fluency in reading. 5

Classroom Instruction Description The best thing about Riverside is the class size. I pay attention better here. It s not so overwhelming. Current Riverside Student Our students thrive in classrooms that offer multisensory instruction and hands-on learning, and our programs are designed to foster self-esteem and self-advocacy. Classes are kept intentionally small at Riverside, with an average of 11 students per classroom. This allows our teachers to provide direct, individualized instruction and allows our students to flourish in a nurturing environment. Budget $400,000.00 Every classroom at Riverside is equipped with SmartBoards and students have access to laptops, ipads, and educational applications designed to support cross-curricular instruction. In addition to core academic content such as math, social studies, and science, Riverside offers physical education, ballroom dance, expressive arts and music, service learning opportunities, and social skills. Strategy Long term Success Short Term Success Students often come to Riverside after falling behind in traditional, larger academic settings. Small classes allow teachers to focus on the individual learning needs of each student. Additionally, students thrive in a nurturing environment with teachers and students who understand what it s like to learn differently. Students transition from Riverside back to other public or private schools in an average of 3 years equipped with the skills they need to succeed. During the 2015-2016 academic year, over 90% of students showed improvement in reading assessments and over 95% of students showed improvement in math assessments over the course of the year. 6

Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Mr. William Longan Jr. Company Affiliation SunTrust Term July 2017 to June 2019 Email bill.longan@suntrust.com Board Members Name Affiliation Status Ms. Kim Bausum-Brown Virginia Department of Education Voting Ms. Robin Blanchard West End Anesthesia Voting Mrs. Karen Kay Chappell Community Volunteer Voting Ms. Lisa Ebeling Chesterfield County Public Schools Voting Mr. Richard Fowlkes Peter Blair Voting Dr. Louis Harris VCU Voting Ms. Aimee Jones Community Volunteer Voting Mr. Michael Jones RiverFront Investment Group Voting Mr. William Longan Jr. SunTrust Voting Mr. Larry Malecky U.S. Trust Voting Mr. Neil Millhiser Patient Services, Inc. Voting Mr. Benjamin Pasternak Olek Group Voting Mrs. Julliette Sykes Liberty Tax Voting Ms. Chrystal Telfian Infinity Global Packaging Voting Ms. Sarah Scott Thomas SB&A Integrated Marketing Voting Mrs. Carolyn Webb Community Volunteer Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 1 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 17 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 7 Female 9 Unspecified 0 7

Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Term Limits 2 Board Meeting Attendance % 90 Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? No Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 100 Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 0 Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 4 Standing Committees Executive Development / Fund Development / Fund Raising / Grant Writing / Major Gifts Endowment Finance Building 8

Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Mr. Hal Waller Term Start July 2017 Email hwaller@riversideschool.org Experience Senior Staff Name Ms. Cindy DiCello Ms. Suzie Eklund Ms. Debra Mitchell Ms. Charice Myers Ms. Barbara Snuggs Title Director of Development Director of Language Fundamentals Director of Admissions Director of Curriculum Director of Finance Staff Full Time Staff 12 Part Time Staff 25 Volunteers 100 Contractors 0 Retention Rate 0 Plans Organization has a Fundraising Plan? Organization has a Strategic Plan? Years Strategic Plan Considers 3 Date Strategic Plan Adopted Aug 2015 Organization Policy and Procedures Nondiscrimination Policy Whistleblower Policy No Document Destruction Policy Directors and Officers Insurance Policy 9

Financials Fiscal Year July Fiscal Year 2018 Projected Revenue $2,116,000.00 Projected Expenses $2,116,026.00 Endowment Value 0 Percentage (if selected) 0% s Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Total Revenue $2,015,764 $1,713,935 $1,959,218 Total Expenses $2,488,598 $1,694,760 $1,781,724 Revenue Sources Foundation and Corporation -- -- -- Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal -- -- -- State -- -- -- Local -- -- -- Unspecified -- -- -- Individual Contributions $369,806 $290,596 $511,627 Indirect Public Support -- -- -- Earned Revenue $1,639,515 $1,389,812 $1,431,694 Investment Income, Net of Losses $4,563 $6,430 $12,897 Membership Dues -- -- -- Special Events -- -- -- Revenue In-Kind -- $20,710 -- Other $1,880 $6,386 $3,000 10

Expense Allocation Program Expense $1,968,752 $1,262,926 $1,191,551 Administration Expense $427,958 $358,567 $507,043 Fundraising Expense $91,888 $73,267 $83,130 Payments to Affiliates -- -- -- Total Revenue/Total Expenses 0.81 1.01 1.10 Program Expense/Total Expenses 79% 75% 67% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 25% 25% 16% Assets and Liabilities Total Assets $3,494,375 $3,403,764 $3,378,296 Current Assets $1,527,118 $1,243,606 $1,164,111 Long-Term Liabilities $386,400 $0 -- Current Liabilities $338,227 $161,181 $154,888 Total Net Assets $2,769,748 $3,242,583 $3,223,408 Short Term Solvency Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities 4.52 7.72 7.52 Long Term Solvency Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 11% 0% 0% Top Funding Sources Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar -- -- -- Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? No Goal 0 State Charitable Solicitaions Permit Permit? Exempt 0 Registration Exempt 0 Comments Foundation Comments Financial information provided from IRS 990s. IRS 990s prepared by Steven R. Moran & Associates, PLLC. Revenue from "Individuals" also includes support from corporations and foundations. A financial compilation for FY 2010 and 2009, prepared by Steven R. Moran & Associates, are also available for your review. 11