News & Press

Business as Unusual - School Surprise Winner

People don't generally think about the business of education.

They think about schools as places where kids learn grammar and biology, critical thinking and teamwork, and develop a love of learning.

They don't remember that there's a business to schools, as ventures with operating budgets and business models, with bills to pay and a bottom line.

Which is why even Douglas Atkins, Chartwell School's executive director, was stunned when the Seaside campus was named Business of the Year during the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's 98th annual annual awards dinner.

Atkins, Chartwell's executive director for the past four years, didn't think his school had a chance.

Started by two parents in 1983|

"We looked at who else was nominated," he said, "and we just couldn't imagine it. A lot of people don't see schools in the same light. So there were a lot of layers to finding ourselves just as a nominee."

But while the school's mission statement is to educate children with dyslexia and related language learning disabilities to return them successfully to mainstream education, those things are only possible if the school's business operation is successful.

Atkins attended Saturday's awards dinner at the Monterey Marriott with Judy Gaughf, one of the school's longest-standing educators who serves as both teacher and dean of students.

Chartwell was founded in 1983 by two parents -- Judy Lewis and Nicky McMahan -- who were also educators. In its first days, said Atkins, "it was eight students in a little rented place up on Hilby Avenue."

The school has moved once and is in the process of building a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility on former Fort Ord land.

The school operates year-round on a $3 million annual budget, with a staff of 30 and current enrollment of 103 students. Next year's enrollment is 125, according to Atkins.

The school's main focus hasn't changed over the years, but Atkins says research has caught up.

"Today there are a lot of insights to be gained with literacy in general that came out of that research," said Atkins. "We now find ourselves with a lot of tools to apply to a lot of schools other than Chartwell."

That, he said, has pushed the school toward being a resource to not just enrolled students but through community outreach in the tri-county region.

As executive director, Atkins describes himself as a strong proponent of public-private partnerships and of advisory roles.

As a privately run school, Chartwell has what Atkins calls "a highly evolved fundraising effort."

Plan to expand grade levels|

"Every year, we run an annual appeal that yields about $500,000," which helps offset some of the costs of tuition by about 15 percent. In the past few years, the school has also operated a capital campaign, which has generated $12 million -- just $1 million shy of the $13 million cost projected for its new campus.

"There has been just great, strong community-broadbased support on that, " said Atkins.

On receiving the school's award, Atkins called children and grandchildren an integral part of the school's business plan.

"Schools in general translate the cost of things into helping people interpret the value of delivering our mission," said Atkins. "We spend a lot of time articulating and planning strategically in how to accumulate resources."

The typical stay at Chartwell is relatively brief -- two to four years. It's an unusual goal for a school, said Atkins. "Our plan is to have them go out and be successful."

Chartwell currently serves students in grades 1 through 8, but its long-range goal is to expand into early childhood and secondary education.

But first, said Atkins, the plan is to get current operations up and running at the new facility in time for next school year.

According to Mark Russo, chief operating officer for the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, nominees for the Business of the Year award are chosen from the past year's recipients of the chamber's Business Excellence Awards.

Winner kept secret|

Nominees must also be current members of the chamber of commerce, have made a significant positive impact on the business community and have excellent business morals and ethics on a consistent basis. Unlike several other chamber awards, the recipient of the Business of the Year is kept secret until the awards banquet. This year's event was attended by 550 people, according to Russo.

Chartwell School has been a member of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce since 2002.

The chamber awarded its 15 Business Excellence Awards to businesses and organizations in July 2005, in various categories based on business size and type. Other nominees were Portola Plaza Hotel, The Sardine Factory, Chateau Julien Wine Estate, Monterey County Bank, Energia Body Centre, Pacific Tweed, The Alternative Board of Monterey and Salinas, Monterey Bay Wine & Travel Magazine, Byte Technology, Stella Page Design, Anything is Possible, Monterey Jazz Festival, CASA of Monterey County and Monterey-Salinas Transit.

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