(84) From Dreams to Occupancy: Planning, Financing and Building a School

11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Room: Evergreen (B)

Operations, Funding, & Facilities

Have you ever dreamed of a new school building? This workshop will guide you through the entire process, from initial planning to the grand opening.

Learn from the experts at Highline Academy as they share their experience in building a 20,000 square foot addition to their middle school. Discover how to:

• Engage your community: Involve stakeholders in the master planning process to create a shared vision.
• Secure funding: Explore financing options and develop a sound financial strategy.
• Design your dream school: Work with architects and designers to create a functional and inspiring space.
• Navigate the construction process: Select a contractor and owner's representative to ensure a smooth project.

Leave this workshop with practical tools and a clear roadmap to turn your school building dreams into reality. You'll gain confidence in your ability to plan, finance, and build a school that meets the needs of your students and community.

Speakers

Christine Ferris

Executive Director, Highline Academy

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Jennifer Song Koeppe

Principal Architect, Ratio Architects

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Lindsay Wall

Managing Director & Partner, Longhouse Capital Advisors

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Christine Ferris

Executive Director, Highline Academy

Christine is a veteran educator who has worked in public, private, and charter schools since 1989. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Highline Academy Charter Schools, a two-school network serving a diverse Denver community. In 2020, its Southeast campus was awarded a national Blue Ribbon. Prior to joining Highline, she founded and led Our Community School, a K-8 charter school in Los Angeles 2005 to 2013. In 2009, it was recognized as California’s charter school of the year for their progress toward narrowing the opportunity gap. Christine has been a consultant for charters nationwide.

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Jennifer Song Koeppe

Principal Architect, Ratio Architects

Jen is a licensed architect with over 25 years of experience in K12 education. She is also a strategist and big picture thinker who strives to tell a story through design. A story that provides a vision to excite, clarify and align goals and objectives. Backed by her visionary outlook, Jen provides K12 clients with architectural expertise in multiple areas, including programming, master planning, capacity planning, community engagement and design advisory group processes.

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Lindsay Wall

Managing Director & Partner, Longhouse Capital Advisors

Lindsay is a founding partner of Longhouse Capital Advisors, an SEC and MSRB registered municipal advisory firm, specializing in advising and managing debt transactions for non-profits, including charter schools, private K-12 schools, and colleges and universities. Prior to Longhouse, Lindsay was a public finance investment banker at BMO Capital Markets and at Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Princeton University. Erin currently serves on the board of National Association of Municipal Advisors and previously served on the board of Women in Public Finance.