In his annual report to Cook County commissioners on the North House Folk School, Director Greg Wright talked about the school’s recent acquisition of the former U.S. Forest Service building across the highway from the folk school’s main campus. Staff members are pictured here moving equipment for classes to be held there.
In a word, said Greg Wright, executive director of North House Folk School (NHFS), North House is “thriving.”
Wright came before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, March 22 with an encouraging 2015 year-end report depicting the school’s sustained growth.
Wright said according to the Google analytical statistics, NHFS had 429,057 website visits in the last 12 months. Wright said this is due in part to a grant from Google’s ad grant program, which increases the visibility of the school’s educational programs.
Last year NHFS offered 350 classes with 150 instructors teaching them. Wright said there are now eight full-time employees and three part-time employees with plans to add one more full-time staff person in the coming year.
Commissioner Garry Gamble asked about demographics, and Wright answered, “Half our students are male. And, he joked, “I guess you can figure out what the other half are.”
Most students are older, well educated, and retired, said Wright. But he did note that younger, economically challenged people are also taking classes by participating in a work-study program to help with tuition. “They aren’t after a ‘freebie,” he explained.
When asked where students came from Wright responded, “Ten percent of the students come from the North Shore; 60 percent come from Minnesota and 30 percent come from elsewhere. Last year students came from 40 different states and two countries.”
Each class lasts on average 2½ days with about seven people in each class. And today there are sometimes as many students in February as there are in August, noted Wright.
Enrollment was up 12 percent last year over 2014. Since 2013 enrollment has grown 30 percent and students can now sign for classes on March 1, and Wright said some classes are filled that day, something that surprised him but is very gratifying.
Commissioner Frank Moe expressed his appreciation for the school’s ability to attract people to the county during the shoulder seasons. “It’s all gold, really,” he said.
Wright talked about the recent acquisition of the former U.S. Forest Service building across the street from the school’s waterfront campus. A title company/law office will rent half of the building and the other half will be used for classroom and office space. The yellow office building will now be used for the school store, which will open more classroom space in the Blue Building on campus grounds. And while there is some parking at the new location, Wright noted it would be nice to have more with many people having to park along Highway 61.
Toward that end, Wright has been meeting with the City of Grand Marais, Cook County Law Enforcement, Moving Matters and other groups to discuss ways to improve the public’s safety as they walk and bike along the busy Highway 61 corridor. “We plan to put up some new signage following the city’s statutes and make sure the crosswalk is painted brightly. Visibility is the key. It will take years to solve this issue,” Wright said, adding that looking at ways to manage pedestrian and vehicle traffic through that stretch of Highway 61 has long been an ongoing issue.
Both commissioners Ginny Storlie and Jan Sivertson said they were impressed with the work Wright, the staff and all of the volunteers have done to make North House such a success.
“You’re right about all of the help we have received. It really does take a village to make it all work,” said Wright.
Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk, a volunteer at NHFS, mentioned the former interns who have decided to stay and make the county their home. “It [North House] has been a huge asset to our community,” she said.
Revenues and expenditures
On the revenue side, last year the school took in $1,299,724, with 52 percent of that coming from fees for courses, programs and events. Twenty-two percent of the money came from donations while 13 percent came from grants, 9 percent from the school store and 4 percent from the “capital and other” fund.
Expenditures and transfers totaled $1,263,123, leaving a positive balance of $36,601. The breakdown for expenditures saw 49 percent spent for courses, programs and events; 16 percent for facilities; 10 percent for marketing; 9 percent for administration; 9 percent for provision for capital improvements; and 7 percent for the school store.
Wright hopes to widen the Legacy Circle for 2016-2018, for current and potential members/donors and use the 20th anniversary as a landmark to secure pledges for $3.5 million by June 2017.
Leave a Reply