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Despite the tumultuous last two pandemic years, North House Folk School has managed to stay in the black financially each of those years.
That was one of the main messages North House Folk School Director Greg Wright delivered to the Grand Marais City Council on Wednesday, May 25. As part of the city’s lease agreement with the folk school, North House is required to present an annual report to the city council, and Wright welcomed the chance to fill the council in on the happenings at the school.
Last year, 2021, was a challenge, with the school campus closed for three of the first four months. Still, Wright said digital programming skills developed in 2020 positioned North House to host online classes, bolstering revenue. A warm summer and strong COVID-19 safety plan allowed on-campus work to return. At the conclusion of the year, North House tuition was roughly 50 percent of what it had been in 2019, and the schooner Hjordis operated at 70 percent of 2019 levels. School store revenue was 85 percent of 2019. Wright noted that 2021’s hybrid online outdoor version of Unplugged and simultaneous Points North Online Auction generated over $56,000 in net revenue, which was more than 10 percent ahead of 2019.
Donors played a big part in North House in 2020 and 2021 with donations reaching their highest levels in the school’s 23 and 24 history. In addition, a Manitou Fund challenge fund grant of $60,000 was matched, bringing $120,000 to the school’s Scholarship and Work Study programs in 2021-2022.
“How has the pandemic continued to impact North House, especially financially?” Wright asked rhetorically.
He answered that by presenting an overview of 2019, 2020, and 2021, highlighting the last three years.
“Each year, we ended in the black, and thanks to the strong support, we have been able to move key projects forward like increasing scholarship opportunities, expanding our work/study accessibility program, and keeping our free instructor in the residence program in action throughout the summer of 2022.”
Three retirements of staff in 2020 “simplified our financial commitments. Through the beginning of the pandemic, 2021’s financial stability allowed us to fill open positions and complete the search for the new Youth and Family Program Coordinator and Program Manager positions that were originally planned for 2020.”
Wright said in recent months, the school had its most substantial 36 hours of enrollment “in our history,” and the school welcomed 50 plus instructors to campus for the annual instructor retreat. On top of that, the school has expanded both its youth spring after-school program and summer camp offering to accommodate the number of interested, primarily local families.
Total operating revenue in 2019 was $2,216,163 with operating expenses at $2,204,795. Figures for 2020 were $156,540 for revenues and $165,462 for expenses and 2021 revenue was $1,767,104 with expenses at $1,745,346.
Wright talked about building more classroom space to grow programs and revenue. He noted the respectful process North House has been going through with the community in discussions about the possible removal of two iconic fish houses on their property to make room to build a 2,400 square foot building for classes. No decision has been made to move the fish house, said Wright, as North House continues to explore its options to find space to build and make room to add more classrooms and grow the school on the campus, he said.
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