North House Folk School Director Greg Wright came before the Grand Marais City Council on Wednesday, May 9 to deliver the school’s 2017 annual report. Along with him were Buck Benson, a former board of directors member who is still involved with North House, and board of director member JD Lehr.
Last year the school achieved an eight percent increase over 2016.
“We have grown every year except 2009,” said Wright, who added that for 2017 the campus recorded 5,500 student user days.
The past six months saw record numbers of students in all but one of those months, said Wright. “That’s sobering for us and satisfying for us,” he added.
One of the biggest changes has been in the amount of booked enrollments received. The first three months of 2018 show a marked increase in enrollments, especially so in March which this year saw 629 people sign up for classes versus 466 last year.
Forty percent of the classes last year were filled to capacity, noted Wright, with growth occurring in what is termed the off-season.
“Interestingly enough, the summer is pretty flat,” he said. “We are busier in February and March than we are in August.”
Although NHFS gets some grants and gifts, tuition paid by students primarily funds the entity, which is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation.
The mission of the school is “to enrich lives and build community by teaching traditional northern crafts in a student-centered learning environment that inspires the hands, the heart and the mind.”
An economic impact study indicated that in 2016 North House contributed approximately $10,648,395 to the local economy, a number surely surpassed in 2017.
Last year revenues totaled $1,630,523. Breaking it down, courses, program and events brought in $787,502; donations $297,237; community of craft initiative $175,853; grants $120,000; school store $150,792; gifts to endowment $55,000; and “other” brought in $44,139.
Expenditures totaled $1,610,925, netting $19,599 for the year. The biggest expense was $777,190, which paid for the courses, programs and events. Community of craft initiative expense was $175,853; administration $145,206; operation of campus and schooner (Hjordis) $167,494; communications: students and donors $155,582; school store $124,600; and transfers and endowments $65,000.
As of December 31, 2017, North House had total net assets of $2,100,740.
The big news for 2018 was the February purchase of the Dockside Fish Market property for $1,350,000. Dockside has been leased and will remain open as a restaurant and commercial fishing has resumed from the dock until the board of directors decides how the school can best use the property. Last week LHB, a Duluth architectural and engineering firm, was hired to help craft a master plan for the school and its property. That should be completed next January, said Wright, who added that right now was an especially exciting time for the school and staff at North House.
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