The Community Roots School Origins

Our History

One of the questions often asked at The Community Roots School is, “How did this school get started?” It was truly a grassroots movement...

The story began when parents in the Silverton community were introduced to the Montessori philosophy. The private elementary in a neighboring community closed and a small group of parents continued to dream big. They wanted their children participate in a peaceful, child-centered educational system. Many parents in this small group embraced the Montessori philosophy but also struggled with the prospect of enrolling their children in private school for their elementary years. Other parents were very interested in the Montessori philosophy, but private school was not an option for their families.

It seemed there might be enough interest to have a local school in Silverton, but how? Through discussions about a shared passion for the Montessori philosophy and a desire for a public school option, parents struck upon the charter school concept. After a few meetings over coffee, it was decided that the concept should be explored with other interested parents who shared the same passion. A meeting at Home Place Restaurant was scheduled for December 2007, and it was there that the idea of The Community Roots School was hatched.

An application for a planning grant was submitted to the Oregon Department of Education in March 2008. In the spring of 2008, The Community Roots School was awarded a $55,000 planning grant. With that approval came the potential for more than $100,000 for each of the next two years for the implementation of the school.

This planning grant funded many activities over the next year including community meetings and outreach, consultation for the charter application to the school district, start-up materials for the school, and recruiting. Over 1,200 volunteer hours were needed to research, design and create a charter application. Support from other public charter Montessori schools including Ridgeline and Lewis and Clark was invaluable.

In November 2008, the founding members (now a team of twelve individuals) submitted their application for the charter to the Silver Falls School District Board.

The founding members are as follows: Bart Banks, Jacquie Curtis, Jennifer de Jong, Jennifer Kimball, Erika Lanning, Jennifer McCord, Matt Miller, Sarah Miller, Frank Petrik, Mandy Petrik, Jennifer Traeger and Miranda Traeger.

Some of the highlights of that first year:

• The charter contract was signed with the Silver Falls School District
• Legal nonprofit status was achieved
• A Board of Directors was established
• Children were enrolled
• Two teachers were hired
• A classroom’s worth of materials and furnishings were ordered and received
• The group moved into its site at Monitor School

We are so happy to have traveled this road and to have the interest and commitment of the families in our new community.

The Community Roots School admits students regardless of race, color, sex, and national or ethnic origin.