Dear HOCA Families:

As the president of the Heart of Ohio Classical Academy’s Governing Authority (GA), I wish to announce on its behalf that, after significant study, we have elected to engage the services of ResponsiveEd to assist us in professionally managing our school. This will ensure that your children continue to receive an excellent classical education in the liberal arts and sciences while also receiving instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. Be assured that our commitment to the Hillsdale College K-12 curriculum remains unchanged even under this new arrangement.

At this juncture in our school’s evolution, the GA decided that the continued expansion of our program required the services of a management company to complement the efforts of our internal team. We deemed partnering with ResponsiveEd to be especially advantageous because it already operates 22 of its own K-12 classical schools based on the Hillsdale model and has been doing so since the Hillsdale program began in 2012. You will hear them referred to as Founders Classical Academies.

ResponsiveEd has the commitment and the experience, expertise, and administrative, logistical, and financial resources to elevate our school to the next level. This includes enabling us over time to provide art and music in all grades, sports, co-curricular activities, teacher enrichment, and a gymnasium to name a few important initiatives as we grow in student headcount and grade levels. In addition, ResponsiveEd is in the process of acquiring our building and related property. This will reduce our operating expenses and free up cash flow to further benefit our school.

Their program administrator is Michael Terry. He is the former superintendent of ResponsiveEd’s Texas classical academies. After a decade working with the Texas schools, he will be relocating to Ohio with his family to continue his work on behalf of our school. He will also guide other classical academies ResponsiveEd plans to operate in Ohio. Already, Northeast Ohio Classical Academy in Copley has signed the same support agreement with ResponsiveEd as we have.

He is supported here at HOCA by Angel Hennig, whom you may have already met. ResponsiveEd has also moved three other operational staff members to the region to help them build additional schools here. You will hear more from Mr. Terry next week.

The first year of any endeavor of this magnitude always presents various challenges, from staffing to the budget to determining the best ways to deliver on commitments with limited resources. We believe we lived up to those expectations and are very proud of all our staff and faculty who returned after working so hard the first year on behalf of your children. We are also very pleased that this year we were able to welcome additional students and new faculty to grow from a K-6 to a K-7 school for this academic year on the way to our goal of eventually becoming a K-12 academy.

During our journey thus far, you have demonstrated confidence and trust in our team for which we are greatly appreciative. Starting a school is no easy task; and, by having enrolled your children, you are participating in the society-saving work that will produce the next generation of well-educated, productive and virtuous citizens. It is hard work that we can only do together and which we believe will be strongly enhanced by our partnership with ResponsiveEd.

To learn more about this new and exciting phase of our school’s growth, please join us next Wednesday, 9/17 at 6:30PM in our school auditorium. We will conduct a meeting to introduce you to RE; to discuss the steps we are jointly taking to enhance the success of our school; and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions.  

Thank you for your time and attention. We look forward to seeing you at our follow-up meeting next week.

Sincerely,

Bob St. Germain

President

Governing Authority

Heart of Ohio Classical Academy