West Buffalo Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

Wbcs began operating in august 2012 with grades k- 2, expanding to 4th grade by 2014. While its original charter called for a k- 4 grade span, the nysed department approved the school's application in february 2016 to expand its program through 8th grade. The application was made due to the school's academic success in grades k-4 as well as strong student and family requests for an expanded program. In july 2016, wbcs began phase one of a two-phased expansion plan. The first phase was a $1.7 million expansion to its original building which the school fully self-financed from operating cash flow. This eight-classroom addition would provide space for the immediate grade expansion needs while construction and financing were finalized for the remaining space needs. In july 2017, wbcs began construction on phase two, a 30,000 square foot expansion which would accommodate the new middle school program, improved administrative spaces and a full-sized gym. The total cost of this expansion was approximately $10 million which included $3.5 million to pay off the previous mortgage and lease. The total project was completed in july 2018 and currently houses grades k-8 with enrollment capped at 500 students. The school has always enrolled a large number of students with disabilities (swd) however many students with more severe intellectual disabilities would often transfer back to the district upon the buffalo public school's committee on special education (cse) recommendation that a more restrictive (self-contained) classroom would better meet the students' academic and social needs. Due to this trend, the school created its own self-contained classroom in 2019 (8:1:1) and now has two multi-age 8:1:1 classrooms which accommodate 16 students requiring a self-contained setting. This also increased the total enrollment of the school by 16 additional students without increasing the general education classrooms class sizes.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 74%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 79%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 5.4%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.93; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.4; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.5%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.8% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings