1. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
1
PROPOSAL:
A. The Organization:
History, Mission and Major Accomplishments
Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization
providing quality childcare and early education for over 7,000 migrant and low-income
children in rural communities in 20 Florida counties. RCMA’s mission is to create and
foster opportunities for migrant and low-income children and families to maximize the
choices in their lives. RCMA executes its mission through childcare, child development
and educational opportunities inside and outside the classroom to support migrant and
low-income workers and their families.
RCMA was founded Oct. 1, 1965, by Mennonite Church volunteers in the Redlands
farming area of southern Miami-Dade County to provide a safe, nurturing environment
for children while their parents worked in the fields. Oftentimes, parents had no choice
but to bring children into the fields while they worked, exposing children to extreme
dangers from farm equipment, canals, pests and the elements.
From three centers with approximately 75 children in the Homestead and Florida City
area, RCMA grew to its present-day scope of 70 centers and two charter schools, with
total enrollment of 7,544 children in
2005-2006. More than 2,000 children
were left on waiting lists because of lack
of space and funding to serve them.
RCMA incorporates the family into child
development, healthcare and
educational activities and hiring and
training staff from the communities
served. This provides security for the
parents, knowing their cultures are
respected, while their children are being
prepared to enter school. For the
children, this provides both the strength
of their ethnic origins and the Anglo
society that they are being prepared to
enter.
Services Provided and Persons Served
RCMA has provided services to migrant
and low-income children ages 0-12 since
1965 in child development centers and after-school programs, helping countless migrant
and rural families. Over the years, parents often reported back that their children
flourished in our programs but suffered a disconnect upon entry in the public school
system. Therefore, seven years ago, RCMA opened two charter schools, one in the rural
• Twice earned the prestigious National
Head Start Program of Excellence
designation.
• 75% of child development centers
nationally accredited (compared to
8.4% of all centers statewide).
• Wimauma Academy charter school
maintained its “A” grade in 2005-2006
Immokalee Community School
improved from.
“C” in 2004-2005 to “B” in 2005-2006
• 52% of all 4-year-olds tested above
average in the oral language
proficiency assessment

2. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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community of Immokalee in Collier County and one in the rural community of Wimauma
in Hillsborough County, to provide a seamless transition from RCMA infant and toddler
programs.
Tailored to farmworker families, the schools open at 6:45 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m.
(Immokalee) and 6 p.m. (Wimauma). Most of the children are picked up before 6 a.m.
and reach their homes after 6 p.m. daily. These very long days at school create
additional opportunities for learning, socialization and exercise.
Before- and after-school programs give students extra time for homework, tutoring,
enrichment, social skills development, character education and participation in
organized sports. Additional services include individual and family counseling,
individualized academic remediation and parent training.
Wimauma Academy students come from homes where resources, literacy and even living
spaces are very limited. Nearly all the students speak English as a second or sometimes
third language; 99% qualify for free/reduced lunch prices; and 81% migrate with their
farmworker parents. Despite the challenges of a migration and poverty, the students
have responded phenomenally to the unique approach of the Academy’s teachers and
staff.
Among immediate improvements is school attendance and completion of homework.
Wimauma Academy attendance is 98%, compared to approximately 82% at surrounding
public elementary schools.
Along with small class sizes, one of the goals has been to overcome language barriers
that can lead to students dropping out of school and repeating the cycle of poverty.
Our strategic system to develop literacy and on-grade-level reading abilities have proven
successful for each of our schools. For example, students take the Diagnostic Reading
Assessment (DRE) quarterly, to track literacy improvement. The most recent DRE results
indicate that an average of 65% of the Wimauma students improved by four levels of
reading –- an above-average performance for a poverty-level student population. (A
middle-income child would also progress four levels per quarter.) In the 2005-06 year,
the school maintained its “A” grade on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Among other critical elements of success: Students are required to wear uniforms,
parental participation is required, and former migrant workers are among teachers and
staff. As a result, both schools have become sources of pride for the community and
refuges of learning for the children.
The students’ parents harvest fruit and vegetables in nearby farm fields; the peak
season is from November through April. Crops include tomatoes, strawberries, green
peppers, lettuce, cabbage and citrus. Household income is $12,000, below the poverty
level.

3. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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Board and Staff Descriptions (See Attached Resumes of Leadership Staff)
John Dinkel, a retired attorney from Tampa, is President the RCMA Board of Directors,
and Fred Thomas, a retired public housing administrator from Immokalee, is a Vice
President. Both have served on the RCMA Board for over 10 years and have been key in
the development and construction of numerous RCMA facilities throughout Florida.
Barbara Mainster, who joined RCMA in 1972, was named executive director in 1988 and
has been instrumental in extending RCMA’s services to children of migrant and low-
income farm families throughout Florida. When she joined RCMA, the association had
three childcare centers with 75 children in southern Miami-Dade County. Today, RCMA
operates 70 centers and two charter schools in 20 Florida counties. Ms. Mainster has also
served as vice chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Farmworker Affairs (1996-98);
is a past president of the Florida Children’s Forum; and serves on Florida’s Reading and
Literacy Partnership Committee. She is secretary of the National Head Start Association.
As RCMA executive director, Mainster manages a $50 million budget and 1,600
employees.
Maria Jimenez has been RCMA’s Director of Charter Schools since 1999 and oversaw the
opening of both of the organization’s charter schools. Overseeing more than 410
students and 70 teachers and support staff, Ms. Jimenez has 13 years experience in
education focusing on at-risk populations. Prior to joining RCMA, Ms. Jimenez worked in
Miami for ASPIRA of Florida, which targets at-risk Latino youth. Her duties ranged from
coordinating anti-gang programs to serving as interim Dade County director, in which she
supervised 40 staff and 300 students. Ms. Jimenez has a BA in psychology from the
University of the Americas in Mexico City; a BS in therapeutic recreation/management
from Florida International University in Miami; and a master’s in public administration
from International College in Naples.
Daniel Oceguera, who has more than 25 years experience working in high-risk
communities of immigrants and migrants, is Director of the Wimauma Academy. Not only
has he worked for the Mexican government through its various consulates in the United
States, Mr. Oceguera has a strong background in financial management and accounting,
which has helped the school remain within its budgetary boundaries. His connection with
the students, teachers, and parents has led to much success. The Wimauma Academy is
one of the few schools that has met adequate yearly progress and has received an “A”
from the Florida Department of Education’s school grading system.
Marcela Estevez is the school’s counselor and spends 100% of her time and effort
working directly with students and their parents. She holds a degree in education and is
a certified bilingual translator. Narrowing the gap between home and school is a daily
goal. Ms. Estevez spent 20 years serving the Mexican community through various Mexican
Consulates in Atlanta, New York, Orlando, and Tucson. She has first hand knowledge of
the struggles and dangers of the migrant lifestyle, and how it affects children and their
education. Her experience as a teacher for several years in Mexico and helps children
manages the challenges of two languages and two cultures.

4. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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Mark Haggett, the school’s Program Specialist, has a degree in mathematics from State
University of New York. After few years of success but little fulfillment in the
telecommunication industry, Mr. Haggett decided to explore a career in education and
was hired as a math teacher. Within the first year, the school’s math scores improved
from 37% to 62%, compared to district improvement from 42% to 46%. Wimauma
Academy outscored the local school district, despite fewer resources. His commitment
to quality and education is evident through daily work with students and teachers.
B. Support Requested (For Capital Project Support)
Given the milestones accomplished, RCMA wishes to extend its positive impact on
Wimauma Academy students by expanding the school from fifth to eighth grade in a $2.5
million capital campaign. RCMA requests funding from Jane’s Trust in the amount of
$910,000.00 over three years to support the expansion, which will enable enrollment to
increase from the current 190 children to approximately 400 students. The expansion
will allow the Academy to serve an additional 200 students ages 4 to 14 and add sixth,
seventh and eighth grades, which are critical grade levels for at-risk, minority youth.
The expansion will help the Academy to serve its students for a longer period of time,
thus secure their scholastic achievement and academic success.
Charter schools are public schools of choice administered by private non-profit
organizations. In Florida, charter schools receive capital outlay dollars based on their
student enrollment. Currently, Wimauma Academy receives $60,000 per year to cover
capital expenses such as rent, insurance, fixed assets, and building maintenance. The
school is not permitted to utilize these funds for construction and cannot rely on these
funds to plan for future expansion. RCMA’s request for support will help fund a 15
classrooms (grades 3-8 and rooms for art, science, music) and a library. This 14,400-
square-foot expansion will initially serve 220 students and grow gradually to a student
body of approximately 400. Pre-K through grade two will be served in nine refurbished
portables already onsite.
The balance of outstanding dollars will be augmented through the school’s and RCMA’s
fundraising efforts. This project will become sustainable through state funding received
for each additional student once the capital project is completed.
Detailed of the project and intended purpose and beneficiaries.
The Wimauma Academy is housed in nine refurbished portable classrooms and serves 190
children from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, with 15 teachers and a staff of 35. The
school serves academically and socially at risk children of migrant and seasonal farm
workers. Family income does not reach the poverty level, and the average parental
education level is third grade.
All students, regardless of their background, have the challenge to be proficient in
reading, writing and math by age 8. The school’s proven record indicates a high level of
success with a challenging population that has not tasted success before. Below is a
chart that compares the students’ developmental scale score on the Florida

5. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
5
Comprehensive
Assessment Test
(FCAT); with the
number of years they
have been enrolled at
our school.
This clearly
demonstrates that the
longer students are
under our roof, the
better they perform.
For two years in a row,
the Wimauma Academy was rated an “A” school based on the students’ performance on
the FCAT. Recognizing the school’s accomplishments, the Hillsborough County School
Board in 2005 unanimously approved RCMA’s charter to operate the Wimauma Academy
for another five years.
Wimauma is a small community approximately 40 miles south of downtown Tampa. (Its
name is an anagram of the town founder’s three daughters – Willie, Maura and Mary.)
Most Wimauma residents rely on farm work to support their families. The housing is
substandard; most Wimauma Academy students live in trailers shared by three or four
families. Children who live in Wimauma do not have access to public parks -- there is
only one, and it is dangerous. The only available public library is 10 miles out of town
and can only be reached by car – a luxury few of our families can afford. The main
attraction is Wal-Mart and a few fast food restaurants. These elements, combined with a
low parental education level and poor language skills, can lead to low success in school,
poor attendance and ultimately dropping out of school. Historically, migrant and rural
poor children drop out before reaching high school and join their parents in field work,
another generation that will live in poverty due to lack of education. Finishing high
school is among the many challenges farm workers and their children face.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, migrant students have a 60% high school
dropout rate, which is usually propelled by low academic achievement, poor school
attendance, and a lack of involvement in school activities. It estimated that only about
2,400 graduate from college each year.
On a daily basis the Wimauma Academy staff sees great potential in the students and
provides them a quality education that is understanding of their unique needs and
challenges. Our first alumni will be graduating in the spring of 2007. Among them is
Maria Hinojosa, a young lady who has earned 12 college credits by taking Advanced
Placement classes. She still struggles with the challenges of two languages and living in
poverty. She has joined every possible extra-curricular activity to learn as much as she
can about the world around her, yet despite these triumphs, Maria’s college years are at
risk: There is no money for her to go to college and her SAT score was not high enough
to qualify for scholarships. Fortunately, she has kept close ties with her teachers, and
FCAT Developmental Scale Scores
Based on Number of Years Enrolled at
Wimauma Academy
0 500 1000 1500
One to
Two Years
Three to
Four Years
Five to Six
Years
NumberofYears
Enrolled
Developmental Scale Score
Series1

6. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
6
they are determined to find a way to help her with her schooling. This is an example of
the ongoing obstacles migrant and farmworker children face.
RCMA’s goal is to serve students as they progress onto the middle school grades. To
expand services and combat the high dropout rates among farmworker children, RCMA
will need an additional 12 classrooms for students in third through eighth grade (as well
as art, science and music rooms and a library). RCMA’s Wimauma Academy has the
opportunity to impact students and ensure that these young people do not drop out.
Their academic achievements and successes will affirm this. All student attendance,
test scores, grades, level of involvement, and parental involvement are tracked on a
quarterly basis.
The school’s success is attributed to the wrap-around services provided by the school,
including before- and after-school programs, parenting training, outreach services,
medical services, counseling services, academic tutorial services, and support groups for
students and parents. The successes will grow if we have the opportunity to serve 200
more children by expanding to eighth grade.
Budget Narrative
The school’s teachers and administration have met numerous times and have configured
the number of classrooms, and additional spaces that will be needed. According to
Florida State Educational Building Codes, classrooms for intermediate grades are
required to be 700 square feet; thus, 12 classrooms are needed. The expansion includes
a library, music and art rooms, and a science lab, each 700 square feet. A teacher’s
lounge has been included at 500 square feet, and 2,700 square feet for a cafeteria and
kitchen. Square footage totals 14,400 square feet. A request for proposals will be issued
by June 1; one potential bidder has quoted a price of $175 per square foot. Therefore,
the amount needed for this expansion $2,520,000. An award from Jane’s Trust of
$910,000 will represent about 38% of the cost and help the school and RCMA leverage
the balance of the funding through matching gifts and challenges.

7. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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Project Timeline
2006-07
School Year
2007-08
School Year
2008-09
School year
2009-2010
School Year
2010-2011 School Year
Begin to
obtain
funding
support for
expansion.
Finalize
architectural
plans and
drawings.
The school
will serve Pre-
K through 5th
grade. For a
total of 11
groups of
children.
A temporary
classroom will
be needed to
serve 218
students.
Construction
will begin.
Construction
will continue.
12 groups of
children in
grades Pre-K
through 5th
grade.
Two
temporary
classrooms
will be
needed to
serve 240
children.
Construction
will be
completed.
14 groups of
students will
be served in
Pre-K through
6th
grade.
A total of 280
children will
be served.
18 groups of children
will be served in
grades Pre-K through
8th
grade for a total
enrollment ranging
from 340 to 400
students.
Qualifications of Personnel with major project responsibilities
The individuals responsible for the completion of this project are Barbara Mainster,
Executive Director; Maria Jimenez, Director of Charter Schools; Mike Facundo, Director
of Facilities; and two board members, John Dinkel and Fred Thomas. All of the
individuals involved have had extensive experience with capital projects.
Under Ms. Mainster’s leadership at RCMA, the number of facilities built and owned has
grown from four to 90. Ms. Mainster has worked on projects in 20 Florida counties and is
very familiar with the challenges and obstacles of major capital projects. Ms. Mainster
regularly works on multiple construction projects at one time. A sampling of some of
RCMA’s buildings is in the attachments portion of this application.
Ms. Jimenez has managed and supervised charter schools for 15 years; within those years
she has overseen the design, development and completion of four schools. Ms. Jimenez
is well informed on the unique community needs of migrant and seasonal farmworker
students. She will be responsible for ensuring the design, and that the construction
timeline is met while making sure the school’s program continues in a successful and
positive manner.
Mr. Facundo will be the main liaison with the construction company and will be on-site
on a weekly basis. Mr. Facundo is responsible for the maintenance and construction of
all of RCMA’s 90 facilities. A former farm worker with a degree in architecture from

8. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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Florida Atlantic University, Mr. Facundo knows all too well of the living conditions of the
children, and will ensure that the project will be a high-quality learning space where
children will be happy and eager to learn.
Budget Detail
Year One $275,000
Architectural Planning and Fees
Programming
18,000
Space schematics and flow diagrams 27, 500
Existing facilities surveys 17,000
Feasibility Studies 37,000
Site Analysis and Selection 11,000
Site Development Planning 11,000
Detailed Site Utility Studies 15,000
Off site utility studies 30,000
Environmental Studies and Reports 32,000
Energy Studies and Reports 27,000
Geotechnical Engineering 33,000
Site Survey 44,000
Total Year One $275,000
Year Two- Design $317,000 48,000
Architectural Design 45,000
Structural design 37,000
Mechanical design 39,000
Electrical design 45,000
Civil design 43,000
Interior design 28,000
Landscape design 32,000
Total Year Two $317,000
Year Three –Site Development $317,00
Bidding/Proposal Documents 17,000
Reproduction and Distribution of bidding/negotiations
addends
15,000
Pre-Bid conference/ Selection interviews 4,000
Bidding/Negotiations 21,000
Bid/Proposal Evaluation 23,000
Contract Award 9,000
Construction Administration and implementation 228,000
Total Year Three $317,000

9. Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
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Method and Criteria for Assessing the Project
This request is for a capital project, which will expand the RCMA Wimauma Academy
from 9 classrooms and 190 children served to 24 classrooms and 400 children served.
This request will be utilized to kick off a capital campaign in the community for the
remaining $1,610,000. RCMA recently completed a matching capital campaign of
$620,000.00 for its other charter school in Collier County. RCMA utilizes Raiser’s Edge,
highly sophisticated fundraising software, to track donations and produce progress
reports. This information is reviewed weekly and can be utilized to prepare reports as
Jane’s Trust reporting guidelines may require. This information will also be utilized to
disseminate information and leverage additional funding. RCMA’s quarterly newsletter to
funders will also serve as a method to publicize the progress of Wimauma Academy’s
Capital Campaign.
The actual capital project will be assessed by RCMA’s Facilities Department through a
construction timeline that will be monitored weekly by the management team. The
timeline will reflect the completion of each stage of the project.