Linda Uberseder, principal of George Fox Friends School in Cochranville, said she believes Quaker schools empower young students to learn and develop their gifts and strengths.

While the school has been educating children in the Friends tradition since 1995, it may have to close when the last school bus pulls away in June.

Last month, the George Fox board of directors asked Uberseder to tell parents and students that the school, which has 67 students, would need to close and place its building at 2007 Gap Newport Pike (Route 41) up for sale.

The school operates on an annual budget of $350,000 but has lost 30 students in the last two years to new charter schools. Uberseder said because charter school tuition is paid for by local school districts, some of the families who struggled to pay George Fox's $6,000 annual private tuition left.

Other parents, however, told Uberseder and the school board they could not allow the school to close. Joe Wentz, a mail carrier for the Christiana post office and the father of adopted twins from China, is among the parents who have been attending meetings and organizing a plan to restructure and finance the school.

"There were over 30 people at our last meeting Tuesday night," Uberseder said. "The school board feels if we go into the next year in a fiscally irresponsible way, our teachers won't get paid, and that's not right. But the parents are asking for a chance, and they say they can raise the money."

Uberseder said at this point the board, faculty and parents are "struggling and thinking, and we're hoping the way opens again."

The school was incorporated by a group of Quaker volunteers in 1995 and held its first classes in the basement of the Oxford Friends Meeting House in 1996. According to Uberseder, the school has upheld the 200-year-old tradition of Friends education, which has emphasized high academic standards, Quaker spirituality, peace and conflict resolution and service.

"We could be a charter school, but since we are a Quaker (religious) school, it is hard to go in that direction," Uberseder said.

In addition, the school operates a nursery and day-care center with before- and after-school care, and this is not compatible with the charter school model.

"The kids here think of Quakerism as a way of being," Uberseder said. "They are learning that even though they are kids, they can make a difference."

Under the school's policy of conflict resolution, children are required to talk problems over and come up with a solution.

"We do a huge number of service projects," Uberseder said.

The school is a Roots and Shoots school, a global initiative begun by scientist Jane Goodall which requires schools to do annual service projects for people, the environment and animals.

"I think we do really great things here," Uberseder said. "The kids feel confident and respected."

Uberseder believes the school appeals to middle-income families committed to its "think globally act locally" approach. She said it does compete with other parochial schools for students, but George Fox is at a financial disadvantage because West Fallowfield Christian School, and Sacred Heart Catholic and Bethany Christian School in Oxford are underwritten by their churches.

She said George Fox has a higher percentage of Quaker students than other Quaker schools — 20 percent compared to Westtown's 8 percent — but the school is not underwritten by Quaker meetings.

Uberseder said she is not sure whether parents will be successful in restructuring and obtaining grants and donations.

"At this point I feel like a dying person who has been resurrected," Uberseder said. "My head is spinning."