A charter school in Loveland, Colo., has acquired land to construct a new building about a block from its existing facility so that it can increase its enrollment and shrink its waiting list.
The Loveland Reporter-Herald reports that the New Vision Charter School has begun planning a two-story, 57,000-square-foot building to be constructed on a 10-acre site.
The new campus will house grades three through eight and, for the first time, give the school its own gymnasium and sports field, as well as room for STEM, arts and other programs to expand. Kindergarten through second will remain at the existing facility.
Officials are aiming for the new building to open in August 2019.
"This is a game changer for us," says Tim Bishop, principal of the school. "This changes everything. We're going to be able to offer a lot more to our community. That's what we're most excited about, and we can work with more kids."
The charter school opened in 2006 in a building adjacent to the Boys & Girls Club, is at capacity — 505 students.
"We've been maxed out for the last few years," says Bishop. "We've had a wait list. This footprint we're on is not going to allow us to grow."
The charter school financed $19 million through a private bond, essentially a lender for charter schools, to pay for the land, construction and other costs associated with the project.
The architect is Hord Coplan Macht and the builder is Fransen Pittman.
