FAYETTEVILLE - The New School, one of Fayettevilles oldest private schools, is writing a new chapter in its history.

The school will soon break ground on a 46,000-square-foot preschool and auditorium. A fundraising campaign is under way to build the facility, endow its operation and renovate the classroom building to add the eighth grade.

New Facilities

The school is well on its way to reach its $14 million goal with about $3.4 million left to raise.

The new building will free up more than 6,500 square feet in the classroom building for the eighth grade, library, art, music and foreign language.

The expansion has been on the drawing board for awhile, said Bill Mandrell, the schools founder and head of school until 2010. He is now the advancement head, guiding the fundraising effort.

The first set of drawings we got 10 years ago, he said. The seed to move forward grew from a $4 million challenge grant from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

The preschool opened in 1972 with 24 students, some of whom have children or grandchildren in attendance now. The elementary school opened in 1991 with the first grade. A grade was added each year until the school reached seventh grade. This year 407 students are enrolled, 247 in the elementary and 160 in the preschool.

The expansion will change the look of the school, said Sara Stephenson, head of school since Mandrell stepped aside. The building will be built on New School Place, which runs south from Sunbridge Drive. The New School owns nearly 20 acres in that area.

There will be larger classrooms and more in the preschool. Active play areas will be built inside and out. An art studio just for preschoolers is planned and every classroom will have wet areas for art and science, Stephenson said.

The new preschool will allow for expansion of the programming to meet the demand because there is a waiting list, Stephenson said.

We want to grow as a whole school but we want to continue our leadership in preschool education in Northwest Arkansas, she said.

The 350-seat auditorium and administration portion of the design includes a reception area and art gallery, a state of the art dance studio, training rooms for teacher professional development, a parent center for volunteers, and more parking.

The City Council approved a conditional use permit for the construction earlier this year.

Stephenson said it only took her 20 minutes to know the New School would be the best option for her 3-year-old son when the family moved here from Ohio in 2009.

Its like I joined a family. This is something so special, she said, speaking as a parent and the schools top executive. She has degrees from University of Bristol and University of Cambridge in England.

She praised parents, teachers and students for their accountability and commitment.

Her plans, as she guides the school into its fifth decade, are to grow the summer and after school programs; promote service learning and global citizenship; establish it as a strong educational option throughout Northwest Arkansas; while encouraging and nurturing students in a family-like environment.

Eighth Grade

The school plans to add the eighth grade in fall 2015 when the Fayetteville School District moves ninth-graders from Woodland and Ramay junior highs into the high school.

As a private school, New School can add the eighth grade without approval from the Arkansas Department of Education.

The motivation is academics, Mandrell said. The change will allow New School students to make only one transition as they make their way into high school.

Scott Hancock, a parent and president of the schools Board of Directors, feels much the same way as Stephenson in his praise of the school.

We moved here seven and a half years ago and its the best decision for our family and our kids, Hancock said. Students are academically prepared for life, to be true citizens of their communities.

No date has been set yet for a groundbreaking, Hancock said.

This is an exciting time for the school, Mandrell said. Its been gratifying to see the school grow.

Some of todays students are the grandchildren of some of the original student body.

The initial supporters have been here as long as the school, Mandrell said.

This is a very special place, Stephenson said. Its going places.