FAYETTEVILLE -- The New School, one of the city's oldest private schools, will celebrate an addition that has changed the face of the school and look of the campus.
The school will host a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. today and recognize three principal donors whose contributions paid for the addition. Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Steve Clark, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and the school's founder, Bill Mandrell, will be among the participants.
At A Glance
The New School
• Founded: 1971
• Location: 2514 New School Place, Fayetteville
• Campus: 26 acres
• Enrollment: 327 students from age 1 to seventh grade, about 70 percent are from Fayetteville and about 30 percent from other communities in Washington and Benton counties.
• Diversity: Students’ families come from 42 states and 22 foreign countries.
Source: Staff Report
The school received the first drawings for the expansion more than 10 years ago, Mandrell said when announcing the construction 18 months ago.
The seed to move forward grew from a $4 million challenge grant from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. A capital campaign raised about $12.5 million to pay for the improvement.
The addition boasts 46,000 square feet that includes a 350-seat auditorium, dance studio, art studio and 12 classrooms; an early childhood center for the preschool program; and a Center for Teaching Excellence for professional development for the school's 44 teachers, said Dennis Chapman, president and head of school.
The curriculum has a science, technology, engineering and mathematics focus. "The new arts facilities puts the A in STEM to be STEAM," Chapman said. Chapman joined the school in January.
"This is phase one of a long range plan," Chapman said. 'There is so much we want to do. We want to build a world-class independent school."
An eighth grade will be added next school year. No decisions have been made yet on adding a high school or a satellite campus. Both options have been explored in recent years. The board of directors will begin work soon on a plan to move the school forward for the next five years.
Renovation of the older building will probably be the next step, Chapman said.
Edward Prewitt, board chairman, said the additions are revolutionary, putting the school on the cutting edge, especially in the arts.
"The new head of school sees this as an opportunity, with the knowledge and foundation to take us to the next level," Prewitt said. "Great things are on the horizon with his enthusiasm, experience and dedication."
The new spaces are named the Willard and Pat Walker Administration and Performing Arts Center; the Don and Pauline Whitaker Early Childhood Education Center; and the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Auditorium. Chapman said Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Whitaker and Mrs. Hunt are expected to attend the ribbon cutting.
NW News on 10/02/2014