Students who attend McCurdy Charter School are getting a few extra weeks of summer vacation while construction crews put the finishing touches on the new school building.
Students will head to class Sept. 5, nearly three weeks after the Aug. 14 and 15 start days for their counterparts in the Española School District and neighboring districts. The school was slated for completion some time in May and was expected to be open in time for the May 27 graduation.
McCurdy Director Michele Lucci attributes the delay to the difficulties the builder, Maryland’s Charter Schools Development Corporation, had obtaining supplies, securing permits and dealing with inclement weather.
To accommodate the delay and ensure that not too much of the students’ 2018 summer vacation is consumed making up lost time, McCurdy officials made slight changes to the schedule. Both the school year and the school day will last slightly longer than in years past.
Instead of the students getting out in late May for summer break, they will get out June 6, 2018.
The school day will also last a bit longer than originally scheduled, until 3:15 p.m., instead of 3 p.m. every day.
“We extended the school year three days,” Lucci said.
She is eager to start instruction in the new building and believes the improvements will help students feel good about their learning environment.
“The new building will allow students, staff and community members to have a safe environment where academic success can be promoted and celebrated,” Lucci said while unpacking boxes in her office at the new building, Monday.
McCurdy parent Monica Archuleta said while she isn’t necessarily pleased with the delay, she doesn’t mind it because she would rather them take the extra time to make sure the building is constructed correctly.
She isn’t the only parent who doesn’t mind the wait. Parent Amelia Gonzales said the delay doesn’t bother her, especially since she knows once school starts, her child will be in a nice, structured environment.
“In regard to the delay, what could be done?” she said. “The school isn’t ready yet. I’d rather my children be in a proper school, than start on time. The new building will be worth the wait.”
The new 38,000-square-foot building will house both, McCurdy secondary and elementary schools, and will accommodate about 530 students.
McCurdy officials agreed to a 30-year lease, but have the option to take possession of the building in seven years.
Governing Body President Deborah Bennett Anderson said the lease will cost the Charter School $500,000 annually or about $41,600 per month.
The money will come out of the school’s operating budget.
Anderson said she is pleased the project is finally completed.
“We are really excited to get it up and running,” she said. “It has been several years coming.”
Anderson said the new school, with the existing Memorial Gym and the Pringle Cafeteria buildings, has a “very comprehensive campus.”