FROM STAFF REPORTS

American Renaissance School kicked off a capital campaign on Friday in an effort to raise money for new facilities, technology and programs.

The public charter school is investing approximately $15 million in property acquisition and construction of new facilities for its Downtown Statesville campus.

The Board of Directors and administration hosted a luncheon in the new Gym & Activity Center on Friday to solicit support for several projects. In addition to constructing the new building, ARS has purchased a building along Cooper Street that is being renovated for classroom space and the old Record & Landmark building on Broad Street, which will be converted into an arts and science center.

Unlike traditional schools, charter schools do not have access to state lottery proceeds earmarked for brick-and-mortar projects. As a result, ARS must rely on per pupil funding it gets from Iredell County and the State of North Carolina to pay for capital expenses, but about 70 percent that money must be used for teacher and staff salaries.

“We have to run lean, we have to run mean and we have to be efficient,” Executive Director Jim Duffey said.

Investing in new facilities — ARS has never had a full-size gymnasium of its own — will enable the school to better serve its students and the community, Duffey said. A 100-seat theatre planned for the arts and science center will be used by the school and local theatre groups and be available for events like the Full Bloom Film Festival, he added.

The 25-year-old school, which now counts eight former students as staff members, opened at Allison Woods in 1998 and moved into the old Bryant building a year later. 

“We had bats and no air conditioning,” Duffey recalled.

Today, ARS has an elementary building on Broad Street and a middle school building on Center Steet. It is utilizing space in First ARP Church during the expansion project.

Along with the facilities upgrades, ARS will also restructure by adding an intermediate program. Starting next year, the elementary program will serve K-3 students, intermediate will serve grades 4-6 and middle grades 7-8.

The campaign kick-off featured performances by K-3 music students and the eighth grade chorus.

ARS Board of Directors Chair Tracy Sain, teacher long-time elementary teacher Robyn Robbins and parent Ron Smith all discussed the importance of the new facilities and what the school means to the students and the community.

The Eighth-Grade Chorus, under the direction of music teacher Brad Rashley, performed three songs.