We have an update on the extent of the damage from the recent fire at our Southern Heights site. We are committed to ensuring students and staff have a safe and comfortable learning environment by the start of the school year.
The fire caused significant damage to the gym and staff space, as well as to classrooms for both schools. There is smoke and water damage throughout the campus and the power and network systems were significantly damaged, affecting not only the lighting but critical safety systems.
Unfortunately, due to the extent of the damage and the limited time remaining before the school year starts, we currently anticipate that the campus will be unable to host students for the 2024-25 school year. Our students’ wellbeing and learning come first. We are exploring alternative spaces to host both programs until the site is restored.
Three things drive this decision:
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Student and staff safety: The damage to the site, including compromised power and safety systems, makes it currently unsafe for use.
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Minimizing disruptions and transitions: Moving to an alternative location for the school year provides stability.
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Maintaining a high-quality learning environment: The damaged campus cannot support the necessary educational resources and facilities.
Given the extent of the damage, we believe construction will take at least a year.
We know this is difficult news to hear and we recognize you may have a lot of questions. We do not have all the answers at the moment but we are working to identify a plan as quickly as possible. We believe this approach will allow us to create a consistent learning environment for students and provide the necessary time to restore the Southern Heights campus for the return of our students.
We have experienced an outpouring of support from our community. This incredible show of solidarity reminds us that we are strong and will get through this together.
We will continue to provide updates as we learn more information.