Contact: Nancy Hamel, D.L. Withers Construction
3220 E. Harbour Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Phone: (602) 438-9500, [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reid Traditional Schools Begins Construction of its Second Traditional K-8 Charter School
The second school in the Reid Traditional Schools family, Painted Rock Academy, is now under construction near Greenway Road and the Black Canyon Freeway. Painted Rock Academy is scheduled to open August 13, 2012, and will have the capacity to serve over 700 students. Modeled after Reid Traditional’ s first school, the highly successful Valley Academy, Painted Rock Academy will offer a traditional, back-to-basics education to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As a public charter school, Painted Rock Academy is tuition-free.
Reid Traditional Schools’ Valley Academy was one of Arizona’s first charter schools when it opened in 1995. The Arizona Charter Schools Association named it the 2011 Charter School of the Year. Valley Academy consistently receives top marks from the Department of Education, including carrying the “excelling school” label, and regularly performs well above the state average in the number of students meeting or exceeding standards on AIMS tests. An active and effective parent organization provides academic input and a high level of extracurricular support.
“Valley Academy’s good reputation means that we are at capacity there, and we have families on our waiting list,” stated Reid Traditional Schools’ CEO, Heidi Mitchell. “We are so excited that with the opening of Painted Rock Academy, we can offer the benefits of a traditional education to a new community of families.”
The new location will also house the offices of the charter management organization, Reid Traditional Schools. Overseeing Valley Academy and Painted Rock Academy, Reid Traditional seeks to offer back-to-basics education by providing a challenging curriculum supported by individual accountability and high academic and behavioral standards.
Reid Traditional Schools’ Board Secretary, Cuyler Reid attributes the success of Valley Academy to its stability and commitment to its founding philosophy. “We have continued to be what we started out to be; we have a mission, and we followed it.” She understands the importance of managing both schools, and states; “In order for us to have the chance to take care of these children, it is imperative that we focus on handling the business correctly, too.” As a replication school, Painted Rock Academy is expected to continue to build on the framework provided by Valley Academy.
The new school was designed by Orcutt Winslow, and is being built by D.L. Withers Construction. The 80,000 square foot structure will include more than 30 classrooms, a library, and a cafeteria. A preschool is planned in the future at the same location. Exterior landscaping is being redesigned to reduce parking spaces in favor of grass playing fields and a basketball court, with a security fence separating the play areas from the street. For more information visit www.reidtraditionalschools.com.
Orcutt/Winslow Architects was founded more than four decades ago by Herman Orcutt and Paul Winslow. Orcutt and Winslow began building client-focused design teams that could offer personal service during each stage of the architectural process. This progressive approach has allowed Orcutt/Winslow a reputation of being one of Architectural Record’s Best Managed Firms and one of the Valley’s leading architectural firms, and has earned them numerous awards year after year. For more information, visit www.owp.com.
D.L. Withers Construction, an Arizona-based Contractor, is a full-service firm providing construction manager at risk, design/build, design-bid-build, construction management and tenant improvements services. Founded in 1981, the company builds a broad scope of quality public and private sector projects throughout the southwest, with a primary focus on Arizona. Visit www.dlwithers.com to learn more.
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