Animas High School finds its home
Charter's board says location will be on north Main Avenue
by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer Article Last Updated; Wednesday, April 15, 2009
After months of searching, Animas High School has found a home.
Animas High School announced Tuesday it has selected a location at 3206 Main Ave. for the future high school. The school is expected to open in August with about 100 ninth-grade students.
The new charter school expects to open in August at 3206 Main Ave., near north City Market, the school's board announced Tuesday.
Finding a physical location was the last major hurdle for the charter school. Gisele Pansze, president of the AHS board, said the north Main Avenue location was the board's first choice.
"It's a great location for us," Pansze said.
The building features windows along the entire front and back to allow natural light, the two-story interior can be easily modified and seminar rooms will allow for smaller discussion classes, Pansze said.
A spacious commons area will host daily all-school gatherings.
AHS organizers also considered starting in the Grandview area. But, Pansze said, "One of the things we heard from our constituents is they think Grandview is too far."
The north Main Avenue location is near the Animas River Trail, Durango High School, Durango Community Recreation Center and a trolley stop, said Nancy Heleno, Animas High School's facilities chairwoman, in a news release.
"We are pleased that this site places our students within a mile of Durango High School, where they can participate in athletics and other after-school activities," Heleno said.
Under state law, charter school students are allowed to participate in school district programs, including sports.
AHS takes more than two condominiums in the location, totaling about 9,800 square feet. The school likely will punch a hole in the wall to connect the two units, Pansze said. Each unit is two stories.
The building will be equipped with wireless Internet and a broadband connection featuring security encryption and filtering for inappropriate content. This system will eliminate the need for extensive and costly wiring, school officials said.
Animas High School's board signed a lease Tuesday. Dan Hopper of Durango owns the property. He said in the news release he was "pleased to enter into this agreement with board."
The school will be at the location for at least two years, Pansze said.
"It has some potential for growth," she said.
Animas High School's charter was approved by a state agency in October 2007. In January, the school's board named Michael Ackerman, formerly of Prescott, Ariz., head of school.
In addition to Ackerman, AHS has hired two teachers. It still is looking to hire teachers for Spanish, French and digital media. A national search is under way to fill two math-science teaching positions. That search so far has attracted 90 applicants, Pansze said. AHS also has openings for a finance specialist and an information technology staff member.
School officials plan to open Animas High School in August with about 100 ninth-grade students. They will add a grade each year until AHS becomes a 400-student, four-year high school during the 2012-13 academic year. It is a public school and does not charge tuition.
AHS is overseen by the Colorado Charter School Institute, the state agency through which the school is chartered and funded. Unlike previous local charter schools, Animas High is not affiliated with Durango School District 9-R.
The state institute requires AHS to meet enrollment benchmarks before it may open. The school must enroll 75 students by May 15 and 85 students by June 15. It met its benchmark of 50 students by April 1.
Eighty students currently are enrolled, Pansze said. The school now is focusing on the June 15 benchmark.
AHS is based on High Tech High, a charter school model born in San Diego. The model emphasizes technology and project-based learning.
chuck@durangoherald.com
