Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy community members and stakeholders gathered Thursday, February 14th to celebrate the start of construction on their new school.
\r\nThe groundbreaking ceremony was held just beyond the site where construction crews have started work on the foundation for the new school.
\r\n“We are thrilled to be able to expand and offer more Jefferson Parish residents the opportunity to attend a high quality, open enrollment charter school for grades K-12. We could not be more eager to break ground for our new building,” said Head of School, Patty Glaser. “The building will provide a beautiful learning environment, incorporating cutting edge design and features for our students to grow and prosper.”
\r\nThe $36 million project includes a state-of-the-art facility with specially-designed classrooms and resource rooms. The 125,000 square-foot building will include nine science labs, a teaching kitchen, counseling center, co-curricular area, cafeteria, library/media center.
\r\n"Kenner Discovery is a high performing school in our district and this new facility is exciting for the school's families and the City of Kenner,” said Superintendent Brumley. “This modern, state-of-the-art facility will add value to the portfolio of Jefferson Parish Schools, especially when our average school is 54-years-old."
\r\nDiscovery currently has a student body of 1,536 students in Pre-K through 11th grade and nearly 200 full-time faculty members. The school will continue to add a grade level each year with its first graduating class in 2020.
\r\n“This is the beauty of community partnership,” said Discovery Health Sciences Foundation Board Chair Diane Hollis. “Thanks to the vision of our CEO, Dr. Glaser, this innovative concept for public education in Kenner was nurtured and grown into the quality school we have today for our families. This project is made possible by the fundraising efforts of its Board, its parents and students, and our community leaders who believe in parental choice and high academic standards for your young people. Thank you to Superintendent Cade, the School Board and so many city and state officials who believed in our vision and are able to stand with us today in a show of unity.”
\r\nThe new building is slated to open in January 2020.
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