Ground will be broken Monday, Nov. 27, for San Tan Charter School\u2019s new Queen Creek campus \u2013 its third in the East Valley.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kristofer Sippel, CEO and Superintendent of Schools at San Tan Charter School, will be leading the ceremony to kick off construction of the $25 million campus at 18979 S. Signal Butte Road.<\/p>\n
San Tan Charter School \u2013 Signal Butte will be built on 5 \u00bd acres near East Germann Road in the Barney Farms area of Queen Creek and is expected to open next July.<\/p>\n
The new campus will offer K-8 grade mainstream, Montessori and gifted programs, as well as a Montessori preschool.<\/p>\n
Katie Cox, principal at San Tan Charter\u2019s K-6 Recker campus in Gilbert, will now become principal of the new Queen Creek campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we founded San Tan Charter School 20 years ago, we intended and planned to open our Montessori Preschool and kindergarten in Queen Creek,\u201d Sippel said.<\/p>\n
But he said unforeseen issues arose with the property, which is at a different location from the Signal Butte plot, so he opted to open the first school in Gilbert.<\/p>\n
While San Tan Charter School has enjoyed growth at its Gilbert campuses, Sippel said he never gave up on his goal of one day opening a campus in Queen Creek.<\/p>\n
After finding a new location, he and staff got to work securing funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are building a new, state-of-the-art school from the ground up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money for the project is coming from bonds and investors and grant funding that will support the purchasing of all educational items needed for students, including chairs, tables, curriculum, Montessori materials and staff training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sippel said he is encouraged by the positive and encouraging feedback on the new campus from both parents and staff, especially those who live close by in Queen Creek, southeast Mesa and San Tan Valley.<\/p>\n
While the original plan was to offer PreK-6, \u201cthe community interest and feedback was so strongly positive, Sippel and his staff decided to extend the classrooms through eighth grade,\u201d a spokeswoman added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also open to buying the rest of the property and making that campus PreK-12 if the enrollment supports that decision, which is what some of the interested families-groups that have been in communication are saying,\u201d Sippel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, with no Montessori schools in the Queen Creek area, those parents interested in their children attending a Montessori school are ecstatically grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tony Fiori, a board member at San Tan Charter School and a parent of two daughters who both attended the school years earlier, said he is pleased to see the new campus coming to fruition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will offer the parents of Queen Creek that small-school experience in a larger school setting,\u201d Fiori said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favorite part of having my children at San Tan was the fact that my opinions were heard by teachers and administrators,\u201d he added. \u201cThey truly ensure that they are offering the best education and experience for your child possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Sippel: \u201cThere is not a school in Queen Creek like San Tan where a family with multiple children can attend and find a learning environment where each of their children can thrive and not just survive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school culture uses a \u201cLove and Logic\u201d approach to classroom management that is focused on \u201cbuilding mutually respectful relationships and communicating with respect and kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Its \u201cEducation with a Purpose\u201d philosophy means teachers encourage their students\u2019 love of learning \u201cthrough purposeful and meaningful work.\u201d<\/p>\n
San Tan Charter School also offers a championship athletics experience 5th through 12th grades with recess and PE daily K-6, as well as many other specials and electives daily.<\/p>\n