MICHAEL E. POWELL
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 1:59 pm
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Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony recently, celebrating the completion of their new $18 million high school campus.
Karin Cook, TJCA's PR Committee Chair, noted the project was funded "...by a United States Department of Agriculture loan, and includes a 53,000 square foot high school with 29 state-of-the-art classrooms, a media center, laboratories, computer center and student lounge."
She continued, "A new 18,500 square foot gymnasium with mechanized bleachers, coaching offices, training and locker rooms, as well as concession area, was built at the same time." Cook noted also that "... New softball, baseball, soccer fields, and parking are also included in the much-needed site improvements. Beam Construction, of Cherryville, completed the new buildings and site construction for the school."
To commemorate the consummation of the multi-year project, the school invited the entire school community to celebrate Friday, Dec. 3, at 4:30 p.m.
In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ms. Cook noted other planned events included entertainment and student-led tours.
Cook stated, "A grant from Challenge Foundation Properties, a charter-school facility resource," allowed the school "...to provide a tailgate-style dinner on the newly-landscaped outdoor courtyard to all those in attendance." Additionally, later that day, the Gryphons, TJCA's high school basketball teams, took on Langtree Charter in the new gymnasium.
Ray Maxwell, Chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy board, said of the ceremony and the school, "Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy is committed to providing a quality education for students within our community, and the new buildings and athletic facilities recently constructed will provide a much better learning environment to educate our students. This project represents long hours of hard work and dedication by the Board of Directors, staff, and a myriad of volunteers. We thank all of these individuals for their generosity during this process and look forward to continued growth in the years to come."
A media release from the USDA Rural Development - North Carolina State Office in Raleigh, stated the new facility "...will provide students with state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics classrooms. The new high school facility will allow the transfer of other students to newer facilities and eliminate the seven temporary modular classrooms currently being used to teach students."
Said USDA Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight, "The children in Mooresboro have always received quality education. Now they will receive this high-level education in a state-of the-art facility giving these rural students more tools to achieve success in the future."
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, a tuition-free public, college-preparatory, charter school, is located in Rutherford County, and was founded in 1999, and is based on the classical curriculum.
Cook noted that according to a US News and World Report article, the school is nationally ranked in the top one percent of all public schools. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy partners with families to educate students in grades K-12 and offers 55+ sports, clubs and activities.
For more information, Ms. Cook said to call the school office at 828-657-9998.