Canton charter school delays opening to 2023
Officials of what is purported to be the state’s first public STEM Charter School originally set to start in the fall announced Wednesday that enrolment will be delayed until the 2023-2024 school year.
SR1 Founder Tamu Green and SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy Provost Kymberley Hutchinson said the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board approved the planning year extension on June 13.
“We are disappointed with the delayed opening; however, we believe the extended planning year will provide many benefits for students and their families. It gives us time to gain private and public support, build permanent structures, engage and build relationships with families in the community, and ensure a STEM-rich curriculum is fully in place for our students,” Hutchinson said.
The SR1 CPSA is on schedule to open in the fall of 2023 in Canton, Mississippi. The school will be Mississippi’s first STEM Charter School, Green said. It will serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The first school year, 2023-2024, will begin with kindergarten and first grade only. A grade will be added each school year.
“A well-educated workforce is key to a state’s economy," Green said. "Mississippi can build a strong foundation for economic success, innovation, and shared prosperity by investing in STEM education at the elementary level, just like the SR1 CPSA will offer. Providing expanded access to high-quality STEM education will not only expand economic opportunities for residents but will also likely do more to strengthen the overall state economy for generations."
The vision for the school includes a sprawling $30 million campus with buildings connected by outdoor walking paths. This vision has been shown in renderings by WK Architects P.C. of Chicago.
While SR1 does not have an address, the school does have a location.
The school will be built on about 250 acres north of Canton on Highway 51.
SR1 is a Ridgeland-based non-profit.
Documents approving the school with the Mississippi Charter School Authorization Board were finalized in December 2020.
Charter schools are alternative forms of public schools run by private nonprofit organizations.
The school will operate off of both privately raised funds and taxpayer money.
SR1 announced Hutchinson's Hiring in April. She was hired after a nationwide search that started in Nov. 2021. Hutchinson was previously in San Antonio, Texas. Hutchinson has degrees in business administration and masters in education. She has an extensive background in STEM education and school leadership positions.
“I believe the vision for SR1 CPSA reflects my philosophy of education; creating a place where imagination and a rich curriculum promotes a desire for our students to become lifelong learners,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said she and other team members will use the extra time before opening to build relationships with the community. They will be visiting Canton and surrounding areas during the next year meeting with potential students and families, building relationships with businesses and leaders, and becoming a vital part of the community.
“I am eager and excited to get out into the community to meet the families SR1 CPSA will be serving and begin building partnerships with local businesses that will enrich the educational experience for our students,” Hutchinson said.
Parents/guardians can still begin the enrollment process for students entering kindergarten or first grade in the 2023-2024 school year. You can visit the website at https://www.sr1cpsa.org to learn more and register.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals can support the SR1 CPSA and its mission to “provide high quality education to kindergarten through 5th grade students.” You can visit www.sr1cpsa.org to learn how to support and donate to the school.