Sophie B. Wright charter school likely won’t be returning to its Napoleon Avenue home for the start of next school year in August as planned, the school’s board learned Tuesday at its regular monthly meeting. Instead, students will leave their temporary quarters sometime later in the fall.
That’s because more structural problems than expected were discovered at the main campus, near the corner of St. Charles Avenue, with termite damage recently found in four roof trusses.
The board hopes to go out to bid for this repair work no later than early next month, said middle school leader Lawrence Vinnett, who presented a facilities report to the Institute for Academic Excellence, the board that governs Wright.
The school has been using a temporary campus at 1800 Monroe St., while their Napoleon Avenue campus is undergoing construction. That’s the site of the former James Weldon Johnson Elementary.
Vinnett said there’s still a chance that quick contractors could meet their original schedule.
“Hopefully they will move at a fast pace and make up for it, so we can stay on track,” he said.
Vinnett said the Monroe Street location suffered a series of burglaries in January.
In response, the school added security measures, including window grates. Since then, there have been no break-ins, Vinnett said.
The burglaries were connected with a break-in at KIPP Believe Charter School on South Carrollton Avenue and police have arrested one suspect in the burglaries, he said.
In other news, school leader Sharon Clark announced that the school marched in 13 parades this Carnival season.
The school made somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 from marching, which went toward the uniforms, instruments and upkeep of the band, Clark said.
The school also had the chance to ride on a float in the Oshun parade this year, which was a great staff event, Clark said.
Clark also noted that a lot of people sent emails and letters telling the school how much they missed them being at their Napoleon Avenue location during Carnival this year. “We are glad people are missing us. We can’t wait to get back in our building either,” Clark said.
Clark also announced that the school is in complete compliance with all 21st century community learning center program requirements. The program provides students with an academic enrichment opportunity during non-school hours.