Charlotte Preparatory School Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Two Years After Devastating Fire
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – Charlotte Preparatory School officials cut the ribbon on a brand-new lower school building Saturday evening, nearly two years after a fire destroyed their original facility in June 2023. Hundreds of families attended the celebration, marking what leaders called a moment of resilience and renewal.
A Tragic Fire Sparked Rebuilding Efforts
Head of School Todd Ballaban reflected on the community’s journey since the blaze:
“In June of 2023, a tragic fire burned down our original building. And it’s been a heroic effort and an example of resilience to get to this day. We’re here to celebrate the community’s resilience, the positivity. And we’re excited.”
Investigators at the time said the destroyed section of the lower school had no sprinkler system, and the official cause of the fire remains under review.
After the disaster, students and teachers relied on modular units as temporary classrooms and offices to keep classes going without interruption.
A New $13 Million Campus
The new two-story building cost $13 million to construct, making it more than twice the size of the original lower school. It features 11 spacious classrooms, each just under 1,000 square feet, designed for kindergarten through 4th grade students.
Ballaban said the new design allows teachers to create environments tailored to each grade level:
“Inside the classrooms, they’re really remarkably big. And it allows a kindergarten teacher to possibly design a classroom for the needs of a kindergartner, which might be different from the needs of a fourth grader.”
Students and Families React
Students who will attend classes in the new building expressed excitement.
Kynoa Croal, a rising fifth grader, said:
“I think it’s super cool because I realized if the fire didn’t happen, then it wouldn’t look like the whole new school wouldn’t have happened.”
Her friend Tammy Yao added:
“That means more room for new students and more education.”
Parents also praised the school’s determination. Kyla Croal, whose daughter’s classroom was where the fire began, said the school community never wavered:
“It showed me what this place was capable of, which made me feel more confident that we had chosen the right school. That the school wasn’t about a building, but was actually about a community.”
Funded by Community Support
The rebuilding effort was made possible through the school’s first capital campaign. With the help of families and donors, Charlotte Preparatory not only reached but exceeded its fundraising goal twice.
School leaders credited the community’s generosity with making the project possible, ensuring a stronger and larger facility for future generations of students.
Classes for the new school year are set to begin on Wednesday, August 20. For continuing education coverage and community updates, follow SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
