Arizona Charter Academy Begins $5 Million Expansion

30,000-square-foot project will include new gymnasium and classrooms

(SURPRISE, Arizona) This week, construction crews began working on a $5 million dollar expansion project at Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise.

If all goes as planned, by fall the school will sport and new and larger state-of-the-art gymnasium, a new multipurpose room, and expanded high school classrooms.

Students, parents, and staff from the school, located at 16011 N Dysart Rd., kicked off the construction with groundbreaking ceremony on February 20.  About 450 people attended the festive event.

Surprise Mayor Lynn Truitt spoke at the ceremony, and students made presentations on what the school has meant in their lives, and how it has helped them meet their goals.  Members of the school's hip hop dance team and elementary school choir also performed. The school expressed their commitment to the community by presenting Mayor Truitt and Vice-Mayor Villanueva with a banner signed by every student that read "Doing our part to build the community."

Melissa Holdaway, Chief Operations Officer for the school, said the groundbreaking event was exciting for everyone in attendance, and she is thrilled that construction is underway.

"It went tremendously well," she said.  "The kids were amazed and so excited to be part of the ceremony.  They enjoyed performing and meeting community members as are always proud to see their parents in the crowd.  It was one of my proudest moments since opening the school seven years ago."