The private Liberty School is searching for a temporary space to hold classes in the fall.
“We are exploring all of our options,” Head of School Christian Holmen said.
The school has raised more than $1.1 million for a new building on Western Avenue near Junction Creek, not including the price of land, Holmen said. But it is not enough to break ground this winter as planned.
The school planned to move into its new building in the fall, which would have avoided a conflict with a new charter school.
The Juniper School is opening in the space occupied by The Liberty School in a Durango School District 9-R building on 12th Street that also houses Durango Big Picture High School.
The district informed The Liberty School about The Juniper School’s plan to move into the building two years ago, district spokeswoman Julie Snider-Popp said.
The district offered to let The Liberty School and The Juniper School share the space, but the The Liberty School declined the offer.
“The conversation will continue, and we’ll continue to offer support in finding another location for them,” Snider-Popp said.
Finding the right location is tough because the school needs lots of room for one-on-one instruction, Holmen said.
“We have a number of options, but none of them are all that appealing,” he said.
The school serves students with dyslexia, and 28 students are enrolled, he said.
Parents have been understanding of the school’s situation, Holmen said.
“They know we are in a tough spot. They are fully invested, and they know we need a permanent home,” he said.
The school must raise about $3.5 million to build the first two phases of its building, as originally planned. To build just the first phase would require about $2.5 million, he said.
The cost estimates do not include land because an anonymous person is purchasing 9 acres for the school. The school plans to develop about 3 acres on the site.
The first phase would include three classrooms, room for administration, space for tutoring and parking.
In the second phase, the school would build a multipurpose space that would be used for a gym, a cafeteria and performance space. In the third phase, another wing would be added with classrooms and rooms for film editing and music.
But the configuration could change during the delay, he said.
The school’s new target for breaking ground is January 2018 at the latest, Holman said.
Its next fundraiser will be a film festival from 6 to 8 p.m. April 17 at the Animas City Theatre.
The school also accepts donations on its website, thelibertyschool.org.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
