<< Back 7/3/02 Mountain Discovery begins work on building in Bryson City SMN Mountain Discovery Charter School has begun renovations on its new home on Hughes Branch Road next to Ingles market in Bryson City. The school has signed a three-year lease on the building space, the grassy lot next to the building, and a portion of the parking lot. Workers began last week preparing the building for the renovations, which will include walls, corridors, a new ceiling, new lighting, and an additional door, to create the classrooms and office space to meet educational occupancy code. The school will use the grassy field next to the building as a play area. The entire area will be fenced to assure safety for students while using the playground. “The interior of this building will look completely different when we’re finished with it,” said MDCS board member Karl Wolz. “We are on schedule to have the building ready in plenty of time before Mountain Discovery opens on Aug. 14.” Wolz added that renovations being done in the weeks before the school opens are just the beginning. Additional windows are scheduled to be added during the second semester of the first school year, he said. MDCS teachers will begin work on July 8 with a week of special training in Expeditionary Learning, the instructional approach the school will use to teach the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. “We’re very excited about this teaching approach because it is so inclusive. It emphasizes collaboration and cooperation, creating a school culture that values individual differences, respect for others, and offers multiple ways to be successful,” said board member Heather Green. “It is important to us to give our teachers the support they need to do their jobs as well as possible. In our opinion, giving them this additional training and planning time before the school year begins is critical. As the school’s new home is being prepared, so are our teachers.” The school is planning a July 20 picnic to introduce teachers to students and their parents. Parents of enrolled students will be receiving an invitation by mail with details about the picnic. Green says MDCS is still accepting enrollment forms for the upcoming school year. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools, and any child who is a North Carolina resident and meets the age and grade requirements is eligible to attend Mountain Discovery Charter School. Spaces are currently available in grades K-6. Grades 7 and 8 will be added in the second and third years, respectively. Enrollment forms are available at the Bryson City and Sylva public libraries, at the Swain County Chamber of Commerce, and from the school website at www.mtndiscovery.org.