‘Shock of the fire’ ending for Charlotte Prep. Here’s how it’s starting to rebuild
Camps are restarting and modular classrooms are headed to Charlotte Preparatory School as it begins to rebuild after a fire destroyed a portion of its campus June 26.
The school on Boyce Road in south Charlotte resumes its summer camp schedule Wednesday, with its early school camp. Its Camp Prep summer program will start back July 17. Camps are for children in grades K-8 and will be relocated to St. Stephen United Methodist Church on Sardis Road.
“We are very grateful to our friends across the street, who have generously offered us their space for the rest of the summer,” Charlotte Prep spokesman George Marshall told The Charlotte Observer.
The late-night fire last month burned the campus’ lower school to the ground. The blaze reached three-alarm status and destroyed the building serving grades K-3 and housing offices, including the nurse’s office. It resulted in millions of dollars in damage.
The fourth-grade cottage also sustained some water and smoke damage. Charlotte Prep enrolls 400 students up to eighth grade.
Marshall told the Observer on Friday the school doesn’t have a final damage estimate, and the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. School officials have received donations, dozens of offers from volunteers willing to help and support from local businesses. Families and alumni are using the hashtag #OnePrepStrong.
Modular classrooms reserved
Head of School Chris Marblo this month told families that officials located and reserved modular classrooms and office space in preparation for the school year, which begins Aug. 16 for lower and middle school and Aug. 17 for early school.
Marblo says one unit contains six classrooms, two offices and two bathrooms. Another unit contains two classrooms and two bathrooms. The plan is to put both units near each other so K-3 classrooms are all in the same area.
Another unit containing eight offices will house staff the fire displaced, Marblo says.
“We are still determining the best locations for these units and will ensure the sites work on a practical level,” Marblo told families. “It is our intention to make these classrooms and the area surrounding the modular units as pleasing as possible; we want this space to look special and attractive.”
School officials also are trying to fast-track permits for classroom units, and pressing to get utilities connected quickly.
“There are quite a few other details that need to be addressed and worked out,” Marblo said, while pleading with parents for patience. “We will, of course, continue to provide regular updates about our progress.”
School needs donations
The fire that left staff shocked and some parents and former students in tears drew messages of hope and encouragement from people in Mecklenburg County and elsewhere, including Socrates Academy in Matthews and State Rep. Laura Budd, a Democrat whose south Charlotte district covers the school.
The page for Socrates Academy in Matthews said it hoped to ”support Charlotte Preparatory School as you rebuild and prepare for the fall,” and Charlotte Prep may take the Matthews school up on its offer because the school is asking for help with donations of time or money from individuals and businesses.
Those who wish to help the school rebuild can do so at charlotteprep.org/oneprepstrong.
School officials are planning to build a state-of-the-art facility that will serve future generations of learners, according to its website.
“The shock of the fire is receding, and we are completely focused on tending to the many tasks that need to be completed before the new school year,” Marblo said.
This story was originally published July 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
