Our New Campus & Capital Campaign
Our new campus is complete!
For a complete video of the ceremony from WWLP, click here!
Springfield Prep Charter School Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of New $20.4 Million Facility
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito participate in ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, MA – Sept. 23, 2021 – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito were among those who joined Springfield Prep Charter School students, families, staff, board members, and community partners to celebrate the opening of its new campus located at 2071 Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield.
The ribbon cutting ceremony marks the completion of two years of planning and construction on a $20.4 million building project that will serve nearly 500 students each year from across the City of Springfield. The new 50,000 square foot location offers students and faculty access to facilities that support a college preparatory curriculum, including classrooms designed for its unique two-teacher model, breakout rooms for small group instruction, a full gymnasium with a stage for performances, and dedicated science, art, and dance rooms.
“We are pleased to be here to celebrate the completion of this facility that will provide students in Springfield a great opportunity to receive a quality education,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Congratulations to Springfield Prep, its leaders, educators, and students on this important milestone.”
“Springfield Prep is providing students the opportunity they deserve to close the educational achievement gap and this new campus marks an important next chapter for this community,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to seeing the school and its students’ continued success here in Springfield.”
From its opening in 2015 until this year, Springfield Prep worked in temporary, leased spaces.
Public charter schools do not receive the same state subsidies that district schools receive to finance their facilities. Therefore, they must use operating revenue augmented with fundraising efforts and financing to construct their school buildings. A $20.4 million project in total, Springfield Prep raised nearly $3 million in capital campaign funds to support construction.
“We are truly grateful for everyone who made this campus possible, including generous supporters and project partners, but also the students, families, and staff members who make our community so special,” said Bill Spirer, Springfield Prep Founder and Executive Director. “While a building doesn’t make a school, a school building sends a vital message to its students: You are valued. You are deserving. We are invested in you and your education. This building sends that message to our students loud and clear.”
In addition to enhanced classroom spaces, the new campus also features a playground with several play structures, a turf field, and an outdoor classroom.
In its seventh year of operation, Springfield Prep has established itself as a school with a strong academic program. In 2019, it was one of only 67 schools (out of 1,846 schools in Massachusetts) and one of only three charter schools to be named a Massachusetts School of Recognition, for “high growth” and “exceeding targets.”
“I could see that a problem was fast approaching — our school was expanding and our buildings were not,” said Cyrine Fioklou, a seventh-grade student who started at the school as a first-grader when it had just opened. “Now, we have this amazing building, which is, for the first time in Springfield Prep's history, our own.”
In addition to Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, Executive Director Spirer, and student Cyrine Fioklou, speakers at today’s ribbon cutting ceremony also included Assistant Principal Shawna Mitchell and Chair of the Board of Trustees Robert Leonard.
An ambitious
$3 million campaign
to provide a new, modern campus for
Springfield Prep scholars and our community
Help Us Reach Our Goal
Click to see our Capital Campaign Flyer
After more than 5 years of searching, we have found the property that Springfield Prep will call home. We have completely renovated an existing building, built a new gymnasium that will also serve as performance and gathering space, and installed multiple playgrounds and outdoor classroom spaces. This campus will be transformational for our scholars and community.
We are thrilled to report that, thanks to some very generous donors, we have already raised $2.7 million towards our $3 million goal! While our building is complete, the need to fund the project hasn’t ended. Help us reach our campaign goal to support our students on the path to college.
Click here to make a donation or make a check payable to Friends of Springfield Prep Charter School and send to 594 Converse Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106.
Follow us on social media for updates and photos from our new school!
We are very grateful for our Project Partners
Our heartfelt thanks to these Major Campaign Supporters*
$1,000,000+
Strategic Grant Partners
$500,000 - $999,999
Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
$100,000 - $499,999
Amelia Peabody Foundation
MassMutual Foundation
The Mifflin Memorial Fund
Anonymous Individual
$50,000 - $99,999
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
$10,000 - $24,999
The Longfield Family Foundation
DW Gore Foundation
Sally and David Fuller
$1,000- $9,999
HR Knowledge
Dr. Karin Johnson and Jason Alves
Bob and Ellen Leonard
Doug Morrin
Rebecca Thibault and Bill Spirer
Tricia Walker
Anonymous Individual
*As of May 2022; includes multi-year gifts
Special thanks to the many others who have donated to this campaign, including all of the Springfield Prep Board Members.