Finding Solutions: SOAR Academy rises over storm damage to land on new home
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Eight months after Hurricane Helene heavily damaged its building, SOAR Academy is closing in on a new home.
Hurricane damage to the building off Washington Road shut down the charter school for two months. And though SOAR found a temporary home, that’s not a permanent solution.
In fact, the closure cost the school 10% to 15% of its families, according to founder Kenisha Skaggs.
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. They’re finding solutions in picking an area with growth in mind.
The non-traditional private school serving Kindergarten through 12th grade will soon buy a new 20-acre property after rezoning was approved by officials.
“We found something that works for our model,” said Skaggs. “It’s truly a blessing. It’s just really exciting after a hard year with having our school closed for almost 60 days to be able to say we have permanent roots for the school forever.”
Skaggs says those roots will be planted within the Green Meadows Estates.
“We spoke with residents and know that this was a former convent where nuns and monks lived, and they were a part of the community in the neighborhood,” she said. “We plan on having that same energy with our students and our school, having them work with the residents, allowing the residents to be a part of the renovations and process with the school.”
Skaggs says the idea is to create a forest school.
“The idea is an outdoor water lab for sensory needs for students with adhd, anxiety, depression, being able to reconnect with nature, having a community garden, a small course similar to putt putt, and connecting that to math, a STEM lab, really just getting kids back to nature,” said Skaggs.
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Kelvin Hughes is enrolling his daughter at SOAR Academy in the fall after she participated in SOAR’s two-week summer program.
He says he received the Georgia Promise scholarship, which helps with the cost.
“She really loved it, and we saw great results, and we’re seeing great results daily, and she continues to talk about it,” said Hughes. “She wishes she could attend throughout the rest of the summer.”
Skaggs says this was all made possible through grants and donors.
“Us building out this idea of kids learning in nature, connecting nature to the standards, is a huge component of SOAR,” she said. “We do think it will decrease behaviors in schools and allow students with adhd, autism, other neurodiversities, and just general education kids to thrive.”
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School officials intend to close on the property within a couple of weeks, renovate the building and reopen in a new home by January.
“It’s been devastating for a small business like SOAR, but our facility was just severely unstable, and we service 100% neurodivergent population, primarily autistic. So, having all of the changes in the building, tiles still falling and then there’s no air, it just wasn’t conducive,” said Skaggs.
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Skaggs says there have been around 250 families on the waitlist in recent months, and a larger facility would help the school serve more students.
Right now, they have about 150 students in total. This new building will allow them to grow to over 600.
“SOAR is a home, a safety net for these kids, a safety net for all students, but it’s a place where every student is seen and heard, and their accommodations are met in the way they need them,” said Skaggs.
SOAR is also working to open a charter school and needs more and signatures from parents.
You can SOAR’s mission by visiting the academy’s website or Facebook page.
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