New charter schools await students Tuesday

Many of the 323 students attending New Century Charter School and New Discoveries Montessori Academy will see their new 40,000-square-foot school for the first time when they walk through the doors Tuesday morning.

The building, in Hutchinson’s industrial park at 1000 Fifth Ave. S.E., was completed about a month ago. The east wing will house the 154 students of New Century’s grades 7-12, while New Discoveries’ west wing will have 169 students in the elementary grades. The two schools share facilities in the center of the building, such as an administration block and a multi-purpose cafeteria, theater and gymnasium combination.

The school day starts at New Century at 7:45 a.m., Director Allen Hoffman said. Students will be greeted by a staff of about 20, including 12 full-time certified staff and six paraprofessionals.

Next door, New Discoveries Director Dave Conrad said he expects 169 students Tuesday. They will be led by about 35 staff members including seven classroom teachers. The rest are support staff or specialists. Many work part-time and for only two or three days per week. New Discoveries’ typical day starts at 9 a.m., with dismissal at 3 p.m.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)