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The latest I’ve heard about plans for the new charter high school in Summerfield is that a shortage of building materials has delayed the project. Can you confirm what’s going on?

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

We reached out to Leah Nixon, spokeswoman for National Heritage Academies, who confirmed that timing for construction of the proposed charter high school on U.S. 220 at Winfree Road is uncertain.

“While there are increasing costs due to inflation, a bigger challenge remains construction delays and supply chain issues,” Nixon wrote in a recent email. “Considering these factors, we do not have plans to open a high school immediately and will continue evaluating when the time is right.”

Nixon added that school leaders will share details with families and community leaders “once we have more concrete timelines.”

Five months ago, Bob Dunston, who handles real estate transactions for National Heritage Academies, told Summerfield’s Planning INDUSTRY-LEADING WARRANTY UP TO 10-YEAR “WORRY-FREE” Board that construction of the school GUARANTEE

ON A NEW COOLING & HEATING SYSTEM

could start later this year, with classes possibly starting in August 2024. The timing hinged upon Summerfield Town A/C REPAIRS • TUNE-UPS • INSTALLS SYSTEM REPAIRS • TUNE-UPS • INSTALLS LIMITED TIME OFFER! See website for details. Council’s approval of the company’s A/C OR HEATER PROBLEMS? rezoning request for the 37.2-acre school site, which occurred in May. SAME DAY REPAIR OR IT’S FREE!

National Heritage Academies, WORRY-FREE No Breakdown Guarantee 24/7 Service • No Emergency Fees * See website for details. a charter school management company based in Grand Rapids, Call, visit or scan to schedule now!Michigan, helped start Summerfield Charter Academy, located across (336) 223-3006 | EanesComfort.com The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 *No Breakdown Guarantee: If your A/C or heater breaks down for any reason during the season after our tune-up, we’ll refund the cost or put it towards the cost of repair. © By Eanes. All Rights Reserved. NC LIC# 3262from Summerfield Athletic Park on U.S. 220, and Greensboro Academy ®

on U.S. 220/Battleground Avenue in Greensboro. Parents of students in the two K-8 schools are seeking to continue their children’s education at a four-year charter high school, Dunston told the Planning Board in February.

National Heritage Academies isn’t alone in grappling with higher costs and supply chain delays. In May,

Two oak trees guard the kudzu-covered corner at U.S. 220 North and Winfree Road where National Heritage Academies has delayed plans for building a charter high school due to supply chain disruptions and rising costs. Summerfield Town Council halted plans for building a new town hall due to escalating costs. Probable costs for developing Bandera Farms Park climbed 30% while the estimated price tag for Veterans Honor Green in Oak Ridge jumped by 29%, according to officials working on those two projects.