The pursuit for growth and expansion of facilities for education at Treasure Valley Classical Academy (TVCA) has not been without its fair share of trials and tribulations. TVCA was established in 2019 as an elementary school for Kindergarten to 6th Grade, however, their vision at the time was to expand and become an institution offering education from Kindergarten to the 12th Grade. However, the journey toward growth has encountered significant hurdles.
During a special meeting that was held on January 10th, the Commission voted unanimously against TVCA’s conditional use permit to open an upper school campus for grades 7-12, at Northwest 13th Street. The first issue raised was that of traffic congestion by school buses in an area with business activities. This decision came after several months of discussion, public hearings and after receiving a lot of support from the community with meetings being often overcrowded by parents in support of the expansion of the school.
Nevertheless, TVCA was able to find a way forward in Payette after experiencing these setbacks. In collaboration with the local developer, Bob Goodwin, the academy managed to acquire a 16-acre piece of the land that the Payette City Council approved for annexation on the 15th of April 2024. This approval is a major boost for TVCA as it moves forward to construct a new high school campus within the city of Payette to accommodate the increasing number of students.
In an interview, Stephen Lambert, the Executive Director of TVCA, expressed his optimism and relief at the breakthrough. “This expansion has been a long time coming,” Lambert noted. “We’ve faced many hurdles, but the support from our community and the collaboration with Mr. Goodwin and Payette city officials have been phenomenal.”
The expansion project is planned in two phases, with the final permanent campus incorporating 41,880 square feet of new construction. Phase 1 calls for acquiring a temporary campus by August 2024, while Phase 2 entails development of the permanent upper school campus, which will be complete by August 2025. This development is likely to enhance the education opportunities for students from both Fruitland and Payette; two schools whose parents are bulk of the academy.
This grand project is funded through a municipal bond issued through the Idaho Housing and Finance Association normally employed by charter schools to finance capital expenditures. This indicates that the success of the bond offering for the current property of TVCA will hold good for this new expansion.
The mission statement at TVCA is to provide a rigorous classical education that promotes virtues, traditional academics, and civic duties. Lambert also foresees improved programs in the new campus including National Honor Society, Boys and Girls State, numerous clubs, as well as participating fully in IHSAA in the sporting activities. These opportunities will make students have a good academic foundation and co-curricular activities.
In the opening to this new chapter of TVCA, Lambert stresses the need for community participation. ”We want to be good neighbors and welcome any input from the community. Our mission is to train the minds and improve the hearts of our students, preparing them to be virtuous and responsible citizens.” The recent approval by Payette City Council is a major boost for the academy as it affirms that TVCA is in a position to continue expanding and meeting the educational needs of people in the communities. The strength of the academy and support from the community for the education mission are the proof of the common goal of offering quality education in Treasure Valley region.
