Phase II
Upper School

Our goal is to have Phase II ready for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, as fundraising allows. To accomplish this goal, $12 million dollars needs to be pledged by May 15, 2024.

Yes. There is a designated parking lot for upper school faculty, staff, and student parking. The new addition also includes a separate, secure entrance of its own and dedicated front office.

The additions have been designed to transition seamlessly between divisions of the school. The rooms built in the Phase II addition like the science labs are easily transferrable, and the classrooms were designed for multifunctional use with the long-term plan in mind to avoid repurposing costs and to minimize lost investment.

The Phase II addition will include a new, varsity-size gymnasium that will be acoustically equipped for events with bleachers that seat 450, a large stage, concessions space, and a school store. The new wing will feature larger classrooms including 3 state-of-the-art science labs as well as dedicated and sound-enhanced band, choir, and art rooms for our Fine Arts program. There will be a new multipurpose room that functions as a study space and work space for the students with a computer lab included. The addition will also see a new, larger learning specialist space. Outside, there will be a full-size soccer field that will be used for practices and games, and a new blacktop, foursquare, and green space for our Preschool-2^nd grade program.

It is likely Liberty will need to keep the staggered start and end times and may have to make minor adjustments to the current start and end times at the respective campuses to accommodate families with children at both sites. Once the schedule is determined, we will inform families.

Before and aftercare will be available at both sites beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m.

We are committed to helping all our families navigate transportation to the Hugo campus, especially those families with children at both campuses. Determining the school day logistics and transportation options for families remains a priority for the transition to Phase II just as it was with Phase I. Before and aftercare will be available at both sites beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. 

Our intention is to fundraise entirely for any costs associated with Phase II and future expansion at Liberty Classical Academy. However, operational costs of the building will need to be incorporated into our annual budget. The Executive Team and Board are planning ahead to have funding available for operational costs for each new phase as they come.

When we initially transitioned to two campuses, we surveyed our families for transportation needs and then designed transportation options between the two sites based on the responses received. We will reassess transportation needs with our families for Phase II, and we have already begun planning for various transportation scenarios.

We know that providing our upper school families with a space truly dedicated to upper school students was critical for Liberty Classical Academy’s long-term sustainability. We are so excited to be able to offer our upper school faculty, staff, and students with a space that best suits the needs of students in their high school years like properly sized and equipped science labs, athletic facilities, classrooms, and fine arts spaces. The St. Pius facility was built for grades K-8 and therefore the typical needs of upper school students were more difficult to provide.

Absolutely. However, considering that we have a fully functional K-8 facility at the White Bear Lake campus that can accommodate growth at those grade levels, the need for an upper school became the priority from both a spacial and financial standpoint.

Ultimately, the Phase II addition is designated for 3rd-5th grade students, which eventually combines the entire lower school program together in one, connected building.

It was intentionally designed to have a campus feel to provide beauty and a sense of movement for students as they progress from one division to the next.

The only crossover at this point is use of the lower school’s cafeteria and nurse’s office. While the students will not have lunch at the same time, the upper school students will utilize the cafeteria in the lower school building for lunch. Upper school lunch will start after Kindergarten dismissal. In addition, upper school students will use the nurse’s office in the lower school as well, but for Phase II, the nurse’s office will expand into the office attached, significantly increasing its size. Ultimately, the crossover will be minimal due to the separate entrances and parking lots.

Yes. We anticipate certain school and community events will be held with everyone together at one campus, as well as certain sports practices and games. Both campuses will continue to be utilized for sports.

We will have an Early Childhood and Lower Grammar Director full time at the Hugo campus, and an Upper School Director for the Phase II addition, along with an assistant to the Directors. In addition, both the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster will split time between the campuses.

We imagine events specific to each division will be held at the division’s respective campus. Larger event gatherings will be evaluated as the completion of Phase II nears.

Our athletics department will continue to use both campuses and will determine practices based on what is most reasonable for participating families. With the addition of the new varsity-size gymnasium and soccer field in Phase II, we do anticipate the Hugo campus to become Liberty’s “home” site for competitive events, especially at the upper school level.

Yes, the separation of campuses for middle and upper school will require separate directors.

Yes. We are already beginning to do this in the 2024-25 school year.

Beautifying and maximizing the WBL campus is a top priority for us to ensure the best experience for our 3^rd-8^th grade families. First and foremost, each division will have the opportunity to spread out, with the middle school extending completely into the 300 wing with use of the larger lockers, and the upper grammar school extending fully into 200 wing to allow for a 3rd section when needed. There will be a new, light-filled lounge for teachers in the 300 wing.

Yes, the new playground installed for Phase I will remain, but its location will be moved slightly. Also, Phase II will bring a new blacktop, foursquare and green space for our Preschool-2^nd grade program. Phase II will also include a new entrance to the preschool playground for easy access to the preschool wing.

Eventually, the current gym at the Hugo campus will be split into a new weight room for athletics, an Art room, and an athletic office and storage room. However, a varsity-sized gymnasium will be built for use by both the upper school and the preschool-2^nd grade program. It will have a divider and can be used by two different classes at once. Capacity in the current gymnasium at the Hugo campus is near max, and we look forward to this upgraded facility!

Because the structural changes needed to transition this space to an art room, weight room, and athletic office/storage room are minimal, we believe the current gymnasium at Hugo will remain in use through a majority of the 2024-25 school year.

For any space affected during construction, an alternative plan will be established in advance by the facilities team and communicated to employees and families as soon as possible.

Interested families should contact our Admissions department at admissions@libertyclassicalacademy.org or call 651-772-2777.

We want to hear from you. If you have additional questions surrounding Phase II and long-term facility plans, please send them to development@libertyclassicalacademy.org.