MEMPHIS, Tenn.(localmemphis.com) – The focus of a new $15 million facility is to bring higherquality education in science, technology, engineering, and math to the Frayserarea through the Memphis Business Academy.
More than half ofthe current Harmony Plaza strip mall in Frayser is already under renovation tomake way for the new Memphis STEM Academy. MBAheld a kickoff celebration Tuesday afternoon where they “brokeground” at the site of the future school.
Thenew facility grows from a small space located in an old church down the street,into a more state-of-the-art facility, MBA leaders said.
“We’relooking at a parent resource center. We have a new library that we currentlydon’t have. We have something as simple as a multi-purpose room where ourchildren will be able to interact with each other,” LaWanda Clark,Memphis Stem Academy Principal, said.
Clark said theschool will also have four STEM labs with high ceilings for students to builddrones.
“That’smajor because there are jobs right now as we speak for drone flyers. It’samazing so they come out of this community further along than many places inthis state,” said Anthony Anderson,Memphis Business Academy Founder/CEO.
BothAnderson and Clark said the hope is to start students off young with STEMeducational skills beyond working a smart phone. Skills, they said, that cancarry them through middle school, high school, and into their future careers.
“We’refocusing on science, technology, engineering, and math for jobs and careersthat have yet to be invented, but we’re also creating a pipeline to get themready for the middle and high school level,” Clark said.
Anderson addedthat it was important that MSA stay in Frayser, a community that he said is asource of an economic boom. He hopes improving the space for the school willcontinue to improve Frayser, such as increasing property values for people thatlive there.
“Ourfirst goal is to impact this community in a positive way,” he said.
Alarge team of investors came together to make the $15 million facility areality. Clark said it should be finished in nine months and ready to open forthe next school year.
