JS CLARK LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS, AND BUILDING HOPE HOIST THE BEAM, TOP OFF NEW 54,000 SQUARE-FOOT SCHOOL FACILITY BEING CONSTRUCTED 'FOR US, BY US, AND WITH US'

Hundreds Attend Beam Signing and Topping Off Ceremony at 1040 South Bullard Street in West End of Opelousas

OPELOUSAS, La., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JS Clark Leadership Academy (JSCLA) students, faculty, staff and Board members were joined yesterday by State Senator Gerald Boudreaux, Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor and Building Hope executives for a special ceremony to sign and hoist the final beam on a new 54,000 square-foot school facility currently under construction. The Topping Off Ceremony was held at 1040 South Bullard Street, located in the West End of Opelousas.

The event, hosted by CEO and Founder Tiffanie Lewis at the construction site, culminated two days of beam signing by school students, faculty, staff, and Board members. Students from Grades 4, 10 and 11 participated in Tuesday's ceremony that welcomed members of the local community.

JSCLA currently enrolls 490 students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in a single facility in Opelousas. The new school facility will house Grades 7-12 starting in the fall of 2026, while Kindergarten through Grade 6 will expand and occupy JSCLA's current campus. Ultimately, the addition of a new school facility will allow JSCLA to serve the 350 families on its enrollment wait list and to grow total enrollment to 720 students.

"Our motto for our school expansion has been For Us, By Us, and With Us," said Ms. Lewis. "Locating our new building here in the west end was a decision taken for us to contribute to resurgence of this area and the economic advancement of the entire community. Having 10 members of our staff design this building was a step taken by us because we wanted careful consideration of every student need. Having a welding graduate work with us at our construction site, pouring cement for our new school, is a full-circle moment. Truly, this is a community effort."

Founded in 2012, JSCLA's innovative and unique educational model features Project-Based Learning in a technology-rich environment with shared responsibility for school success among teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and students. Students' learning extends beyond the recall of facts, principles and correct procedures to creativity, problem-solving, analysis, and evaluation – so students learn more through their active involvement and leave prepared to lead.

JSCLA offers a variety of high school graduation options that fit students' future plans: general studies, technical studies (diesel powered equipment technology, electrician, industrial electronics, welding), and industry-based credentials (customer service, first responders, logistics, microenterprise). Students may earn both their high school diploma and up to 60 college credits simultaneously. JSCLA's results speak for themselves:

• 100% of high school students graduate
• 89.7% of students find career employment post high school
• 85% of students matriculate in post-secondary studies
• 84.5% of high school students graduate with dual enrollment credentials

JSCLA's new state-of-the-art building will include an allied health wing, a technology repair station where students will service computers and tablets, science labs, a 520-seat capacity gymnasium with weight room and locker rooms, a football practice field, and a coffee shop.

Building Hope is proud to lead the development of this school, bringing the vision to life with construction support from Rudick Construction and funding provided by Civic Builders.

"JS Clark is not just preparing students for graduation, it's preparing them for life," said Kyle Culverhouse, Senior Vice President of Construction at Building Hope. "By pairing dual enrollment opportunities with a close-knit, supportive school community, JS Clark is giving students the confidence, skills, and career readiness they need to thrive in college and beyond. Building Hope is proud to partner in creating spaces where that kind of transformational impact can happen."

JSCLA is currently accepting applications for student enrollment. Discover more at jsclarkcharter.com.

For more information about how Building Hope helps charter schools nationwide with facilities, financing, and operational services, visit www.buildinghope.org.

About Building Hope

Building Hope is a national nonprofit that empowers advancements in education through our work with schools and communities by providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 22-year history, Building Hope has supported more than $2 billion in charter school projects. For more information, visit www.buildinghope.org.

About JS Clark Leadership Academy

JS Clark Leadership Academy (JSCLA) opened in 2012 with a vision to sustain an academic culture characterized by a rigorous and intellectually challenging curriculum with high standards that are culturally sensitive, and promote excellence that will prepare our graduates for college and beyond. Students develop solid academic content knowledge and distinctive interdisciplinary skills in problem solving, communications, self-management, and teamwork. In addition to its core curriculum, JSCLA offers guidance and career planning through Jobs for American Graduates, instructional support services, and enrichment through 21st century after-school programming, continued professional development for staff members, and a winning sports program. Learn more at jsclarkcharter.com.

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SOURCE Building Hope