Meredith Leonard, Chairman of the Board for the Alpine Education Foundation, spoke with SVI Media’s Dan Dockstader regarding the upcoming ribbon cutting for Wyoming Classical Academy-Alpine June 25.

(0:00) SBI with Meredith Leonard from the Wyoming Classical Academy. (0:05) Meredith, you have a big event coming up later in June. Tell us about it.

(0:09) We do. We have our ribbon-cutting on June 25th. (0:13) The event starts at 6 o’clock and we’ll do our formal ceremony at 6.30, our formal ribbon-cutting at 6.30. (0:20) When you say formal, what can people expect? (0:22) Really just a presentation.

There will be a few remarks from Eric Green, the mayor of Alpine, (0:28) as well as Dave Jenkins and our headmaster, Dr. Alex Oliver. (0:33) It’s all coming together. Remind people of the importance of having a headmaster for the school.

(0:37) The headmaster really is the backbone behind the school. (0:41) So he has been busy hiring staff, managing enrollment, getting the school set up, lining out curricular materials. (0:49) Making it happen for when? When does school open? (0:52) August 20th, 2026, this fall.

(0:54) But in the meantime, a big event, June 25th. Let’s go back to that and talk about the importance. (1:00) Great.

Yes, it’s a huge moment for our school. (1:04) There have been so many people that have worked countless hours to make this happen. (1:08) Lots of families that have taken the leap and trusted us with their child’s education.

(1:14) And this is just really a time to celebrate a monumental occasion. (1:19) How do you feel about it personally? Remind people of your title and position with the school. (1:23) Remind them of that, but talk to us personally about what this means to you.

(1:28) I chair the Alpine Education Foundation. (1:30) So we are the private 501c3 that has supported the school efforts. (1:35) In terms of fundraising, we actually own the building and have leased the town land with the town of Alpine.

(1:43) So we’re the private entity, the private nonprofit supporting this effort. (1:47) Okay. Now we’ve talked about the opening.

(1:50) Let’s just summarize your thoughts in general about the school and taking it into this opening of actually having a class. (1:59) We’re sitting in the school now, having classrooms and students in the school. (2:04) Close out with that thought.

(2:06) I think the biggest thing that this school brings is something completely transformative to our students. (2:13) It’s not a traditional education that people normally get in the public schools. (2:20) And to remind everyone, this is a tuition-free public charter school.

(2:23) But what we are offering is a classical education that is rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty. (2:30) So children will experience all kinds of things, whether it’s studying great art, studying great literature, focusing on phonics reading, (2:41) all of the back-to-basics education that I think parents are really thirsting for. (2:46) Very good.

(2:47) And the date, again, in June, that we want to be there for. (2:50) Thursday, June 25th, our ribbon-cutting starts at 6 p.m. (2:55) The formal ceremony about 6.30, and then there is a community barbecue to happen afterwards. (3:00) So we invite families to stay.

(3:01) Meredith Leonard on behalf of the Wyoming Classical Academy in Alpine. (3:06) Dan Dockstader, SBI Media.