August 27, 2004/Elul 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 49
King David School opens new campus
JENNIFER GOLDBERG
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 King David School students sit in an opening-day assembly. Photo by Jennifer Goldberg |
For the first time in the school's 17-year history, King David staff and students have a place to call their own: a brand-new, 35,000-square-foot campus adjacent to the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus.
Previously, King David was located at Temple Beth Israel in Scottsdale, and before that, as Solomon Schecter Day School, it rented space from Beth El Congregation in Phoenix.
"It was an amazing sight to have the music here and have the kids walking into the facility with huge smiles on their face and looks of anticipation, because this is the first time that The King David School has had its own facility, its own home," said Esther Feuerberg, head of school. "I literally had goosebumps."
The new campus is the product of a $5.1 million capital campaign that began in October 2002, and includes a fully equipped science lab, library, sanctuary and art room.
An opening ceremony held Aug. 23 in school's multi-purpose room featured re-marks from Feuerberg, new principal Mitch Flatow, board president Beverly Rubenstein and others.
Feuerberg said, "When we recited together the Shehe-cheyanu, I can tell you there wasn't an adult in the room who had a dry eye."
After the ceremony, the students retired to their new classrooms, where a special mezuzah-posting ceremony was held for each class.
King David enrollment for the 2004-05 school year is approximately 230 students, enough for two sections of every grade but fifth. Feuerberg noted that the campus does have some room to expand if enrollment continues to grow.
Feuerberg, who has been with King David for more than three years, also said that the installation of the school in its new location is the culmination of years of big goals and hard work.
"If I were to tell you that this was a dream come true, it would sound like a clich‚. But for many who worked very hard at making the plan become a reality, this was truly a day to celebrate."
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