The Fountain Hills Charter School has closed its original building, located at 16751 E. Glenbrook Road, where the school started over 20 years ago.

The charter school, which also will not have a preschool program this year, will be running all of its operations out of the building located at 16811 E. El Pueblo Blvd.

The driving factor behind the decision to shut down FHCS’ north building was to be more efficient with the space the school has, as well as with the budget.

“When the school was originally open it only existed up at the north end,” one of FHCS’ principals, Doug Pike, said. “But it never owned that building, it has always been a leased facility. It has been several years since the school population was below the capacity of this campus (El Pueblo Blvd) but was spread over both. Efficiency and managing the budget really said that we should use the space we need.”

Pike also pointed out the school’s campus will not be divided by a road anymore which, according to Pike, is not unheard of but abnormal for an elementary school.

The charter school’s front office, which was located at the Glenbrook building, will now be moved over to the EL Pueblo building next to the school’s gym.

Pike explained the other changes FHCS will make to the El Pueblo building in preparation for the new school year.

“The parking lot will be open, whereas it hasn’t been before,” Pike said. “So we are going to be adding a little fencing in there to keep the children out of the parking lot area when they are using the playground so that we have safety issues covered. Those are really the major changes.”

FHCS’ morning student drop off system will remain the same.

Pike said the staff of FHCS is looking forward to the improved communication that having one building will offer them.

“We really only moved one classroom over to this (El Pueblo) building,” Pike said. “So we will have the entire faculty in one location, which they are excited about because it means they don’t have to use the walkie-talkies as much.”

The staff and teachers’ enthusiasm have Pike excited for the new school year.

“I think it is going to be a fantastic year,” Pike said. “There is a lot of excitement among the staff and students.”