An unnamed donor has pledged $800,000 to buy 10 acres of prime real estate near the Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple for a conservative private school.
American Heritage Inc. plans to construct a new $4 million school on the land at 1100 E. 700 North. School officials said the land was secured this week."We have more demand than we have room," said Gaylord K. Swim, chairman of the school's board of trustees. Some 170 students now attend kindergarten through eighth-grade classes at a restored church, where American Heritage has held classes for nearly 30 years.
The private school caters to LDS students.
Swim declined to reveal the name of the donor.
Although each student is charged $1,830 to $2,530 each year in tuition, school administrators depend on donations to upgrade and renovate the current facilities, Swim said.
"Unfortunately, tuition doesn't pay for the holes in the roof or when the boiler goes out," Swim said. "The building really is inadequate for the mission of the school."
American Heritage was founded by attorney Hans Verlan Andersen in 1969 as
an alternative to the public education system after the Brigham Young Academy closed.
Anderson envisioned a school where students could pray, read scriptures and be taught principals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while also studying history, language and mathematics.
According to a brief history written by Andersen's wife, Shirley, the real-estate department of the LDS Church in 1970 agreed to sell an old church on 1.4 acres for classes.
The school still operates from the brown-brick building at 25 N. 100 East.
Principal Claranne Garrett said some classrooms won't accommodate more than 15 students. American Heritage this year added a portable trailer to ease the space crunch.
Restrooms are inadequate, the building does not have a lunchroom and teachers don't have a work room to prepare lessons, she said.
In addition, the building doesn't comply with the American Disability Act and is not equipped with fire escapes.
Swim said construction on the new building won't begin until money is raised to cover the total cost. American Heritage trustees do not want to go into debt for the building.
However, tentative plans for the proposed building, which could cost up to $4 million, include having space to house classes for up to 300 students, cultural events, theater productions and community meetings.
Swim also hopes to add a resource center - stocked with books, curriculum information and lesson plans - for parents who teach their children at home.