Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow

Welcome to our journey towards transforming the future of education at our Waldorf-inspired school in Sedona, Arizona. We embarked on an ambitious journey to buy and renovate the first Running River School-owned building, cementing it as a beacon of holistic education in Sedona for generations to come. This initiative represents not just a physical transformation, but a commitment to nurturing the intellectual, creative, and emotional growth of students in an environment that reflects the values of community, sustainability, and academic excellence.

Challenges We Have Faced

In the summer of 2021, Running River School's lease of the property from the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District was abruptly terminated, as they intended to rent the space to the City of Sedona. This left Running River School with two months to relocate eight grades. In response to this urgent situation, and to ensure our future as an integral part of Sedona's educational landscape, providing families with a holistic approach to education, we pursued a two-pronged strategy. This involved securing a temporary location at Christ Center Wesleyan Church and purchasing a permanent building located in West Sedona on Navajo Drive.

New School Location: 105 Navajo Drive In Renovation

The renovation project timeline is detailed below:

• 2022 and 2023 - Designed and created individual learning spaces for eight grades and a teacher’s meeting space: Demolition began with our chosen contractor in 2023.
• Spring 2024 - Submitted permitting: We received a sponsorship loan from a private entity with favorable terms to give us the capability to finish the remodel and be able to move into the new school building as soon as possible.
• July 2024 - Secured permitting and finalized the remodel design: After five months of finalizing permitting with the City of Sedona, we received our construciton permit on July 10th. .
• August 2024 - Sub-contractors were secured to finish the remodel work.
• December 2024 - Drywall is started and details of the design are finished.
• December 2024 to January 2025 The multi-purpose playscape will be designed, planned, and built

We anticipate moving in to our new home in 2025.

UPDATE ON FUNDRAISING

The generosity of our sponsor has enabled the school to consolidate our mortgage and renovation loans, complete remodel work, and move into our new home on an accelerated timeline. This has allowed us to focus on our mission to provide a holistic environment which awakens each child to their individual gifts as they embark on a journey that develops academic confidence and a sense of wonder while cultivating a lifelong love of learning. While we will not remain idle in our fundraising efforts, it has lessened the immediate need to raise the funds needed for the new building remodel and given us the time necessary to shift our attention to, and focus on, our annual and long-term fundraising goals. We will now be taking on a multi-level effort of expanding our annual campaign and growing our community outreach through a community event, and working towards an endowment fund to secure our future success as a thriving school. During the 2024/2025 school year, we have an annual campaign goal of $45,000, and aim to raise an additional $50,000 for other projects at the new location, such as our playscape, office space, expanded parking, and various school move-in needs.