The Desert Star School Community Hall provides a space for our students to eat, play and learn!

After years of preparation, Desert Star was awarded a $2,000,000 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities loan in 2016 to build our Community Hall and improve the school's infrastructure. 

The project has provided the school with:

• A 6,300 square foot multipurpose building
• Commercial kitchen and cafeteria space
• A performance stage and seating for 250
• An indoor 1/2 basketball court recreation area
• An additional classroom
• Improved vehicle access and paved parking (paving coming in summer 2018)
• Much needed increased infrastructure capacity for the entire campus: new septic system, additional water storage, increased electrical power

We have made real progress with our community fundraising in 2015-2017:

Donations and in-kind donors have funded important features for the building including a sprung wood stage floor, main stage curtain, a basketball hoop, walk-in kitchen cooler, installation of high quality donated commercial kitchen equipment, and the foundation for a future woodworking studio. 

We are deeply grateful to those who have helped make our Community Hall a reality. See a list of our generous donors to date here.

The new building creates a space for students to Eat, Play and Learn.

Eat

The school is completing the equipping of the Community Hall Kitchen and is seeking an experienced business partner to operate a student meal program. Over time, students will have the opportunity to learn to grow, cook, serve healthy meals.

Desert Star students who are eligible for free or reduced cost meals under the National School Lunch Program, and all students will be served by the future program.

Play

The indoor open area of the Community Hall offers all students a place where they can enjoy activities from basketball to yoga, to dance and Waldorf style games and activities out of the Arizona sun and winter cold.

Learn

Our new Community Hall provides a space for class plays, musical performances, lectures, and festivals. Multiple art forms such as drawing, painting, sculpting, handwork/woodwork, movement, drama and music are essential components of the Desert Star curriculum.