CL Classical purchases former Sunset School

by Marianne Gasaway

Clear Lake Classical, a private Christian school located in Clear Lake, has announced the purchase of the former Sunset Elementary School from Waterloo/Cedar Falls developer Dolly James LLC.  

In December 2020, Dr. Cory Gerdts, headmaster of CLC, shared the news the school would be leasing the Sunset building on Mars Hills Drive.  Necessary zoning changes were completed in early 2021 and renovation work has been underway to ready the facility for Pre-kindergarten through fourth grade classes to occupy the building in the fall.  

A significant fundraising effort is now underway to provide for the purchase and upgrades.

“When we signed a five-year lease in the fall, they (Dolly James) were aware we wanted to purchase the building,” explained Gerdts.  “Ultimately it worked out and we think the neighborhood and general community is excited about us being in the building.”  

Jim Sulentick and Brent Dahlstrom purchased the school site in June 2018 and agreed to not close on the property until the school district had completed an addition at Clear Creek Elementary.  That move was made in 2019.  Since that time the building has sat empty. A call to the developers was not returned by presstime Tuesday.

Closing on the sale is set for late summer.

Gerdts said Clear Lake Classical has set a goal to raise $600,000 to cover the purchase and renovation of the building and school grounds.  To date, more than $450,000 has been raised.  

“Generous early commitments provided us with the funds to purchase the building and now we are in the process of raising additional funds,” said Gerdts.  

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The school has established a GoFund Me page with a goal of $110,000.  There is also an option for donors to partner with the school to fund everything from basketball court resurfacing ($20,000) to security considerations ($50,000) and room renovation ($50). Gifts of any size are welcomed.

In the fall the school plans to primarily utilize the south classrooms at the building, as well as the small gymnasium.  In preparation, plumbing and work on the boiler system is underway.  Ceiling tiles have been removed and ceilings have been painted for a more modern, industrial look.  Florescent light fixtures are being switched to LED and hallway floors are being refinished.

“We will only be using about half or three-fifths of the space in the building right away, but it gives us room to grow,” added Gerdts.

Room to grow is important, as the school experienced 30 percent growth in the 2020-21 school year, sending its student count over 100.  Clear Lake Classical is expected to grow by another 25 percent when classes begin Aug. 23.  

Gerdts said student numbers are surprising, but exciting.

“Our commitment to families is to keep class sizes small.  We will never have 25 in a class.  Our growth has pushed two of our classes to 17 this year, which is forcing us to look at our numbers.  It brings good challenges,” he said.

The number of students CLC will have in its seventh year does not make it feasible to consolidate all grades at the Mars Hill campus at this time, said Gerdts.  Grades five to 11 will attend classes at the Evangelical Free Church, where the school was established.  Next year CLC will add 12th grade, in preparation for its first graduating class in 2023.

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