SIERRA VISTA — The southeast corner of North Seventh Street and Carmelita Drive will never look the same again, and quite a few people are happy about that.

Anna Lowry, a kindergartner at Center for Academic Success, tries to turn dirt while wearing a big hat, which is held by Vada Phelps, executive director of Center for Academic Success, during a groundbreaking ceremony for a facility at Seventh Street and Carmelita Drive. (Ed Honda-Wick News Service).

The nearly 9-acre, vacant site began its transformation Tuesday morning with the establishment of a temporary tent and the unveiling of a sign to be erected announcing: “Future Home of the Center for Academic Success, Arizona’s Premier Charter School.”

“I’d like you to envision three buildings, kids running around, teachers teaching and parents helping,” Vada Phelps, executive director of CAS, told the audience. “There were times I never thought this would be possible. But here we are.”

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together those who will be affected the most, both short and long term. That included city officials, finance wizards, construction executives, school administrators and board members, teachers, and, of course, student representatives who spanned kindergarten through 12th grade.

Sierra Vista’s CAS youngsters — who currently attend school in two separate, rented facilities — will be united on a single campus when the $7 million project is completed. CAS hopes to open it for the 2008-2009 school year. The school’s K-6 space at the old St. Andrew the Apostle Church on Taylor Drive is squeezed to the limit, and the esthetics and amenities of the high school on Wilcox Drive aren’t likely to evoke waves of nostalgia.

The charter school’s Douglas locations offer a full K-12 education, as will Sierra Vista when the new buildings are completed.

Waiting for a final permit from the city, John Nyman said, “It shouldn’t be long before we’re digging the dirt for real.” Nyman is president of Concord General Contractors of Tucson, the successful bidders for the job.

The architect is Jim Fields of Sonoita, and a model of his design is on display at the Cochise County Workforce Development office on Paseo San Luis.

The CAS schools as well as the CCWD are overseen by the Cochise Private Industry Council — the agency that applied for and received the original school charter from the state. The Sierra Vista and Douglas high schools both opened in 1996, and grade levels have been added gradually in both locations.

A contingent of CAS middle-schoolers from Douglas came to support the effort, including new officers of the student council.

“It’s about time you owned your own school up here,” said Andres Bojorquez, an affable social studies teaching assistant who accompanied the group. “Renting is money down the drain.”

The Douglas youngsters entertained with their own school song, lyrics re-written by dean of students Michael Molina to the tune of “This Land is Your Land.”

The refrain went, “So it’s with pleasure, I proudly say this … This school was built for you and me.”

“A school is more than brick and mortar,” Phelps said. “It’s a place to open minds, to exchange ideas, a place for growth, where children are encouraged to do the best they’re capable of.”

As sodas and muffins were enjoyed, she made clear, “You’re all invited back for the open house.”