Beginning school in the middle of a pandemic is stressful enough, but try opening a brand new charter school.

Buffalo Creek Academy virtually opened their doors for the first time ever on Monday morning.

Dr. Christopher Manning, the founder and CEO of Buffalo Creek Academy, says this has been two years in the making. Although a pandemic wasn’t a part of the plan two years ago, they were able to still open.

"We've had every agency that we've had to work with that's been very supportive and everyone has been empathetic to our story and know that we are literally starting up in a pandemic," said Dr. Manning. 

Right now, the school is in a temporary building along Main Street in Buffalo. Their new building is still in the works, but it will be unique because it will be designed with the pandemic in mind.

"All the way down to the soap dispensers, the water faucets, how much tile is going to be in the washer room," he said. "We were able to look at CDC guidance. We don't have to change it, we can design it with Covid in mind."

Students will be learning from home for now and to ensure students had everything they needed, staff hand-delivered supplies. They delivered books, pens, pencils, a desk, chair and more. 

"When we go out and engage the community, we bring this with us and we bring it to the child and let them sit in it and we say hey this is what is coming to your doorstep. How do you feel about that," said Dr. Manning. "They say good, this is perfect! They have that wide smile because they are excited about school. They are excited about what they receive to be successful in school and that excites us as well."

They will drop off more supplies during the second semester. 

Teachers will be teaching from the temporary building with a teacher studio that is equipped with everything they need.

The school will teach 5-12 grades. However, this year they are starting with just fifth and sixth grade and they plan to add a grade every year.