It was supposed to be the end of the road for Prairie Music, the small, private school founded in 2000 by former NBA star Kevin Durant.
Now, it has the backing of a billionaire who has donated $3.5 million to the school’s $25 million endowment.
But there’s one more hurdle: the school hasn’t yet received federal tax credits for its graduates, a move that will have to be resolved before Prairie Music can start school.
So far, it hasn’t received an award for its teachers or students.
The school has no website or email address.
In an interview, a principal said she has received hundreds of letters of support, and many are asking her to hire more teachers.
But a Prairie Music spokeswoman said the school will never have a website or social media presence.
Prairie Music President David Lathrop said in a statement that the school “does not discriminate in hiring and training our students.”
But the school said that “in light of this, we have not received any official funding from the federal government for our education.”
Lathrot said he wants the federal money to help pay for more teacher training.
“Prairie Music has the highest level of teacher quality and the highest standards of learning,” he said.
“We have a strong commitment to educating our students to the highest possible standards, including a rigorous curriculum that reflects our mission and philosophy of education.”
The school’s history is long.
In 2000, Durant joined the school and helped found the Greenville Music Academy, which was later sold to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Durant later joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University, and served as the school president.
The Greenville School has since been renamed Prairie Music Academies.