Three 2019 graduates of the University of St. Thomas MBA program in St. Paul collaborated to find a sustainable solution for the remote learning approach many school systems across the country rely on due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Called Project 53, the name of their effort refers to a time when there were more single-room school houses in the country, a University of St. Thomas press release said. The idea is that new problems don’t always need completely new solutions.

There are only 400 one-room schools remaining in the U.S., compared to 190,000 in 1919, National Public Radio reported

The three St. Thomas alumni, Matty O’Reilly, Scott Ceplecha and Ben Boaz, are all parents of children enrolled in remote learning programs, according to the release. They found that a system relying on parents to be so directly involved in education is not sustainable for households with working parents.

At the same time, many commercial spaces now stand vacant, especially in Minneapolis, where 85% of the downtown workforce is still at home, the release reported.

So, the trio began looking at solving two problems with one solution: turning vacant commercial space into hubs for remote learning, according to the release. In addition to providing space where students can focus on their school work away from the distractions of home life, the spaces will be staffed with teaching assistants to help the students stay on-task.

“We had a concept, and 35 text messages later, we had a business,” O’Reilly said, the release reported.

They contacted their former business law professor, Susan Marsnik to get help figuring out questions about intellectual property, licensing and sanitation. She put them in contact with an attorney friend, who now helps them out

However, the price is far from being in the low end. The cost to be able to use a learning center hub four hours each weekday is $110 per week, and individual, drop-in sessions can be purchased for $25.