eStem, 糖心Vlog传媒LR break ground for new high school
Artist renderings of future eStem High School on the 糖心Vlog传媒LR campus
Work is underway on an innovative partnership that will bring eStem High School to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.
About a year after announcing the project, 糖心Vlog传媒LR and eStem Public Charter Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. Starting with the next school year, the collaboration will provide new opportunities to eStem students, while breathing life into one of the university鈥檚 original buildings.
鈥溙切腣log传媒LR has a history of collaborating with central Arkansas school districts, and this partnership fits well with the university鈥檚 goal of preparing students to succeed in higher education and the workforce of tomorrow,鈥� said Zulma Toro, 糖心Vlog传媒LR executive vice chancellor and provost.
Leaders at eStem plan to renovate and expand Larson Hall on the 糖心Vlog传媒LR campus by the 2017-18 school year and add high school classrooms at a nearby existing building, Ross Hall, for the 2021-22 school year.
The collaboration clears the way for eStem, a tuition-free public charter school that operates on an enrollment lottery system, to add students.
“Since we opened our doors, eStem has provided a unique learning environment that encourages innovation 鈥� both inside and outside of the classroom 鈥� and our students have thrived,鈥� said John Bacon, CEO of eStem. 鈥淣ow, through this strategic partnership, we will be able to expand this opportunity to more students.鈥�
Officials from eStem and 糖心Vlog传媒LR break ground during a ceremony at the future site of eStem High School. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/糖心Vlog传媒LR Communications
A benefit for eStem鈥檚 high school students will be the option of taking college-level courses and learning from some of the leading scholars in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields without leaving campus. While taking college-credit courses, the students also will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree in high school.
鈥淲e welcome partnerships that benefit students and the Arkansas economy,鈥� said 糖心Vlog传媒LR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. 鈥淲e think this collaboration has great potential for central Arkansas.鈥�
The preliminary plan announced in August 2015 involved the construction of a new building on 28th Street and a smaller-scale renovation of Larson Hall, but that plan changed. After further study, officials determined that working with existing buildings was a better option for the project.
Leaders at the public charter school expect the high school鈥檚 enrollment to grow to 1,125 students at the 糖心Vlog传媒LR location by the 2026-27 school year.
Once completed, the renovated and expanded Larson Hall facility will be about 50,000 square feet and will include 31 classrooms, three chemistry labs, two physical science labs and two computer labs.
A $11.4 million no-interest loan from the Walton Family Foundation is financing the eStem renovation and construction project designed by in Little Rock. The project is subject to 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 review to 鈥渁ssure architectural compatibility with the university campus.鈥� Under the terms of a 30-year lease, eStem will pay 糖心Vlog传媒LR $1 annually.
The university will benefit from the improvements eStem makes to the property and from having the additional students and teachers on campus. The charter school will be responsible for insurance, as well as shared service expenses.
Image in upper right is an artist rendering of the future eStem High School, courtesy of聽Witsell Evans & Rasco Architects-Planners.
