New lease, improvement projects planned for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student center

Janea Snyder — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:50:18 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and eStem High School have reached a lease agreement that provides eStem with an alternative space for its high school students to dine and relax instead of in the Donaghey Student Center.

The agreement gives eStem use of the south end of the second floor of Ross Hall, which is close to the public charter high school. The space excludes the interior lobby and balcony area that separates the south and north wings of the building, with the exception for emergency exit purposes.

“This new plan gives ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students full use of the Donaghey Student Center,” Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said. “Potential students and their families considering ��Vlog��ý Little Rock need to know that we are doing everything possible to provide an affordable and quality learning environment for our students.”

On June 11, Rogerson announced to faculty, staff, and students improvements now in the works for the DSC. Upgrades include adding multipurpose spaces and recreational spaces with e-gaming opportunities, movies, and pool tables for students. Also, Rogerson announced the addition of a new Starbucks to open on campus in spring 2020. The coffee shop will be located in the quad on the back side of the Old Student Union A building with patio seating facing Cooper Fountain.

The lease with eStem was signed May 31 by Donald Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System, acting on behalf of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and John Bacon, chief executive officer of eStem Public Charter Schools, Inc. Under the terms, the charter school will pay $7,500 monthly ($90,000 annually) to rent the Ross Hall space. The new lease took effect June 1.

The 4,385-square-foot space will serve as the dining area for eStem’s students who have been using the Donaghey Student Center for dining since the high school opened in fall 2017. The charter school will be responsible for securing its own food service vendor.

Some alterations will be made to Ross Hall – mainly construction of a wall to separate the spaces used by eStem students on the south wing from the north wing of Ross Hall, which will continue to be used by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Costs for alterations will be paid by eStem.

The lease also specifies that eStem will monitor student behavior and noise levels in Ross Hall. The new agreement is intended to eliminate congestion in the Donaghey Student Center where some college students, faculty, and staff had complained of noise and overcrowding.

‘Modern’ look of new eStem High School makes a positive impression

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:04:58 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty, staff, and students were impressed with their first look at the ’ newest facility. The high school for 10th-12th-grade students contains 25 classrooms, five science labs, three computer labs, a music room, an EAST lab, and a parent resource center on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. The 2017-18 school year began Aug. 15 for 466 eStem High School students, an increase of 100 students from last year. Members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus community toured the newly renovated building during an Aug. 14 open house. “The renovations look phenomenal,” said Marc Glidden, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock director of campus living and assistant dean of students. “I like the modern design, and the colors are big and light.” Rather than having an orange brick exterior, the nearly 33,000-square-foot building has a mat-black facade that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Police Chief Regina Wade found eye catching. “It’s sleek, and it’s very modern. I like it,” Wade said. “We are so excited to partner with eStem. The police department is really geared for this transition.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees tour eStem High School during an Aug. 14 open house. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

Those who miss the orange brick facade can find that feature inside eStem High School, which kept the original walls of John A. Larson Hall as part of the building’s hallways. Larson Hall was renovated to house the new high school. Formerly the South Building, Larson Hall is one of the two original buildings constructed on campus when the institution moved to its current location in 1949. “I like the fact that they kept the orange brick in the halls as a connection to the old building,” said Julie Flinn, professor of anthropology, who also appreciates the industrial-style look of the building with concrete floors and exposed pipes and wires running along the ceiling. As visitors passed the entrance to each classroom, they could read a core value selected by an eStem teacher. The core value – like caring, service, and open-mindedness – represents a value each teacher wants to emphasize in the classroom. “It starts with the teachers knowing our core values and establishing that in the classroom for our students,” said Tierney Armour, eStem high school teacher. “These values are what we want reflected in the classroom.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

New lease, improvement projects planned for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock student center

‘Modern’ look of new eStem High School makes a positive impression

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

New lease, improvement projects planned for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student center