The regional math and science high school proposed by Tri-City school districts, Battelle and Washington State University Tri-Cities likely won't open in the fall.
But officials are optimistic it could be ready for students in time for the 2009-10 school year.
"This is such an innovative program that we haven't found something like it yet in the state. We're really plowing new ground," said Superintendent Saundra Hill of the Pasco School District.
"When we go to our families, we want to make sure we've provided them with enough information to make this important decision. We want to make sure we're doing this right," she said.
The groups announced last summer their interest in starting a public high school that would focus on science, technology, engineering and math education. Battelle provided about $72,000 to hire a project manager.
Officials have been meeting regularly to work out details.
Finding a way to pay for a new or renovated facility to hold the program has proved challenging. Progress has been made but more time is needed, said Greg Koller, spokesman for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Battelle operates the lab for the Department of Energy.
WSU Tri-Cities has offered space for the school through the 2009-10 school year.
However, officials have said they don't want to start enrolling students without a long-term plan in place.
It's expected that a new or renovated facility, plus start-up costs, will be several million dollars, Koller said.
Daily operations, including materials and staff, likely will be covered by money districts get from the state based on enrollment, officials have said.
There's also more work to do on curriculum and to ensure all legal requirements are met, Hill said.
"One hundred percent of the partners are completely committed to this moving forward," she said. "It's balancing that enthusiasm with the reality of getting it together."
Battelle helped start a similar school in Ohio with The Ohio State University and a consortium of school districts.
The Tri-Cities school likely would start with 100 students and ramp up to having about that many in each grade, officials have said. The curriculum would integrate science, technology, engineering and math into other subjects and include internship opportunities.
A proposal for the school could go before the Pasco, Kennewick and Richland school boards as early as the spring.
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