Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Proposed math, science school needs funding

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- Leaders of a proposed public high school focused on science and math have just over a month to find nearly $1 million if they hope to open next fall.

Officials need "a line of sight" on the money by mid-November to allow enough time for recruiting students, said Mike Kluse, director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland.

The money will be used to turn a Richland facility owned by Columbia Basin College into a home for the school for the next several years.

That means either having the money in hand or pledges of dollars to come. So far, sponsors have committed $75,000.

"This is our call for support," Kluse told the Herald's editorial board Tuesday.

Battelle, which manages PNNL for the Department of Energy, is collaborating with the three Tri-City school districts, Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College on the school.

The project has generated a lot of excitement, but coming up with money for a facility has been the biggest barrier, officials said Tuesday.

They've said they won't start signing up students until a solid plan is in place.

CBC has offered its old Richland campus as a short-term home for the school. It's thought that students will meet there for about four years while officials continue working on a permanent facility.

The group actively is pursuing state money for a permanent home for the school, said Pasco Superintendent Saundra Hill.

CBC's old Richland campus has four buildings and is across the street from the college's Health Science Center, which opened two years ago.

The modifications to the facility are needed to meet requirements for housing high school students and to add two science labs.

Battelle already has kicked in more than $400,000 for the project -- including paying for a full-time project manager -- and will make another "significant" contribution if the community steps up to help with capital costs, Battelle officials have said.

"Am I confident it's going to happen? Yes. Is it going to be easy? No. ... (But) the Tri-Cities always stands up for the right mission," said Jack Baker of Energy Northwest, who's helping with the project.

The school is expected to start with 100 ninth-graders and add a class each year until it's full with about 400 students. It'll draw teens from across the Tri-Cities and have demographics comparable to other area high schools.

The curriculum will emphasize making connections across subjects and personalizing learning. A planning team has been working on curriculum since May.

The partners are forming the nonprofit Washington State STEM Foundation to raise money for the school and promote STEM education in the state. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

To make a donation to the Tri-Cities project or inquire about offering in-kind services, call 375-2924 or e-mail Jacqueline.fernette@pnl.gov.