| Updated: 7/06/2010 8:25 am |
Published: 7/05/2010 6:22 pm |
Tuesday, Governor Mike Bebee will help dedicate eSTEM's new building, the old Federal Reserve building, in downtown Little Rock. The charter school's popularity has grown so much since opening two years ago, it is now nearly doubling its space.
The building looks almost exactly like what it looked like in 1924 when it was built. Architects came in and matched everything from the paint colors to the light fixtures using old paint chips and pictures all to accommodate the addition of the junior class.
"When they come in, they're just amazed by the architecture of these old buildings," says eSTEM Executive Director John Bacon.
Bacon wants to make sure everything is ready for Tuesday's dedication.
"It's an old building, but it's a school of the future," says Bacon.
This month, 375 students in grades nine through eleven will go to class in the newly renovated Federal Reserve building. Southern Bancorp owns it now and will lease the building to eSTEM.
eSTEM stresses studies in economics, science, technology, engineering and math in a downtown environment unfamiliar to most of the students until they start school here.
"It's just really a neat place for kids to go to school. There are so many opportunities for extended learning, the museums, the government and political things that go on downtown," says Bacon.
Right now, there is a waiting list to get in to eSTEM. So why do so many parents keep choosing this charter school?
"Kids kind of get a little more attention than they would in other places. Also, we really are focused on kids. We really look at every individual kid. We chart their growth and really make sure we're meeting the needs of every kid," says Bacon.
While students return July 19, teachers go back a week earlier.
