Board OKs plans for building attached to Akron museum; opening set for fall '09
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal
Published on Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
This year's third-graders could be the first class attending a new middle school in downtown Akron specializing in math, science and technology.
The board of city and school officials overseeing Akron's $800 million school construction program on Monday approved plans for the new school, which would be attached to the National Inventors Hall of Fame on Broadway.
The school would open in the fall of 2009 and enroll 500 students in the fifth through eighth grades who express an interest in math, science and technology.
Students probably will be selected in two lotteries: one for district students, who will make up 80 percent of the enrollment, and another for the remaining 20 percent, who would come from districts under the open-enrollment program.
The project's main partners - Akron Public Schools, the city of Akron, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the University of Akron - have been working on plans for the school's construction and curriculum since 2004.
The state and Akron are each paying about half of the $14.5 million price tag. The local share is higher than the usual 41 percent because the state will pay its share only on $12.3 million of the project. The total cost is higher because of the difficulties of attaching a school to an existing museum.
The Akron district is facing a $1.7 million shortfall.
Project manager Maryann Wolowiec told the Akron school board Monday night that she anticipates significant donations to a campaign aiming to raise $15 million to support the new school. Most of the money raised will fund an endowment to enhance the school's technology and programs and pay for ''inventors in residence.''
''We don't think it's going to be a real problem to raise those funds,'' said school Superintendent Sylvester Small.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792.
