UALR selling 3 lots to eStem for high school

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson (left) and eStem Public Charter Schools Inc. CEO John Bacon introduce a partnership on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, that would move the charter school's high school to the UALR campus by fall 2017.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson (left) and eStem Public Charter Schools Inc. CEO John Bacon introduce a partnership on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, that would move the charter school's high school to the UALR campus by fall 2017.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is selling three lots on the campus to eStem Public Charter Schools Inc. as part of a partnership to improve student learning opportunities.

The open-enrollment public charter school system plans to move its high school students from West Third Street in downtown to the three lots off 28th Street and Larson Hall on UALR's campus.

The system hopes to open the school by summer 2017.

During a news conference Monday at the Jack Stephens Center on UALR's campus, leaders behind the move presented what they see as the benefits, including more space to meet the demand for student enrollment.

"It is true that over the last 10 years, 20 years, maybe that span in particular, our national leaders and in turn our state leaders have been pressing for more graduates in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] disciplines," UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson said, adding that the concept aligns with national goals and is a "critical" step for education in Arkansas.

John Bacon, eStem's CEO, said UALR's partnership with the charter school "will create a rigorous learning experience that is unique to this city, this state and this region."

As part of the partnership, which awaits final approval, eStem would offer associate degrees to kindergarten through 12th-grade students through UALR courses.

UALR Provost Zulma Toro said the partnership will boost the STEM model while also increasing the college graduation rate in the state.

The three lots announced Monday sold to eStem for $50,000, according to an agreement between the two parties. A 60,000-square-foot building is proposed at the site to serve ninth- and 10th-grade students starting in the 2017-18 school year.

Cost estimates have not been finalized, and "several" plans have been presented, Bacon said.

The charter school also plans to renovate the nearby Larson Hall, which is currently vacant, and lease that building for the new high school. Renovations to the building, according to a statement, would cost about $3.5 million.

Bacon said the current downtown space will be utilized to increase student enrollment in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The charter school currently serves nearly 1,500 K-12 students on its campus on Third and Louisiana streets.

Bacon said eStem has a goal of enrolling 5,000 K-12 students by 2025.

The plans were approved by the governing boards of eStem and the University of Arkansas System. They would still need approval from the Charter Authorizing Panel and the state Board of Education.

See Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.

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