From Deseret News archives:
3rd charter adds west-side option
Located at former Northwest Middle School building in Rose Park, the Salt Lake Center for Science Education will serve grades six through nine and is the only school of its kind in the state.
In a unique partnership with the University of Utah, Larry Madden, director of the school, said graduate students will be a constant fixture in the school and will serve as mentors for the students.
"Some kids don't really know anything about college ... so having these mentors out at the school could help the kids see college as a real possibility for them," Madden said.
He said aside from building science minds, another aim of the school is offering school choice options in an area where alternatives are limited.
The Salt Lake Center for Science Education joins only two other charter schools, Dual Immersion Academy and Guadalupe Schools, that are located on Salt Lake City's west side.
Marlies Burns, state charter school director, said more charter schools are considering setting up shop on the west side for a number of reasons, including saturation.
Moreover, legislators have capped charter growth at 5,000 students a year, making the task of getting a charter approved highly competitive.
Under the charter law, the state can give priority to schools that serve underserved and minority populations the demographic of the west side.
The science center, which will open with 180 students and then grow to 240 the second year, will boast labs, outdoor classrooms, U. satellite labs and exhibits. It will also serve as a professional development center for science instruction.
"The school will be more than just a stand-alone charter school but we will also use it as a center to develop things that we can transfer out to other schools in the district, using it as a lab to come up with ideas and programs that will impact teachers districtwide," Madden said.
Madden said the ideal student at the school will simply be interested in science, an area where there are shortages of students pursuing degrees in colleges.
And when they leave the school Madden said they will be strong critical, scientific thinkers.
"When they leave they will be be scientifically literate and should be able to work on pretty sophisticated projects and deeply integrate language arts and math skills into that," Madden said. "They will be good thinkers and able to ask good questions and then be able to set up some protocol and procedure to answer those questions."
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
Recent comments
Way to go Larry et al., we need more of these.
I also hope the...
Tim | Dec. 24, 2007 at 12:25 p.m.
I hope this school will live up to is promises of creating strong,...
Critical Thinkers | Dec. 24, 2007 at 8:05 a.m.
- It counts, even if it's 'business' 5:42 p.m.
- Biblical verses traslated differently 5:42 p.m.
- Christmas movies with a message 5:42 p.m.
- Blessed are the conservatives? 5:42 p.m.
- Religion briefs 5:42 p.m.
- Working to feed the multitudes 5:42 p.m.
- World religion briefs 5:42 p.m.
- Exhibit celebrates sacred art 5:42 p.m.
- There's no one to root for on 'Race' 5:42 p.m.
- Don't guess at marital problems cause 5:42 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- 5A high school football All-State
- Expert paid $500K for Mitchell report
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
408 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
293 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
229 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
181 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
Zions Bank has a free online holiday gift planner that's creating some...
Wow. 500000 dollars for a report of 200 plus pages. No wonder psychiatry...
Mitchell is not going away for life, folks. Get real.
I've been to Antelope Island many times and always respect the rule that says...
Could every one tell their kids to stop? Thanks!
It's gotta be the end of the world!
Tate never had cancer....get your facts straight! He transferred after his...
The Oregonian says Oregon State will most likely go to the Vegas Bowl against...
Re: What?! I love how you think only pregant women live in SLC--and that...
Thank God the mother And child are doing welk
@The dozen or so Muslims... "I've known have been, to a person, better humans...


