SLCC, Jordan District to plan new high school

The Salt Lake Community College board of trustees has agreed to become a partner with Jordan School District in planning a New Century High School that will provide accelerated education for high school students in science, math and technology fields.

The SLCC board listened to a presentation Wednesday by Jordan superintendent Barry Newbold before voting unanimously to cooperate in a preliminary study of the feasibility of the school, due to open to the first cohort of 25 to 50 students in the fall of 2004. Ultimately, approximately 200 students would be enrolled in grades nine through 12.

The school is one of several being promoted by Gov. Mike Leavitt to provide advanced studies for students who want to earn up to two years of college credit while still in high school, possibly resulting in an associate degree. Granite District also has begun planning for a New Century High School and others are projected.

"These schools are not for everyone, but we have students who are capable of this type of learning," Newbold said. The Legislature has earmarked $70,000 for advanced planning and donations by the Gates Foundation will increase that to $1.241 million, he said.

SLCC president Lynn Cundiff said the partnership could benefit both the district and the college. The two entities already have joint programs in the Jordan Applied Technology Center on SLCC's West Jordan campus. New Century classes initially would be held in this building, and a second building on the same campus is planned, again as a joint project. The New Century Money would help SLCC recruit faculty that would serve both populations, Cundiff said.