Bend La Pine School District plans to locate two new high schools in the BANA industrial area at 20730 Brinson Blvd in an existing warehouse structure. Sharon Smith, District land use attorney, presented information about the schools at a Dec. 20 meeting at Ponderosa Elementary.
The new programs, named Realms and Skyline high schools, will provide options for students other than the larger neighborhood high school environment. They will offer an "incubator type environment", according to Smith, with curriculums focusing on 21st century career readiness and project-based learning in real world settings. The entrepreneurial and experiential based learning will allow students to design and personalize their curriculum, supported by community members in relevant industries.
Both school programs will involve internships and apprenticeships with local employers and community mentors. The District has reached out to local businesses to partner with the schools.
The programs that will be open to all District students will use the easternmost building on the property under a lease agreement. Architect Phillip Doza of DKA Architecture & Design presented schematics for interior renovations to the building. The programs will share common space in the building.
Concerns expressed by BANA board members and other were the need for a traffic study to analyze the impact of staff and student traffic on Brinson, lighting in the parking area and the need for a biohazard contamination study prior to any occupancy of the building. They also inquired whether there would be a School Zone for speed in the area adjacent to the two high schools.