Now that the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science has its state approvals, Portland's first charter school is ready to get the city's permission to set up its facility.
The Portland Planning Board is holding a workshop Tuesday to review the preliminary plans for Baxter Academy's school at 54 York St. The building will eventually house a high school with more than 300 students at the end of two years, but the academy's executive director said the neighboring businesses and residents should feel a minimal impact from the school's presence.
"I think there's not going to be a great deal of difference in some respects," said Baxter Academy Executive Director John Jaques. He said there will be more young people in the area and it will be advantageous for restaurants and businesses to benefit from the students, staff and families going to and from the school.
The building currently houses Rufus Deering Lumber Kitchen and Millwork Showroom with mixed use for officers, labs and a dance studio, according to a staff memo. The school will occupy all three floors in the building and no external additions to the building are needed, according to the plans, with the exception of an Americans with Disabilities Act-required entrance ramp.
The whole building would be converted into the newly-approved Baxter Academy, according to a memo, and will house about 320 high school students from the Greater Portland area by 2014.
Baxter Academy was given conditional approval in July, according to a press release, and gained its final approval in November to become the state's third charter school.
The school aims to open in September 2013.
The school would begin its programming in two phases. The first phase, which would be complete in the fall of 2013, would start with grades nine through 11 and the second phase, which would be ready in the Fall of 2014, would be for grade 12.
A memo to the planning board on the project cites few possible issues with the school's location but mentions that further study is needed to determine the full impact the academy would have on the traffic flow.
Tom Errico, the city's traffic engineer, will make his final recommendations regarding the traffic flow at the public hearing on the project, according to a staff memo.
Students and staff going to and from school won't pose a disruption to traffic around the school, said Jaques, because people will be arriving and leaving earlier than working commuters.
"That shouldn't have a major impact," he said.
Baxter Academy's academic programs will focus mainly in the areas of science and technology, Jaques said, and be geared toward training students as architects, planners, computer programmers and other technology-driven careers.
"Being downtown is key," Jaques said. He said the York Street location will give the academy's students access to all the resources and opportunities in Portland's downtown.
Jacques said having access to the groups in the downtown will help the school create internship possibilities.
"Community engagement is a big part of our mission," he said.
The Portland Planning Board is holding a workshop Tuesday to review the preliminary plans for Baxter Academy's school at 54 York St. The building will eventually house a high school with more than 300 students at the end of two years, but the academy's executive director said the neighboring businesses and residents should feel a minimal impact from the school's presence.
"I think there's not going to be a great deal of difference in some respects," said Baxter Academy Executive Director John Jaques. He said there will be more young people in the area and it will be advantageous for restaurants and businesses to benefit from the students, staff and families going to and from the school.
The building currently houses Rufus Deering Lumber Kitchen and Millwork Showroom with mixed use for officers, labs and a dance studio, according to a staff memo. The school will occupy all three floors in the building and no external additions to the building are needed, according to the plans, with the exception of an Americans with Disabilities Act-required entrance ramp.
The whole building would be converted into the newly-approved Baxter Academy, according to a memo, and will house about 320 high school students from the Greater Portland area by 2014.
Baxter Academy was given conditional approval in July, according to a press release, and gained its final approval in November to become the state's third charter school.
The school aims to open in September 2013.
The school would begin its programming in two phases. The first phase, which would be complete in the fall of 2013, would start with grades nine through 11 and the second phase, which would be ready in the Fall of 2014, would be for grade 12.
A memo to the planning board on the project cites few possible issues with the school's location but mentions that further study is needed to determine the full impact the academy would have on the traffic flow.
Tom Errico, the city's traffic engineer, will make his final recommendations regarding the traffic flow at the public hearing on the project, according to a staff memo.
Students and staff going to and from school won't pose a disruption to traffic around the school, said Jaques, because people will be arriving and leaving earlier than working commuters.
"That shouldn't have a major impact," he said.
Baxter Academy's academic programs will focus mainly in the areas of science and technology, Jaques said, and be geared toward training students as architects, planners, computer programmers and other technology-driven careers.
"Being downtown is key," Jaques said. He said the York Street location will give the academy's students access to all the resources and opportunities in Portland's downtown.
Jacques said having access to the groups in the downtown will help the school create internship possibilities.
"Community engagement is a big part of our mission," he said.
