I can’t think of too many things more hopeful than the building of a new school, in particular, one whose mission is to serve those students who are the farthest behind. Open School, formerly Open Meadow, has a decades long track record doing just that and is building a new school out in East Portland where the need for their services is crucial. They are already in the second year of their new program, which uses early warning indicators to identify kids who are at the greatest risk of dropping out of school.
Last year, the students entered Open School East averaging below third grade test scores in math and English and have made academic gains exceeding two years during their first year in the program. It’s awesome.
I was at the ground breaking of the new school last September, along with Oregon Governor Kate Brown who came out to support the school and its students.
The 21,000 sq. ft. school will share a four-acre campus with the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Portland. Each organization will own its own site and facility, but both will share the gymnasium, kitchen, and cafeteria, in order to make the most efficient use of space. It’s a cool partnership because after the school day is over, the students will just have to cross the courtyard to reach their after-school support network.
The school building itself was designed by the cutting edge Portland architecture firm, Holst Architecture. I recently took a tour of the building site, complete with hard hat and Andrew Mason, the executive director of Open School, who (full disclosure) happens to be my husband.
Below at left is the Open School East building, to the right is the future site of the Boys and Girls Club, also being redesigned by Holst Architects.
In the center of the school building is a beautiful open space that will have a large set of stairs leading up to the second level.
From above…
A classroom facing SE Stark Street.
Future science lab…
Here, Andrew Mason is standing in what will be one of many intentional seating areas where students can gather in small groups.
View from a second floor window onto SE Stark Street.
Roof of the future Boys and Girls Club building.
I liked this frog – he was plastered all over the exterior.
Back in September, Open School decided to break ground despite not having raised the final amount of their capital campaign. Right now, they have only $882,281 remaining to meet the $7.2 million fundraising goal for the project. Go Open School!
