UNM could be the site for a high school in the fall.
The UNM Board of Regents passed a resolution Monday supporting High Tech High, a charter school that will focus on math, science and technology and might be on the University's campus. The name of the high school still needs to be approved by the Albuquerque Public Schools board.
The school is scheduled to open in the fall with about 90 freshmen. It is based on a High Tech High in San Diego, which will provide the school with $360,000 in educational and financial support over four years.
The school has received $105,000 in start-up funds from the San Diego school already. It has also received $150,000 in federal start-up funds and $40,010 in state start-up funds.
"It's obviously a wonderful opportunity for High Tech High and UNM," UNM President Louis Caldera said at the regents meeting on Monday.
He said UNM is drafting a memorandum of agreement with the school and is looking into having the school on or near the UNM campus. He said the school might use portables for the first two years so the University would have more time to figure out where to place it.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Robin Troup, director of the charter school, said they should reach an agreement this week and figure out where the school will be.
"We'd like our students to go to UNM," Troup said. "We think this can happen if they know professors."
Having a high school on campus would allow students access to labs, research opportunities and professors most high school students don't have. They would also have access to Johnson Center.
It will also give UNM's education students the opportunity to teach high school. Viola Florez, dean of the College of Education, said UNM students will be able to intern, teach and tutor the high school students.
The school will not be funded through the University. Caldera said the charter school is expected to pay its own costs.
"The benefit to us is to play a closer role if they are on campus," he said.
Troup said the school is accredited by the state, and the curriculum has already been approved, although UNM will have some input on the curriculum.
She said 49 students are enrolled at the school. It is still looking for more students. She said charter schools are nonreligious, nonselective and tuition free. A lottery process selects students.
Mayor Martin Chavez asked for a science and technology high school in Albuquerque two years ago. Chuck Fledderman, associate dean of engineering, was a member of the mayor's task force to create the school. He said the engineering school is excited about helping develop the curriculum and working with the high school students so they come to UNM prepared.
"If I could get a small fraction of students in engineering, that would be exciting," he said.
Fledderman said engineering faculty will be mentoring and guest lecturing at the high school.
