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Charter program may close Eagle Point's art-focus school lacks classroom By VICKI GUARINO EAGLE POINT -- A year ago, organizers of a small, unconventional middle school were enthusiastic and optimistic about the program's beginning. Now they are worried that their school will have to close. If classroom space isn't found soon, the Renaissance School, the Eagle Point School District's only charter school, probably won't re-open in September. Parents, kids like program EAGLE POINT -- The unpromising hunt for a home for Eagle Point's charter school is disturbing news for parents who say the program has helped their children. Linda Whisenhunt says her son has grown from being a seventh-grader who disliked school to an eager and curious eighth-grader who makes up his own math problems to solve. "He'd go early; he'd stay late," says Whisenhunt. "He participated in everything." His reading test scores jumped by three grade levels and, she says, "his emotional growth has just been phenomenal." Ronda Garrotto says her daughter always has liked school, but seemed to excel in the freedom of the Renaissance classroom. Sixth-grader Katie Garrotto says she liked the projects. Instead of working out math problems, she says, "We made blueprints and small houses." "They had a kick," her mother remembers. "They had a ball, and they were learning." Mother and daughter say they will offer whatever help they can to keep the charter school going this fall. Katie says she doesn't know what a sixth-grader can do, but she's willing to try. Her mother is feeling pessimistic. "I would like to see it succeed because of all the work involved," Ronda Garrotto says. "I have a feeling it's not going to succeed." School administrator and teacher Shannon Sanders says she is running out of possible sites. Even cutting enrollment from 50 to 20 students hasn't made the hunt for a home any easier. "I'm a pretty optimistic and determined person," Sanders says. "but after a year and a half of fighting and struggling, this is the first time it's looking really bleak." Sanders is meeting with parents at 7:30 tonight in the school district office, 11 N. Royal Ave., Eagle Point, to discuss options. "I feel terrible about this," Sanders says. "I'm not sure what is going to happen. "At this point it will really be up to the parents." District Superintendent Bill Jones is sympathetic to the school's needs, but is unsure whether the district can solve the problem. Nonetheless, he says he'll attend tonight's meeting. "I understand her frustration," Jones says. Classroom space is a scarce commodity across the district, from White City to Trail. And classrooms are in especially short supply at schools within the city of Eagle Point, a rapidly growing community. The Renaissance School is a grades 5-8 public school program offered as an alternative to elementary and junior high programs in the 4,000-student district. As a charter school, it is free of some of the standards and requirements of traditional public schools. Sanders devised curriculum heavily dependent on student projects, and work in visual and performing arts. Parents agreed to spend time helping to run the school. Last summer they were busy preparing for the first term. Sanders original plan was to house the Renaissance School in a renovated district warehouse. When estimated costs of renovation exceeded $350,000, the district abandoned the plan. The school instead moved into a local church, but that space is no longer available, Sanders says. In the last few weeks, she has looked at some 15 possible sites, including the home of Eagle Point Mayor Dave McFall, but nothing seems adequate. The biggest problem, Sanders says, is finding space that meets all of the current building codes for a public school -- including wide doors and halls for handicap access. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA