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School for Math & Science Leases Tech Park Space

2 min read

The Little Rock Technology Park announced at its grand opening on Monday that the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & the Arts in Hot Springs will lease space at the park for its Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative.

The off-campus location will include space for the ASMSA’s computer science education specialists and for admissions and institutional advancement professionals.

ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice said in a news release that the school has been a leader in STEM education for more than two decades. 

“Pairing our school and the Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative alongside the state’s innovation community and emerging startups with a need for talented young Arkansans is an opportunity to play an even larger role in expanding access to coding, computer science and entrepreneurship within our curriculum and educator development programs,” he said.

Coding Arkansas’ Future offers computer science education courses to students all over the state, courses taught by ASMSA faculty through the school’s digital learning program. ASMSA also provides training, support and mentoring for teachers through a professional development model led by ASMSA’s computer science education specialist.

The first two years have focused mostly on high school students and teachers, but this fall the program will expand to reach middle school students and teachers. Three faculty members will join the one faculty member teaching courses now.

“Education in the 21st century often calls on students to work collaboratively to solve authentic problems, building and reinforcing technical skills …,” Daniel Moix, the school’s computer science education specialist, said. “By sharing space with Arkansas tech entrepreneurs, there are limitless opportunities for Coding Arkansas’ Future educators and partners to collide and collaborate.” 

Moix said students gain confidence, resilience, the ability to work on a team and the ability to solve problems. He also said the tech park’s location is more convenient for teachers.

Tech Park Director Brent Birch said “the ability for leadership and students to tap into real world experiences going on in the Tech Park facility will only enhance the state’s ability to cultivate and retain Arkansas’ brightest and best.”

The park now has 24 tenants. The 38,000-SF space is billed as a “premier multi-use environment for entrepreneurs and businesses.”

What is open now is Phase 1, the renovation of two 100-year-old buildings at 415 and 417 Main St. into offices, conference rooms and meeting space for technology-focused companies. The park also has co-working desks, lounge areas, kitchen space and other amenities. Plans for Phase 2 include wet and dry laboratories.

Taxpayers are footing some of the bill for what is expected to be a $100 million project spread out over six phases. Voters approved a sales tax in 2011 which will generate $22 million of that. 

The project is also backed with a six-year funding agreement of $17.1 million from a consortium of Arkansas lenders led by Centennial Bank of Conway.

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