San Bernardino, Calif., charter school gets OK for new campus

Norton Science and Language Academy plans to build a 90,000-square-foot campus about a mile from its existing facility.

The San Bernardino, Calif., city council has given the go-ahead for a charter school to build a new, expanded campus.

The San Bernardino Sun reports that Norton Science and Language Academy, a Spanish-English dual immersion school that serves more than 800 students, will build a 90,000-square-foot campus about a mile from the facility it has used for more than a decade.

The 18-acre school site is jointly owned by the city and county.

The new campus will have seven single-story buildings and a two-story building clustered around three quads. There also will be an indoor gym, outdoor basketball courts and playgrounds. An athletic field is planned for the west side of the property.

Norton officials expect the new campus will enable the school to serve 1,450 students, kindergarten to 12th grade, within three to five years.

“As educators, we’re dedicated to serving our scholars,” Principal Fausto Barragan said ahead of Wednesday’s vote. “We’re not just dedicated, but passionate about serving our scholars.”

In addition to rezoning 16 parcels intended for single-family residences and industrial buildings, San Bernardino  granted other approvals to pave the way for the new school site.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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