Design Process  
       
     
       
  Before the School of Environmental Studies was built as an optional high school, a three-phase plan was completed. During Phase 1, focus group interviews were held with participants that represented parents, administrators, teachers, students, district and zoo board members, and zoo staff. The major objectives for conducting the focus groups were to:
  • Assess the need for a high school that focuses on environmental issues,
  • Determine the scope of programming,
  • Obtain opinions about the proposed location, program name, and type of student, and
  • Identify issues and concerns regarding the opportunity of starting a new school.
During Phase 2, focus group results were shared with the school board, and the planning group developed a plan for a thematic-based optional high school that would be operated in collaboration with the Minnesota Zoo. The functions of the planning group were to:
  • Articulate the instructional plan, the facility, and the governance, and
  • Determine the feasibility of the concept.
During Phase 2, the planning group also visited a number of school sites with similar goals, worked with a number of consultants, and read and discussed common books and literature related to the development of new school design, including New

Designs for the Comprehensive High School. A "Share the Vision" meeting was held to communicate collected information and an intended direction, as well as receive feedback on proposed strategies that were beginning to take form.

Phase 3 began with three tasks:

  • Develop a staff development plan,
  • Develop a 12-week interdisciplinary theme unit of study, and
  • Develop a two-year program of study.
After school board approval of the plans, an architect, Bruce Jilk, then of H.G.A. Inc. and now at K.K.E., Inc., worked with the planning staff to design a building that would meet the curricular and programming needs of the SES students. At the time, Mr. Jilk was also serving as a consultant to the project New Designs for the Comprehensive High School in advising on planning the desired features of the learning environment. As construction began, principal and core staffs were hired to operationalize the plan for the School of Environmental Studies.  		  
 		  
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