Closed school to house Gateway program

Metro-Midtown Alternative High School, which was closed for budget reasons earlier this year, will soon house the district's Gateway alternative program.

The Wichita school board voted 5-0 Monday to rename the school, at 640 N. Emporia, the Gateway Alternative Program Center. The change will take effect immediately.

As part of budget reductions, Metro-Midtown closed May 24. The closing was expected to save the district $1 million.

Beginning this fall, the school will house roughly 60 students from the Arkansas Avenue-Gateway alternative program. The program serves middle and high school students who have been suspended or expelled from their assigned school.

A new 450-student elementary school will be built on the site of the Arkansas Avenue building at 3361 N. Arkansas. Construction is set to start this summer, with doors opening in fall 2012.

The board also voted 5-0 to approve an expansion and renovation of Harry Street Elementary School at 1605 S. Market. The $1.2 million project, funded by a $370 million bond issue that voters approved in 2008, will add five classrooms and restrooms and renovate a music room at the school.

This story was originally published June 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Closed school to house Gateway program."