Members of the Eastwood Academy community turned out Thursday night to learn about proposed site plans for a new building, which is being funded by the 2012 bond program.

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The new 32,000-square-foot building for the college preparatory charter high school will be built on a field adjacent to the school and will connect to the school’s existing two-story classroom wing, funded by the 2007 bond.

Students will continue to attend the existing school during construction, which is scheduled to begin in mid- to late 2015.

“This building is for the students and we want to ensure we design something that meets their needs,” said Eastwood Academy Principal Paula Fendley.

The school, located off Dumble Street southeast of downtown, will include a new student dining and multipurpose area, a career and technical education (CTE) center, library, an athletic facility, and a SPARK park that will develop the school grounds into a neighborhood park area.

Student Rodrigo Ortiz has been working with the school’s Project Advisory Team to come up with the different design concepts.

“I have had so much fun with the group when it comes to brainstorming ideas and the designing process,” he said. “As a student, I have a different point of view from the parents, teachers and the district people. I feel like I have a voice.”

At the meeting, nearly 30 participants learned about two possible site plans for the new building, including one that would place the community park toward the Dumble entrance. The other option would place the park farther into the interior of the campus.

Parent Christie Nugent liked the option of keeping the park closer to Dumble, in part because that plan would allow the students to remain in the old building while the new one is being built.

Yvonne Pruneda, also a parent, likes that option, too. As a member of the school’s project advisory team, Pruneda said she’s been happy with the collaboration with the architects and other parents to date. The school held its design charrette on June 5.

“I really like the college feel of the campus,” she said. “And we want this to be a green school.”

The new building is being designed by Prozign Architects. Lead architect for the project, Roxanne Sadeghpour, said her firm has been working closely with the project advisory team to understand the educational needs of the school so that the new building works for students and staff.

Pruneda said she hoped the community meeting would encourage more people to share their ideas for the new building.

“We’re really, really excited about it,” she said.