It's taken more than a year of work, but educators in the Rock Island-Milan School District have nearly completed the creation of the district's first magnet school.

The principal, assistant principal and teachers have been hired and trained. Nearly 500 students have enrolled, with a waiting list of 150 more wanting to attend. Parents met with staff throughout the year to learn about their children's new school. Staff also developed new lessons that link other subjects to the school's math and science focus.

In addition, the district found temporary locations to house the new Rock Island Center for Math and Science next school year.

Now, they just have to wait until August, when they will bring their plans to life.

"To walk in, someone will notice the difference immediately," said Amy Moffitt, a teacher at the Center for Math and Science. "They won't see students sitting at their desks working. They will be working in small groups, sitting on the floor, doing experiments and being outside. It's more involved than what you used to think of as a typical classroom."

Teachers have worked with administrators during the past year to create a curriculum for the school, set its mission and vision and create a list of core values. They spent time at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a nationally known school in Aurora, Ill., which provided training and has agreed to partner with the Rock Island school. In addition, educators worked on team-building and met once a week during the school year making plans for the school.

The result? A school where children will guide their own education, with teachers providing support and offering assistance. Students will still study core subjects, such as reading and writing, but teachers will infuse their lessons with math and science. They will learn through hands-on projects, including experiments in science labs and creating landscaping outside the school.

Also, teachers will use problem-based learning, in which students are given a problem and must decide how to research and solve it. The first problems they will tackle when students return to school in August include choosing school colors, a mascot and logo.

"I've always had a passion for math and science," said Kelly Lehmann, a Rock Island Center for Math and Science teacher. "I thought this would be a great experience to learn some new things and to further develop my skills. Everything we have done has been so exciting. I only look forward to all of the things we have planned for the future, especially once we get in the new building."

Construction on the program's new school, located at the former Villa de Chantal site, fell behind schedule during the past year, setting back its expected August 2009 opening date. Instead, students will begin attending the new building at the start of the 2010-11 school year.

The Rock Island Center for Math and Science, however, will open this school year. It will be housed at Horace Mann Choice School and Audubon Elementary School, both of which will close next summer.

The delay hasn't kept school leaders from moving forward in their plans for land surrounding the new school. Ruth Ann Tobey-Brown said a task force was formed to design an "outdoor learning center" that will include trails, outdoor gardens, kiosks and an amphitheater.

Longer-term plans include alternative energy projects, a weather station and observation areas, said Mark Jackson, who works for the USDA natural resources conservation services and is a project coordinator.

"The old Villa site has a lot of unique features," Jackson said. "Our goal is to be as minimally invasive as possible. We don't want to interrupt the natural areas around the school."

Throughout the planning, school leaders have worked to keep parents informed through twice monthly meetings, in which they were given updates, said Cynthia Empen, a Rock Island parent whose two children will attend the school.

Tobey-Brown said they will play an active role in the school. In order for students to attend, their parents must sign a contract with the school to maintain a certain level of involvement.

"It's a lot of work, but it's good work," Tobey-Brown said. "Because you know people are excited, families are excited about it."

About the new school

Rock Island Center for Math and Science vision: Excellence every day.

Rock Island Center for Math and Science mission: Preparing today's students for tomorrow's world.

Opening day for the program: Aug. 3.

Planned opening date for the new school building: August 2010.

Plan for housing the program this coming school year: Students in kindergarten through second grade will attend the Horace Mann Choice School. Those in grades 3-6 will go to Audubon Elementary School. A bus will shuttle students between the two schools, so parents have to drop their children off at only one school.