A natural resource school; an arts academy; a school of science, health and human development, and nearly a dozen other options have been proposed as possible small schools that could take shape within Medford’s two high schools as they remake themselves under grants from the Oregon Small Schools Initiative.

Today, both schools invite the public to learn more about the proposals and offer suggestions. North and South Medford high schools each will host a community ice cream social on campus with an overview of the OSSI work and the chance for people to delve into the possible schools that interest them.

"We need to develop these schools based on the needs of the community and students," said Mary Wieczorek, an English teacher helping guide South Medford’s transformation.

The schools sent invitations to parents of middle- and high school students and contacted business groups but want to see a broad section of the community visit to learn more about the ideas. Tonight, people can get an overview of the process and learn about specific school proposals.

South developed nine possible school plans over the summer and has narrowed them to seven this fall. The proposals include a "bridge school" for freshmen to connect them to opportunities at the small schools and prepare them for high school success; an art and humanities academy; a business, industry and technology school; a school focused on preparing students for medical careers; a school drawing on the natural environment and social responsibility; one based on foreign language and travel; and a school focused on personalized, project-based learning.

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Under the initiative, at least one small school must open at each campus next fall and all Medford’s small schools should be under way by the fall of 2007.

Wieczorek said South plans to announce in January which school will open first. The school expects to ultimately open five small schools and will continue to work on the options that best fit the community.

North’s initial proposals include a school of design; a school of science, health and human development; an academy of language and culture that would focus on second-language studies; a natural-resource school; a school of exploration and discovery with lots of hands-on projects; a school focused on life in the Rogue Valley, a Masterworks Academy that centers all class work around a selected master accomplishment, such as the Wright brothers’ airplane; and a PathFinder school for students to explore their interests.

"Last year was so theoretical, but now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty," Wieczorek said of the proposals.

Making a major change can be scary, she acknowledged, but informational events are a chance for people to share concerns and get questions answered.

Knowing that students can transfer between small schools if necessary eased the minds of many parents and kids worried that teens might enroll in one small school and be stuck if their interests changed, Wieczorek said.

"We have time to do all this," she said of the transformation. "We want people to express their concerns and get good information."

Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail aburke@mailtribune.com.