Fort Monroe takes a step toward lease agreement with school

The Fort Monroe Authority has taken a big step toward making the historic Hampton fortress the home for a statewide boarding school focused on math, technology and science.

Glenn Oder, the authority's executive director, has signed a letter of intent with the Virginia STEAM Academy, providing a framework for a lease agreement.

The authority is negotiating with the academy with the goal of signing a lease by Dec. 31
                                                              
STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and applied mathematics. Founded in 2010, the school has four components: a public, statewide boarding  school for high school students; a summer academy for middle school students; online, on-demand course offerings and professional development.

For more than a year, academy officials and Fort Monroe officials have been discussing placing the school on the fort property.

“Having the Academy located at Fort Monroe will help bring additional attention to this community as a place to live, work, play, and learn,” Oder said in a statement. “We believe this will be a mutually beneficial partnership, one that could help shape the fort for years to come.”