Smith Junior High School in east Mesa will soon have a roommate.

Mesa Public Schools recently inked a 10-year lease agreement with Polaris Academy to occupy space at the middle school campus, effective Jan. 5. The private school teaches children with autism and other neurodivergent conditions.

“They’ve been great in partnering with the district to ensure that they don’t disrupt the educational environment that’s happening at Smith Junior High,” said Chief Business Officer Tyler Moore at the Nov. 13 Governing Board meeting. “They want to be a partner at this campus.”

This is the second lease the district has signed with Polaris. The board in April approved a 10-year agreement for the use of space at Rhodes Junior High School.

According to Moore, Smith Junior High’s 685 students are curr

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