KNIGHTDALE - Wake County school board member Chris Malone is working behind the scenes to try to bring a STEM school to Knightdale High School.

STEM schools are innovative high schools that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"We have a number of multi-disciplined schools throughout the county, but as usual it seems like the eastern part of the county is left out," he said.

Malone has asked former Wake County acting superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens to take a look at bringing a STEM school to Knightdale.

"We are creating a network of stem-focused schools in WCPSS. Knightdale is definitely on the list. Schools in the network will have access to instructional activities focused on STEM. I will be sure to keep you updated on our progress," Hargens wrote to Malone in an e-mail.

"It is of primary importance to me and I have significant backing and want to make it happen," he added.

Malone said he expected the push to bring the STEM school to Knightdale to become more public after the transition from Hargens to new Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata takes place and after the board committees are reconstituted. Hargens said schools are being identified that will work in a network to provide a pool of STEM resources to students.

Hargens said schools that want to emphasize math, science and engineering would be a part of the network.

Knightdale High School is one of the network schools, in part, because of its new Science and Environmental Sciences Academy, she said.

The schools will go deeper into math, science and engineering than a standard high school, she said. Students could participate together in webinars. Knightdale students might take a class on-line offered at one of the other schools. Students at other schools could also take online courses taught at KHS.

Hargens said about 10 schools, ranging from the Wake N.C. State STEM Early College to Knightdale High, would have programs that the other schools could benefit from. The collaboration could be as extensive as taking an on-line class to a one-time seminar or conference.

"I would be just as happy with an equity magnet," said Malone. "But we're working to make this happen."