PORTAGE | Chance Lindsley sees the construction of a greenhouse at Aylesworth Elementary School as a fruitful opportunity for students there.

Lindsley, a fifth-grade teacher at Aylesworth, and Portage Township Schools received a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals this week to construct the 16-by-40-foot facility on the school property. The variance was needed to allow more than one accessory building on the property at 5910 Central Ave.

Lindsley, who received a $10,000 grant from this year's BP A+ for Energy program, said the greenhouse will allow students to complete science projects, grow plants and eventually start an orchard at the school. He told board members that each grade level, kindergarten through fifth, will work with a section of the greenhouse. Eventually, he said, he'd like to see all schools in the district become involved in the greenhouse project.

The board unanimously approved the variance request.