Area school districts to share in $10M state science grant

Sunday, August 20, 2006 BESSEMER, Pa. — Area school districts in western Pennsylvania will benefit from a $10 million grant from Pennsylvania Department of Education. Mohawk Elementary, Wilmington Middle School and George Washington Intermediate School in Lawrence County along with Farrell and Hempfield Elementary in the Greenville School District, from Mercer County will have a chance to strengthen their science skills through a program called, "Science its Elementary." Kathleen Kwolek, the Mohawk assistant superintendent, the grant will be shared with 78 school districts across the state. She said all professional development and supplies will be provided through the grant for two years. A report from the Pennsylvania Department of Education stated that the new program will help elementary pupils develop a passion for science at an early age. This comes at a time when all fourth-, eighth- and 11th-graders will begin taking a new state science assessment test in 2008.