Girard schools seek businesses for STEM program

School officials will continue to look for businesses willing to partner.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — Girard school officials are looking for a few good businesses willing to let pupils and teachers take a look at how they operate.

Superintendent Joseph Jeswald said the business partnerships are part of the district’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, commonly called the STEM program.

The program, which began earlier this school year, emphasizes math, science and technology and incorporates communication skills, economics and business studies, foreign language studies as well as experiences in the arts.

The district, in preparation for the program, has hired a new full-time math teacher and a second, part-time teacher for the STEM program.

The program also includes a list of courses and activities for all pupils beginning in the fourth and fifth grades and continuing through high school.

According to Jeswald, school officials are hoping to find businesses in the fields covered by the STEM program willing to allow pupils, and some teachers, to come in and see how the business operates. He said allowing pupils to see what they learn being used in practice will keep their interest in a given field high.

“This program is a win-win for everybody. It is a win for our students and a win for the businesses because these students will be their future employees,” he said.

At a breakfast meeting to discuss the partnering, Jeswald said participation could be better. He said about 90 businesses were invited to attend — with about two-thirds of those invited businesses not showing up. He said school officials will not be deterred by the response, and will continue to reach out to area businesses for greater participation.

“We are marketing this program to our parents, but we also have to market it to the businesses,” he said.

There has been some favorable response to the program, Jeswald said. He applauded two universities for taking an active role in the STEM program.

“We are very fortunate to have active participation from both Youngstown State University and Kent State Trumbull that is going to pay off in great dividends,” he said.

Jeswald said in addition to the partnerships with the universities, there has been work with companies such as General Motors, Delphi and Indalex in Girard.

jgoodwin@vindy.com